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[[Category:CPC History| ]][[Category:Hardware| ]][[Category:CPC Internal Components| ]][[Category:Amstrad Products| ]]The Real meaning of this Wiki.  

The Amstrad CPC (Colour Personal Computer) series was a series of 8-bit home computers that were manufactured by the British company [[Amstrad]] between 1984 (launch of the CPC464: 21st June 1984) and 1993 (?). The CPC, like most contemporary home micros, had an integrated computer-in-a-keyboard design. Also incorporated in the keyboard was the [[Datacorder|tape recorder ]] or [[Disk drives|disc drive]].

In general what Amstrad aimed for was to offer a completely integrated solution at a low price. Just as with Amstrad's stereo towers before, [[Alan M. Sugar ]] wanted to provide a solution with as few separate components as possible, with as few cables as possible and at as low a price as possible. A truck driver, unfamiliar with computers, was often cited as the CPC's target market.

The combination of low cost, integrated design, good manufacturing quality and some impressive features like CP/M and an 80-column display mode (lacking in much of the competition, particularly the Sinclair [[ZX Spectrum ]] and [[Commodore 64]]) proved to be a success both with home users and small businesses, and Amstrad went on to sell millions of CPCs.

At its core, the CPC combined a standard 4MHz [[Z80|Z80A ]] with off-the-shelf components and a custom [[Gate Array ]] chip. The [[firmware]] comprised two 16k ROMs (combined onto one 32k chip): one was effectively the operating system, the other the fast and flexible [[Locomotive BASIC]] interpreter. All machines except the original 464 would also include a further 16k ROM (on a separate chip), the AMSDOS disc operating system.

First came the CPC464, the father of the CPC family, released on the 21st June 1984(with production ceasing in 1990). This model used an integrated tape recorder and offered 64KB of RAM. It sold around two million units in Europe and, technologicallytechnology-wise, was more impressive than the ZX Spectrum and on a similar level with the Commodore 64. (One notable exception was the sound chip; : while the C64 employed the splendid custom SID chip, Amstrad opted for a generic sound chip - [[AY|AY-3-8912 ]] - with unremarkable features. That said, the firmware of the CPC was leagues ahead of the C64.) At its core was a [[Z80]] clocked at 4MHz - though screen display considerations, and the particular design of the Gate Array limited this to an effective 3.3MHz in practice - while the display was managed by the 6845 CRTC along with a gate-array chip.

At its core was a [[Z80]] clocked at 4MHz - though screen display considerations, and the particular design of the [[Gate Array]] limited this to an effective 3.3MHz in practice - while the display was managed by the [[CRTC|6845 CRTC]] along with a gate-array chip. The CPC464 sported a palette of 27 colours and [[Video modes|three distinct resolutions]]: 160x200x16 colours (mode 0), 320x200x4 colours (mode 1) and 640x200x2 colours (mode 2, 80-column mode).

The [[472|CPC 472 ]] was a Spanish version of the CPC 464 with an additional, non-functional 8KB RAM. A Spanish law required The reason was that every computer Spain charged an import tax on home computers with up to 64KB should have extra keys for the Spanish language, 64K or an extra less RAM, the fake "72K" CPC version bypassed that tax would be levied. So Amstrad soldered in an extra 8kb which The tax was notinvented in September 1985, however, usable by the machine since it and was not connected to anything else. Later on Amstrad released dropped a few months later (when Spain joined the EEC). Also in 1985, but independtly of that tax, Spain dictated that computers must have spanish keyboards, which resulted in two CPC 472 versions: Older models with a proper Spanish keyboard. After the rule changed there was also a CPC472 english keys, newer ones with non-Spanish spanish keys available for a very short time. The CPC 472 is very rare. 

