Disc A series of external 3,5" and 5,25" floppy disc drives from [[Vortex_Computersysteme|Vortex]], with 80 tracks and providing up to 720K capacity (704K available). The Vortex drives were most popular in Germany. For more information regarding [[VDOS]] and the Vortex Disk Format, see the dedicated [[VDOS]] Wiki page.
== Vortex -S and -and D -Drives (720K/disk) ==
* '''F1 - S''' Single 5These are the first generation of 720K floppy disc drives from Vortex.25They came in variants having either a single drive ("S" variant) or two drives (" drive with [[FDC|NEC765]], with [[VDOS]] 1.0* '''F1 - D''' Double 5" variant).25The " drive with [[FDC|NEC765]], with [[VDOS]] 1.0* '''M1 - S''' Single 3.5" drive variant (as well as the less expensive "Z" variant) was delivered with [[FDC|NEC765]], with [[VDOS]] 1.0* '''M1 the same double- height casing as the "D''' Double 3.5" variant, so that a second drive with [[FDC|NEC765]], with [[VDOS]] 1could be retrofitted.0
These are the original drives from Vortex, for use on CPC 464. The hardware supports one or two 80 track drivesF1-S, additionally a 3" [[Amstrad Disk Drive|FDF1-1]] can be connected as third driveD, ie. unlike most other CPC disk interfaces it M1-S, M1-D drives have their own FDC765 in the controller, and this one supports more than 2 drivesall DS0 up to DS3. VDOS allocates RAM for only 2 The Vortex interface can manage 4 floppy drives though, which of the 3 drives are in-use is selected with |S commandtotal.
== Vortex = F1-Z Drives S and F1-D (180K/side or 180K/disk?5,25") ===
* '''The F1 - Z''' Single S and F1-D models are based on BASF 6138 (81690-001) type 5.,25" drive without FDCdisk drives, without VDOS* '''M1 - Z''' Single 3i.5" drive without FDCe. double-sided, without VDOS80 tracks per side, 96 tpi density.
These are the ''Low<gallery>Image:IMG 3163.JPG|F1-Capacity'' drives from DImage:Vortex, for use on CPC f1d front.jpg|F1-D front viewImage:Vortex f1d back.jpg|F1-D backside</gallery><gallery>Image:Vortex fd-1 interface 664.jpg|F1-D interface<br /6128 or >(CPC 464 with DDI664)Image:Fd1 interface 664 platine front.jpg|F1-1 D interface board (ieCPC 664)Image:Fd1 interface 664 platine back. on computers that already have a FDC and AMSDOSjpg|F1-D interface board (CPC 664)Image:F1DCONT. There doesn't seem to be anything special about this product, just an offjpg|F1-theD interface board (CPC 6128)</gallery><gallery>Image:Vortex f1 manual.jpg|F1-shelf S/D manualImage:Vortex F1 SystemDisk 464.jpg|F1-S/D system disk drive, shipped with a <br />(CPC-specific connection cable464)Image:Vortex f1 manual disk.jpg|F1-S/D system disk<br />(CPC 664/6128)</gallery>
Although The floppy controller of the drives might have 80 tracks (?), AMSDOS can access only 40 tracksF1-D / F1-S was cloned by Hans Hübner of FutureSoft with MX4 connector and without ROM slot. No info if the It supports four drives . Under FutureOS they are doublenamed E-sided, and if yes, if they do have a side-select switch for accessing the second side?H.
== Vortex = A1-X Drives S Upgrade Kit (720K/disk5,25") ===
* '''Vortex offered an upgrade kit consisting of a single bare drive and an installation manual, allowing to upgrade a F1 - X''' Single 5.25" S (single) drive without FDC, with [[VDOS]] 2.0* '''M1 to a F1- X''' Single 3D (dual) drive.5" To do this, one simply had to install the additional drive without FDC, with [[VDOS]] 2in the free slot of the drive case.0* '''F1 - XRS''' same as F1-X, upgraded with RS232 interface* '''M1 - XRS''' same as M1-X, upgraded with RS232 interface
These are the newest drives from Vortex, for use on CPC 664/6128 or CPC 464 with DDI-1 (ie<gallery>Image:Basf 6138 spare drive. on computers that already have a FDC). The jpg|S command (for accessing third BASF 6138 spare drive) is no longer supported, the new |X commands allows to swap drive A and B.</gallery>
== I/O Ports = M1-S and M1-D (3,5") ===
Standard Addresses (same as used by AMSDOS): FB7Eh 765 FDC (internal) Status Register (R) FB7Fh 765 FDC (internal) Data Register (R/W) FA7Eh Floppy Motor On/Off Flipflop Special Addresses (secondary FDC): FBF6h 765 FDC (Vortex,ext) Status Register (Read) FBF7h 765 FDC (Vortex,ext) Data Register (R/W) FA7Eh Floppy Motor On/Off Flipflop (same as normal) (The Special addresses are mentioned in the manual for the Vortex M1-X drives) (but apparently they S and M1-D models are referring to other/older Vortex based on 3,5" disk drives. Controller and DOS were identical for 5, not the -X drives)25" and 3,5" devices.
