Difference between revisions of "Vortex Disc Drives"

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(Vortex -Z Drives (180K/side or 180K/disk?))
(Vortex -S and -D Drives (720K/disk))
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== Vortex -S and -D Drives (720K/disk) ==
 
== Vortex -S and -D Drives (720K/disk) ==
  
* '''F1 - S''' Single 5.25" drive with [[FDC|NEC765]], with [[VDOS]] 1.0
+
* '''F1 - S''' Single 5.25" drive with power supply connected via ribbon cable to interface with [[FDC|NEC765]] and [[VDOS]] 1.0 or 2.11
* '''F1 - D''' Double 5.25" drive with [[FDC|NEC765]], with [[VDOS]] 1.0
+
* '''F1 - D''' Double 5.25" drive with power supply connected via ribbon cable to interface with [[FDC|NEC765]] and [[VDOS]] 1.0 or 2.11
* '''M1 - S''' Single 3.5" drive with [[FDC|NEC765]], with [[VDOS]] 1.0
+
* '''M1 - S''' Single 3.5" drive with power supply connected via ribbon cable to interface with [[FDC|NEC765]] and [[VDOS]] 1.0 or 2.11
* '''M1 - D''' Double 3.5" drive with [[FDC|NEC765]], with [[VDOS]] 1.0
+
* '''M1 - D''' Double 3.5" drive with power supply connected via ribbon cable to interface with [[FDC|NEC765]] and [[VDOS]] 1.0 or 2.11
  
These are the original drives from Vortex, for use on CPC 464. The hardware supports one or two 80 track drives, additionally a 3" [[Amstrad Disk Drive|FD-1]] can be connected as third drive, ie. unlike most other CPC disk interfaces it supports more than 2 drives. [[VDOS]] only stores information for 2 drives at one time.  
+
These are the original drives from Vortex, for use on CPC 464. The interface supports one or two 80 track drives, additionally a 3" [[Amstrad Disk Drive|FD-1]] can be connected as third drive, ie. unlike most other CPC disk interfaces it supports more than 2 drives. With [[VDOS]] only two drives are accessible at one time.
  
 
TO BE CONFIRMED: Does the interface fully decode US0/US1 from NEC765 and if you select unit 3 which drive is accessed.
 
TO BE CONFIRMED: Does the interface fully decode US0/US1 from NEC765 and if you select unit 3 which drive is accessed.
 +
 +
TO BE CONFIRMED: The motors of each drive can be controlled individually. How is this done?
 +
 +
TO BE CONFIRMED: One of the Vortex interfaces with it's own FDC can be used with the CPC6128 and uses different I/O ports.
 +
How was this implemented?
  
 
== Vortex -Z Drives (180K/side or 180K/disk?) ==
 
== Vortex -Z Drives (180K/side or 180K/disk?) ==
  
* '''F1 - Z''' Single 5.25" drive without FDC, without [[VDOS]]
+
* '''F1 - Z''' Single 5.25" drive with power supply with ribbon cable (does not come with interface containing FDC or [[VDOS]])
* '''M1 - Z''' Single 3.5" drive without FDC, without [[VDOS]]
+
* '''M1 - Z''' Single 3.5" drive with power supply with ribbon cable (does not come with interface containing FDC or [[VDOS]])
  
 
These are the ''Low-Capacity'' drives from Vortex, for use on CPC 664/6128 or CPC 464 with DDI-1 (ie. on computers that already have a FDC and AMSDOS). There doesn't seem to be anything special about this product, just an off-the-shelf disk drive, shipped with a CPC-specific connection cable.
 
These are the ''Low-Capacity'' drives from Vortex, for use on CPC 664/6128 or CPC 464 with DDI-1 (ie. on computers that already have a FDC and AMSDOS). There doesn't seem to be anything special about this product, just an off-the-shelf disk drive, shipped with a CPC-specific connection cable.
  
AMSDOS can only access 40 tracks. TO BE CONFIRMED: Are the drives 80 track, double sided? Is there any way to access the second side with AMSDOS (e.g. side switch??)
+
AMSDOS can only access 40 tracks.  
 +
 
 +
TO BE CONFIRMED: Are the drives 80 track, double sided? Is there any way to access the second side with AMSDOS (e.g. side switch??)
  
 
== Vortex -X Drives (720K/disk) ==
 
== Vortex -X Drives (720K/disk) ==
  
* '''F1 - X''' Single 5.25" drive without FDC, with [[VDOS]] 2.0
+
* '''F1 - X''' Single 80 track, Double Sided, 5.25" drive with power supply and ribbon cable which connects to interface containing [[VDOS]] 2.0
* '''M1 - X''' Single 3.5" drive without FDC, with [[VDOS]] 2.0
+
* '''M1 - X''' Single 80 Track, Double Sided, 3.5" drive with power supply and ribbon cable which connects to interface containing [[VDOS]] 2.0
 
* '''F1 - XRS''' same as F1-X, upgraded with RS232 interface
 
* '''F1 - XRS''' same as F1-X, upgraded with RS232 interface
 
* '''M1 - XRS''' same as M1-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. on computers that already have a FDC). The |S command (for accessing a third drive) is no longer used, the new |X command allows to swap drive A and B.
+
These are the newest drives from Vortex, for use on CPC 664/6128 or CPC 464 with DDI-1 (ie. on computers that already have a FDC). 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)
 +
 
 +
These drives are well designed and strong. They are housed in a metal case with power supply (which has good protection with fuses) and have good quality drive mechanisms. The drive has jumpers on it that can be configured as needed.
  