In June 1985, Amstrad took the initial design and, building upon the same idea, removed the tape recorder and replaced it with a disc drive, using the same hardware sold as the [[DDI-1]] add-on for 464 owners. The result: the CPC664. Sporting a less colourful and easier-to-type-on keyboard, the CPC664 appealed as a more serious machine and proved a success, especially due to its quite fast 3", 180KB/side drive.  * ''[http://www.gondolin.org.uk/hchof/reviews/yc-cpc664.html Your Computer review of the CPC664]''    

Shortly afterwards, Amstrad launched the CPC6128 for the American market only, through its distributor [[Indescomp]]. The new machine sported 128k of memory and a still more sober appearance, but was otherwise nearly identical to the 664. Despite initial denials, The height of the machine case was launched in Europe shortly afterwardsgreatly reduced, replacing and the 664 for cursor keys were arranged more comfortably, both making the same price - a situation which understandably irritated some of those who had recently purchased 664s. As well as keyboard more ergonomically than the CP464/M 2664.2 and DR Logo that had shipped with the DDI-1 and the CPC664Internally, the 6128 came bundled with CP/M Plus (with the GSX graphics extension) making it an appealing all-round computer at a low price. Though the 128KB keyboard consists of memory could not be accessed all at once from BASIC (due to limitations of the [[Z80]])two foils, although such membrane foils are relative fragile, they were more robust and reliable than the upper 64KB could be single foil used readily from machine code courtesy of an upgrade Gate Array. A bundled program, [[BANKMAN]], provided some access from BASICin the 664.

The presence Despite initial denials, the machine was launched in Europe shortly afterwards, replacing the 664 for the same price - a situation which understandably irritated some of this extra memory those who had recently purchased 664s. As well as the CP/M 2.2 and [[DR Logo]] that had shipped with the clever design of Amstrad's DDI-1 and the CPC664, the 6128 came bundled with CP/M Plus implementation allowed for (with the GSX graphics extension) making it an appealing all-round computer at a TPA low price. Though the 128KB of memory could not be accessed all at once from BASIC (Transient Program Areadue to limitations of the [[Z80]]) , the upper 64KB could be used readily from machine code courtesy of 42KBan upgraded Gate Array. A bundled program, more than enough to run all CP/M software[[Bankman]], provided some access from BASIC.

The last models in the Amstrad CPC range were the [[Plus|Amstrad 464 Plus ]] and [[Plus|Amstrad 6128 Plus]], launched together in 1990. The CPC name is said to have been dropped because of a legal dispute with a French firm, though it is also likely that "CPC 6128 Plus" was considered too unwieldy a name and one redolent of the machine's mid-80s heritage.

Described as a solution of 'too little, too late', this was Amstrad's second effort to prolong the life of its 8-bit computer series in the face of fierce competition from new 16-bit machines (notably, the [[Atari ST ]] and the Commodore [[Amiga]]). The Plus series were mostly (but not quite 100%) compatible with the original CPC computers, and incorporated a list of [[ASIC|new features]], like a cartridge port for instant program loading, DMA for the [[AY ]] soundchip, enhanced hardware scrolling, programmable interrupts, 16 hardware zoomable sprites (not vectorized) with an independent palette of 15 colours, and a choice of 4096 colours all in a new, sleek case which mimicked the keyboard-computer design that was ''en vogue'' in the 16-bit market (ST, Amiga, Archimedes etc).  While the Amstrad Plus computers were arguably one of the best 8-bit computers ever built for the mass market, they died an early death as the 16-bit era had well and truly begun.

By 1990 Amstrad had realised that the home market was heading towards the 16-bit machines, on one hand, and towards the new generation of game consoles like the Sega Master System or the Nintendo Entertainment System, on the other. Therefore, just as they created the 464 Plus and 6128 Plus to compete against the ST and the Amiga, they also created a stripped-down variant called the [[Plus|GX4000]].  The GX4000 was, in essence, a Plus an Amstrad 464+ motherboard in a new case, with no keyboard, cassette deck or nor disc drive, and with most extension ports gone - save for the cartridge port and two joypads.