The Special addresses are used only on CPC 664/6128 and only if the Vortex drive includes an FDC chip.=== FDA-1 3" Drive Adapter ===
* Note1: The This adapter allows to connect an external FD-Z and -X drives do not include FDC chips.* Note2: The -S and -D drives do reportedly work only 1 3" drive on Vortex F1/M1 setups on the CPC 464 (?). Since only two drives can be used at the same time, the external 3" drive first had to be selected manually with the RSX command '''|S'''. This RSX command worked also with VDOS 2.11 on CPC6128.
So{| class="wikitable"|-! RSX !! Description|-| |S, not sure if/when 1 || Use 3" drive as drive A, upper Vortex drive is disabled|-| |S,2 || Use 3" drive as drive B, lower Vortex drive is disabled|-| |S,0 || Disable the Special addresses are used at all?3" drive (default)|}
RS232 Ports (for <gallery>Image:Vortex 3rd drive adapter.jpg|FDA-X drives with RS232)1 Adapter FADC/FADD=Serial Data/ControlImage:Vortex 3rd drive adapter insides.jpg|Inside the adapter box FBDC/FBDD/FBDF=Counter 0/1/ModeImage:Vortex 3rd drive adapter insides closeup.jpg|Inside the adapter box (closeup) So it's probably compatible with Amstrad/Pace Image:Vortex 3rd drive adapter plug cable.jpg|Plug (and probably also including, but not using,cable side) Channel B Ports FADEImage:Vortex 3rd drive adapter plug floppy.jpg|FD-1 3" floppy drive plug</FADF and FBDE).gallery>
== Vortex Disk Format =Clone of the F1-D controller ===A clone of the F1-D controller was created by [[Hans Hübner]] of [[FutureSoft]] in 2024. The card fits on the Mother X4 board and doesn't contain an extra ROM slot. Using [[FutureOS]] this card allows to add four additional floppy disc drives to the CPC, being called E, F, G and H.
Sector numbers are 01h..09h (same as AMSDOS IBM Format, but with a 9th sector).Disks are Double-Sided, Double Density, 80 Tracks, 9 Sectors, blocks are allocated in 4K units.Total capacity is 720K (704K available):* First 9K contain two System Tracks (eg. CP=== FDC I/M Bootstrap)* Next 4K contain directory (see Note)* Next 704K are data (allocated in 4K blocks) (aka 4K clusters)* Last 3K are unused (due to 4K allocation size)Note: According to the manual, the directory can hold 128 entries under VDOS2.0 (whole 4K used), but only 64 entries under VDOS1.0 (only half of the 4K area used).O Ports ===
The Vortex All types of floppy disk controllers for the F1-Z drives do not seem to include any VDOS S/D and M1-S/D series are based on the NEC 765 chip. The manual states that on "controllers having an integrated ROM module/eprommer" (so they do support only normal 40-Track AMSDOS Formats, but NOT probably the 80-Track Vortex formatlater 6128 interfaces?), the port addresses can be freely configured using a decoder ROM.
