Changes
/* Pictures */ High-res scans added
[[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
== 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. * For details, on meaning that unlicensed third-party developers couldn't produce cartridges without buying the chip see [[ACID]]. All game cartridges (and the system cartridge shipped with the 464+/6128+) include an ACID chip, so, even with limited soldering skills, it's extremely easy to reuse that chip with other EPROMs. Which is meaning that the protection doesn't prevent piracy or homebrew programming. It's only preventing commercially produced unlicensed games (which are more than unlikely to be sold with instructions saying to "de-solder your ACID chip before using this game")hardware from Amstrad.
== Pictures ==
<gallery caption="2700-023P-1 (with hardwired LK1 and LK6, and single-sided soldering points)">
Image:Cartridge-2700-023P-1-Components.jpg|Components
Image:Cartridge-2700-023P-1-InstalledBurningRubberGX4000versionPCB.jpg|Components installed
Image:Cartridge-2700-023P-1-Top.jpg|Component Side
Image:Cartridge-2700-023P-1-Bottom.jpg|Solder Side
<gallery caption="PT-NO-Z90903-MC0121A (with custom LKs, and double-sided soldering points)">
Image:Inside GX4000 cart 1unrotated.jpg|Components installed
Image:Inside GX4000 cart 2.jpg|Solder Side
Image:Burning Rubber - cara A.jpg|Case Front (Component Side)
Image:Burning Rubber - cara B.jpg|Case Back (Solder Side)
Image:AMSTRAD CPC 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="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="AMSTRO1 (with hardwired LK1 and LK6, and double-sided soldering points)">
File:Cart PCB AMSTRO1 top.jpg|Component Side
File:Cart PCB AMSTRO1 bottom.jpg|Solder Side
</gallery>
<gallery caption="Cartridge Slot">
File:GX4000 Top.jpg|GX4000 with top-loading cartridge slot
File:CPC464Plus LeftSide Nighfallcrew.jpg|CPC Plus with side-loading cartridge slot
</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 [[Amstrad CSD]] page.
== Pin-Outs ==
[[Category:Hardware]][[Category:Cartridges| ]][[Category:DATA Storage]]
[[Category:StubCPC Internal Components]][[Category:CPC Internal ComponentsHistory]][[Category:CPC HistoryPlus]]
