[[Image:Burning Rubber - cara A.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A GX4000 Burnin' Rubber cartridge for the + series]]
A cartridge system was introduced with the launch of the CPC+ [[Plus]] and GX4000 series. This enabled developers to distribute games via cartridges on the new Amstrad. The cartridges are protected with the [[ACID]] chip.
== EPROMs ==
All known manufactured cartridges contain EPROMs (rather than PROMs or ROMs). The cartridges can be fitted with different EPROMs in range of 32K 32kb through 512K (actually produced are 512kb, but only 128K..256K)128kb to 256kb versions are known to have been produced. The cartridge PCBs typically include six [[LK Links]] to match the PCB to the EPROM pin-outs:
VCC ---LK1--- EPROM.A18 ---LK2--- CA18
VCC ---LK3--- EPROM.A17 ---LK4--- CA17
(----- EPROM -----) (------------------------ Links installed -------------------------)
Type Pins Size A15 A17 A18
27C256 28 32K LK5 (A15=VCC=High) LK4 LK3 (A17=VCC=Supply) N/A 27C512 28 64K LK6 (A15=A15=Address) LK4 LK3 (A17=VCC=Supply) N/A
27C1001 32 128K LK6 (A15=A15=Address) N/A LK1 (A18=VCC=/PGM)
27C2001 32 256K LK6 (A15=A15=Address) LK3 LK4 (A17=A17=Address) LK1 (A18=VCC=/PGM) 27C4001 32 512K LK6 (A15=A15=Address) LK3 LK4 (A17=A17=Address) LK2 (A18=A18=Address)
Some cartridge PCBs don't have any LKs installed, instead, the etched circuit has hardwired connections between some of them. One could scratch them off, and then use the LK soldering points to reconfigure the board for eproms of other size.
== Protection ==
The EPROMs aren't encrypted, making it very easy to dump their content, or to replace them by other EPROMs. However, all cartridges must contain an '''[[ACID''' ]] chip, otherwise the CPC+[[Plus]]/GX4000 refuses to work, meaning that unlicensed third-party developers couldn't produce cartridges without buying the [[ACID]] hardware from Amstrad.
* For details, on the chip see [[ACID]].== Pictures ==
All game cartridges <gallery caption="2700-023P-1 (and the system cartridge shipped with the 464+/6128+) include an ACID chiphardwired LK1 and LK6, so, even with limited and single-sided soldering skills, it's extremely easy to reuse that chip with other EPROMspoints)">Image:Cartridge-2700-023P-1-Components. Which is meaning that the protection doesn't prevent piracy or homebrew programmingjpg|ComponentsImage:BurningRubberGX4000versionPCB. It's only preventing commercially produced unlicensed games (which are more than unlikely to be sold with instructions saying to "dejpg|Components installedImage:Cartridge-solder your ACID chip before using this game")2700-023P-1-Top.jpg|Component SideImage:Cartridge-2700-023P-1-Bottom.jpg|Solder Side</gallery>
<gallery caption== Misc =="PT-NO-Z90903-MS0201A (with custom LKs, and single-sided soldering points)">Image:Cartridge-PT-NO-Z90903-MS0201A-Cartridge.jpg|CartridgeImage:Cartridge-PT-NO-Z90903-MS0201A-Installed.jpg|Components installedImage:Cartridge-PT-NO-Z90903-MS0201A-Bottom.jpg|Solder Side</gallery>
[[RAM7]]<gallery caption="PT-NO-Z90903-MC0121A (with custom LKs, a French hardware developer, created a device to hack [[RAM7 Cartridge Hackerand double-sided soldering points)">Image:Inside GX4000 cart 1 unrotated.jpg|Components installedImage:Inside GX4000 cart 2.jpg|Solder SideImage:Burning Rubber - cara A.jpg|Case Front (Component Side)Image:Burning Rubber - cara B.jpg|Case Back (Solder Side)Image:AMSTRAD CPC Plus cartridges]]CARTRIDGE PT NO Z90903 B PARTSSIDE WITHOUT PARTS PCB SCAN ATV.jpg|Component Side (scan by ArcadeTV)Image:AMSTRAD CPC CARTRIDGE PT NO Z90903 B SOLDERSIDE WITHOUT PARTS PCB SCAN ATV.jpg|Back side (scan by ArcadeTV)</gallery>
<gallery caption== Pictures =="Spanish cartridge without text-layer on PCB (otherwise same as 2700-023P-1)">File:Dragon CPC Plus System Cartridge PC Spanish.jpg|Components installed</gallery>
<gallery caption="GX4000 cartridgesAMSTRO1 (with hardwired LK1 and LK6, and double-sided soldering points)">ImageFile:Cart PCB AMSTRO1 top.jpg|Component SideFile:Cart PCB AMSTRO1 bottom.jpg|Solder Side</gallery> <gallery caption="Cartridge Slot">File:Inside GX4000 cart 1Top.jpg|Inside view of a CPC+ GX4000 with top-loading cartridgeslotImageFile:Inside GX4000 cart 2CPC464Plus LeftSide Nighfallcrew.jpg|Inside view of a CPC+ Plus with side-loading cartridgeslot
</gallery>
== Demonstration System ==
Amstrad released a Demonstration system for his retailer in order to show GX4000 games: the [[Amstrad CSD]](Cartridge Software Demonstrator).
It was a 464plus 464 [[Plus]] motherboard, with an extra "daughter board) " allowing the insertion of 12 games cartridges, plus an extra special cartridge acting as an OS.
<gallery caption="Some photos of Amstrad Expo 90">
Courtesy of Amstrad.cpc.free.fr
More informations at the [http://amstrad[Amstrad CSD]] page.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=16 Link to the French article on the matter]
== Pin-Outs ==
* [[Connector:Cartridge Slot (CPC Plus only)|Cartridge Slot Pin-Outs]]
== Misc ==
* [[RAM7]], a French hardware developer, created a device to hack [[RAM7 Cartridge Hacker|CPC Plus cartridges]].
* [[CPC GX4000-Multi EPROM Cartridge]]
* [[Converted GX4000 Software]]
==Links==
* [[CPC GX4000-Multi EPROM Cartridgehttp://www.vieuzordiland.fr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=34 Vieuxzordiland's page on replacing EPROMs. In French]* [http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=16 Link to the French article on the Demonstration System]
[http://www.vieuzordiland.fr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=34 Vieuxzordiland's page on the matter. In French]
[[Category:Hardware]][[Category:Cartridges| ]][[Category:DATA Storage]]
[[Category:StubCPC Internal Components]][[Category:CPC Internal ComponentsHistory]][[Category:CPC HistoryPlus]]