== Pictures =='''CPC 464:'''
<gallery caption{| class="The Vortex F1 Driveswikitable">|-! Address !! Description|-| 0xFB7E || uPD control|-| 0xFB7F || uPD data|-| 0xFA7E || motor on/off|}
Image'''CPC 664/6128:F1-x.jpg|F1-Z Disc DriveImage:FD1.jpg|F1-D Disc Drive'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Address !! Description
|-
| 0xFBF6 || uPD control
|-
| 0xFBF7 || uPD data
|-
| 0xFA7E || motor on/off
|}
=== Downloads ===
* [[Media:Vortex Floppy Disk Station F1 für den Schneider CPC 464 - Benutzerhandbuch.pdf|Benutzerhandbuch für die Vortex Floppy Disk Station F1 für den Schneider CPC 464]] {{DE}} (Vortex F1 user manual)
* [[Media:Vortex_Vdos_2.0_Manual.pdf|Benutzerhandbuch für das Diskettenbetriebssystem VDOS 2.0]] {{DE}} (VDOS 2.0 user manual)
* [[Media:3-Zoll-Adapter zur VORTEX-Diskettenstation.pdf|Benutzerhandbuch für den FDA-1 3"-Adapter]] {{DE}} (3" adapter user manual)
* [[Media:VTXF1464.DSK|Vortex F1-S/D Systemdiskette für CPC 464]] (system disk, 720k image, bootable)
* [[Media:VORTF1.DSK|Vortex F1-S/D Systemdiskette für CPC 664/6128]] (system disk, 720k image)
* [[Media:Vortex10.zip|VDOS 1.0 ROM]] {{DE}}
* [[Media:Vortex20.zip|VDOS 2.0 ROM]] {{DE}}
* [[Media:80307-058 BASF 6138 Mini Disk Apr83.zip|BASF 6138 Datasheet (F1-S/D/Z Floppy Disk Drive)]]
<br />
== Z-Drives (180K/side) ==
These are less expensive drives and were meant to be directly connected as B drive to a CPC 464 with DDI-1 or a CPC 664/6128. Since these drives ship neither with an own controller nor a [[VDOS]] ROM, they do rely fully on AMSDOS and thus only 40 tracks on one side can be accessed, resulting in the same capacity (180K/side) as the 3" drives.
=== F1-Z (5,25") ===
The F1-Z model is based on a later revision of the BASF 6138 type disk drive (81757-001), which offers more configuration options using jumpers. The drive was shipped in a "double step" configuration to use only 40 tracks, and thus the cheaper and more widely available DS DD floppy disks (48 tpi, 180K/side) could be used.
<gallery>
Image:Basf 6138 81757 001.jpg|BASF AG 6138 (81757-001) drive
Image:Basf 6138 81757 001 jumpers.jpg|BASF AG 6138 (81757-001) 40 track jumper configuration
</gallery>
<gallery caption=== A1-Z Upgrade Kit (5,25"The Vortex Disc Drive Controller">) ===
Image:vortex controler 1.jpg|A anonymous box houses the controllerImage:vortex controler 2.jpg|Look inside the Vortex offered an upgrade kit consisting of a controller, with 765 chipa manual, a CP/M license and (unexpectedly) VDOS2.0 (maybe it was an utility disk which allows a F1-Z drive to be upgraded from VDOS 1.0 to 2.0...?Image:vortex controler 3a F1-S drive.jpg|Controller with [[VDOS]] mounted
=== M1-Z (3,5") ===
The M1-Z model is equipped with a single 3,5" disk drive.
<br />
== X-Drives (720K) ==
These are the latest drives from Vortex for use with a CPC 464 with DDI-1 or a CPC 664/6128 (ie. on systems that already have a floppy disc controller); no additional controller was required anymore. Instead, a ROM module was supplied together with the drive, which provided VDOS 2.0-X. Only single-drive variants were available. The |S command (for accessing a third drive) is no longer used, the new |X command allows to swap drive A and B (same as [[X-DDOS]] from Dobbertin).
=== F1-X and F1-XRS (5,25") ===
The F1-X model is based on either a single BASF 6138 (81690-001) or a single BASF 6139 5,25" disk drive. The BASF 6139 is a revisioned version which is slightly more compact (~1cm shorter), and also a number of electronical and mechanical design flaws that affected durability were corrected. The F1-XRS variant is equipped with an additional RS232-C interface.
<gallery>
File:F1-x front.jpg|F1-X
File:Vortex f1-x cpc464 backside.jpg|F1-X backside, showing IDC connector (CPC 464)
File:Vortex f1-x cpc664 backside edge.jpg|F1-X backside, showing edge connector (CPC 664)
File:F1-x inside.jpg|F1-X inside view, showing a BASF 6139 drive
File:F1x m1x manual.jpg|F1-X/M1-X manual and system utilities disk
</gallery>
<gallery caption=== M1-X and M1-XRS (3,5"Tape">) ===
Image:Vortex TapeThe M1-X model is based on a single NEC FD1035 type 3,5" disk drive. The M1-XRS variant is equipped with an additional RS232-C interface.jpg|A vortex cassette (purpose/content unknown?)
<gallery>
File:vortex-m1-x-front.png|M1-X
File:vortex-m1-x-back.png|M1-X backside
File:vortex-m1-x-connector.png|M1-X backside, showing IDC connector (CPC 464)
File:vortex-m1-x-under.png|M1-X underside
File:vortex-m1-x-inside.png|M1-X inside view, showing the drive and power
File:vortex-m1-x-drive-close.png|M1-X inside view, close-up of the drive from above
File:vortex-m1-x-drive-details.png|M1-X inside view, close-up from the backside
</gallery>
=== X(RS)-Modul ===
== GermanizedThe X-English RSX Commands ==drives for the CPC 664/6128 are connected directly to the floppy port. In order to provide [[VDOS]], the "X-Modul" (sometimes also called "VDOS module") must be connected additionally to the expansion port. This contains a ROM board that provides a VDOS 2.0-X ROM. The ROM board supplied for the CPC 464 came together with a chunky housing in which both the "X-Modul" and the DDI-1 controller were installed. All variants were also available with an additional RS232-C interface (in this case called either "XRS-Modul" or "X-Modul/RS").
<gallery>Image:Vortex apparently considered the normal AMSDOS RSX commands fd1 464 controller 1.jpg|TAPEXRS-Modul (CPC 464)Image:Vortex fd1 464 controller 2.xx and jpg|DRIVE/XRS-Modul with built-in DDI-1 visible (CPC 464)Image:Xrs 464.jpg|USER too difficult for german users, and changed them to XRS-Modul board beneath the DDI-1 (CPC 464)Image:Vortex xrs 464 board backside.jpg|CAS and |SELECT XRS-Modul board backside (which resemble equivalent german words ''Kassette'' and ''Selektieren''CPC 464)</gallery><gallery>Image:Vortex X-Modul 6128. This is making VDOS slightly incompatible with AMSDOS and all other AMSDOS clones jpg|X-Modul (except for Dobbertin's CPC 6128)Image:Vortex X-DDOS, which supports both the english and germanized dialectsModul 6128 Board Front.jpg|X-Modul board (CPC 6128)Image:Vortex X-Modul 6128 Board Backside.jpg|X-Modul board backside (CPC 6128)</gallery>
== Manuals = RS232 I/O Ports ===
* [http:The RS232-C interface of the "XRS-Modul" was advertised to be compatible with Amstrad//www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/Vortex%20Floppy%20Disk%20Station%20F1%20Manual.de.rar Vortex Floppy Disk Station F1 Pace interfaces, but offers only one channel (Germanso no channel B) Manual].
{| class="wikitable"|-! Address !! Description|-| 0xFADC || SIO data (R/W)|-| 0xFADD || SIO control (R/W)|-| 0xFBDC || 8253 counter 0 (R/W)|-| 0xFBDD || 8253 counter 1 (R/W)|-| 0xFBDE || 8253 counter 2 (R/W)|-| 0xFBDF || Mode word (W)|} === Downloads === * [httphttps://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/Vortex%20X-Laufwerke%20Manual.de.rar Benutzerhandbuch für die Vortex X-Laufwerke ] {{DE}} (Germanmanual) * [[Media:Vortex RS232-C Manual.pdf|Benutzerhandbuch für die Vortex RS232-C Schnittstelle]] {{DE}} (RS232-C user manual)* [[Media:Manual de las Unidades Vortex.pdf|Manual de las Unidades Vortex]] {{ES}} (manual)* [[Media:VORTF1X.DSK|Systemdiskette für Vortex X-Laufwerke]] (system disk, 720k disk image, original)* [[Media:VTXF1XB.DSK|Systemdiskette für Vortex X-Laufwerke]] (system disk, 720k disk image, modified to boot CP/M 2.2)* [[Media:VDOS20X.ROM|VDOS 2.0-X ROM]] {{DE}} (German VDOS 2.0-X ROM for CPC 664/6128)* [[Media:NEC_FD1035_Floppy.pdf|NEC FD1035 Datasheet (M1-X Floppy Disk Drive)]] <br /> == Software Accessories == === DOSCOPY === DOSCOPY is a CP/M 2.2 utility which allows to read and write files from IBM and Atari ST formatted 5,25" disks. It was written in 1987 by Peter Höpfner. <gallery>Image:Vortex_DOSCOPY_Manual.JPG|DOSCOPY physical manualImage:Vortex_DOSCOPY_Disk.JPG|DOSCOPY 5,25" diskImage:Vortex_DOSCOPY_Screenshot.JPG|DOSCOPY screenshot</gallery> ==== Downloads ==== * [[Media:DOSCOPY.DSK|DOSCOPY 1.1]] {{DE}} (Vortex 360k disk image)* [[Media:Vortex_DOSCOPY_Benutzerhandbuch.pdf|DOSCOPY 1.1 Benutzerhandbuch]] {{DE}} (manual) === PARA 3.0 === PARA 3.0 is a CP/M 2.2 utility allowing to exchange files between the CPC and other CP/M based systems. It claims to support "reading, writing and formatting of 99% of all CP/M formats" and provides a comprehensive disk format analzer. It was written in 1987 by Peter Höpfner. <gallery>Image:Vortex_PARA_3.0_Manual.JPG|PARA 3.0 physical manualImage:Vortex PARA 3.0 Disk.JPG|PARA 3.0 5,25" diskImage:Vortex PARA 3.0 Screenshot 1.JPG|PARA 3.0 loading screen</gallery> ==== Downloads ==== * [[Media:PARA30.DSK|PARA 3.0]] {{DE}} (Vortex 720k disk image)* [[Media:Vortex_PARA_3.0_Benutzerhandbuch.zip|PARA 3.0 Benutzerhandbuch]] {{DE}} (manual) === PARA 3.0 PLUS === PARA 3.0 PLUS (or PARA PLUS) is an enhanced distribution of PARA 3.0 which also integrates DOSCOPY 1.3 into a single software suite. <gallery>Image:Para 30 plus intro.jpg|PARA 3.0+ loading screenImage:Para 30 plus mainmenu.jpg|PARA 3.0+ main menuImage:Para 30 plus analyzer.jpg|PARA 3.0+ format analyzer</gallery> ==== Downloads ==== * [[Media:PARAPLUS.DSK|PARA 3.0+]] {{DE}} (Vortex 720k disk image, bootable) === SPARA === SPARA was either the predecessor or a cut-down version of PARA 3.0 and was supplied with the F1-Z drives, only supporting 40 track formats. === FileCopy ===FileCopy 3.0 is a comprehensive tool to copy files with up to 16 different devices (using letters A to P), it supports the Vortex 704 KB format for 80 Track drives. <br /> == 3rd Party Software == === FutureOS === [[FutureOS]] has support for Vortex drives, it uses the Vortex 704 KB format for 80 Track drives. === ParaDOS === [[ParaDOS]] supports Vortex X-drives and can be used as a replacement for the VDOS-X ROM. There is also a patched version called VaraDOS, which is configured to use a Vortex X-drive as drive B per default. ParaDOS does not provide a way too boot CP/M from drive B. === House of Usher === Besides tape and 3 inch floppy disk release, the game [[House of Usher]] has been officially released on 5.25 inch floppy disk for the Schneider CPC with Vortex F1 floppy drive. <gallery>House of Usher ads.jpegHouse-of-usher-floppy-cover.pngHouse-of-usher-floppy-no-cover.png</gallery> <br /> == Media Coverage == <gallery>Image:Vortex Schneider CPC International 1985-09.JPG|Schneider CPC International 1985/09Image:Vortex schneider cpc international 1986-02.JPG|Schneider CPC International 1986/02Image:Vortex schneider cpc international 1986-04.JPG|Schneider CPC International 1986/04Image:Vortex schneider cpc international 1986-07.JPG|Schneider CPC International 1986/07Image:Vortex schneider cpc international 1986-08.JPG|Schneider CPC International 1986/08</gallery>
[[Category:HardwarePeripherals]] [[Category:Manual]][[Category:DATA Storage]]