 
== Vortex Add-ons ==
 
== Vortex Add-ons ==
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== Vortex Disk Format ==
 
== Vortex Disk Format ==
  
Sector numbers are 01h..09h (same as AMSDOS IBM Format, but with a 9th sector).
+
See [[VDOS]]
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/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).
+
  
 
The Vortex -Z drives do not seem to include any [[VDOS]] ROM (so they do support only normal 40-Track AMSDOS Formats, but NOT the 80-Track Vortex format).
 
The Vortex -Z drives do not seem to include any [[VDOS]] ROM (so they do support only normal 40-Track AMSDOS Formats, but NOT the 80-Track Vortex format).
Line 82: Line 84:
 
== Pictures ==
 
== Pictures ==
  
<gallery caption="The Vortex F1 Drives">
+
<gallery caption="The Vortex F1-Z Drives">
 
Image:F1-x.jpg|F1-Z Disc Drive
 
Image:F1-x.jpg|F1-Z Disc Drive
Image:FD1.jpg|F1-D Disc Drive
 
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 +
 +
<gallery caption="The Vortex F1-D Drives">
 +
Image:FD1.jpg|F1-D Disc Drive connected to interface with NEC765 and VDOS
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
 +
<gallery caption="The Vortex M1-X Drives">
 +
File:vortex-m1-x-front.png|Front of Vortex M1-X
 +
File:vortex-m1-x-under.png|Underneath the Vortex M1-X
 +
File:vortex-m1-x-inside.png|Inside the Vortex M1-X showing the drive and power
 +
File:vortex-m1-x-back.png|Back of Vortex M1-X showing connectors and power.
 +
File:vortex-m1-x-connector.png|Back of Vortex M1-X showing IDC connection
 +
File:vortex-m1-x-drive-close.png|Inside Vortex M1-X with a close up of the drive from above
 +
File:vortex-m1-x-drive-details.png|Inside Vortex M1-X with a close up of the back of the drive
 +
</gallery>
 +
  
 
<gallery caption="Vortex Disc Drive Interface (for -S or -D drives)">
 
<gallery caption="Vortex Disc Drive Interface (for -S or -D drives)">
 
Image:vortex controler 1.jpg|A anonymous box houses the controller
 
Image:vortex controler 1.jpg|A anonymous box houses the controller
Image:vortex controler 2.jpg|Look inside the controller, with 765 chip, and [[VDOS]] (upgraded to v2.0)
+
Image:vortex controler 2.jpg|Look inside the controller, with 765 chip, connection for F1 disc drive, and [[VDOS]] (upgraded to v2.0)
 
Image:vortex controler 3.jpg|Controller with [[VDOS]] mounted
 
Image:vortex controler 3.jpg|Controller with [[VDOS]] mounted
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
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== Manuals ==
 
== Manuals ==
 
+
* [[Media:Vortex Floppy Disk Station F1 für den Schneider CPC 464 - Benutzerhandbuch.pdf|Vortex Floppy Disk Station F1 für den Schneider CPC 464 - Benutzerhandbuch]] {{DE}} (Manual for old drives with VDOS 1.0)
* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/Vortex%20Floppy%20Disk%20Station%20F1%20Manual.de.rar Vortex Floppy Disk Station F1] {{DE}} (Manual for old drives with VDOS 1.0)
+
* [[Media:3-Zoll-Adapter zur VORTEX-Diskettenstation.pdf|3-Zoll-Adapter zur VORTEX-Diskettenstation]] {{DE}} (Manual for Vortex adapter for connecting a 3 inch floppy drive to the Vortex Disk Station F1 controller)
 
* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/Vortex%20X-Laufwerke%20Manual.de.rar Vortex X-Laufwerke] {{DE}} (Manual for new X-drives with VDOS 2.0)
 
* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/Vortex%20X-Laufwerke%20Manual.de.rar Vortex X-Laufwerke] {{DE}} (Manual for new X-drives with VDOS 2.0)
 
* [[Media:Vortex_Vdos_2.0_Manual.pdf|Vortex VDOS 2.0]] {{DE}} (Manual for upgrading from VDOS 1.0 to VDOS 2.0)
 
* [[Media:Vortex_Vdos_2.0_Manual.pdf|Vortex VDOS 2.0]] {{DE}} (Manual for upgrading from VDOS 1.0 to VDOS 2.0)
 
* [[Media:Manual de las Unidades Vortex.pdf|Manual de las Unidades Vortex]] {{ES}} (pdf)
 
* [[Media:Manual de las Unidades Vortex.pdf|Manual de las Unidades Vortex]] {{ES}} (pdf)
 
* [[Media:Vortex RS232-C Manual.pdf|Vortex RS232-C Manual]] {{DE}} (pdf)
 
* [[Media:Vortex RS232-C Manual.pdf|Vortex RS232-C Manual]] {{DE}} (pdf)
 +
* [https://nfggames.com/X68000/Documentation/Floppy%20Drives/NEC/NEC%20FD1035%20Floppy.pdf NEC drive inside Vortex M1-X] NEC drive inside Vortex M1-X
 +
  
 
[[Category:Peripherals]] [[Category:Manual]][[Category:DATA Storage]]
 
[[Category:Peripherals]] [[Category:Manual]][[Category:DATA Storage]]

Revision as of 11:26, 21 July 2019

Disc drives from Vortex, with 80 tracks and 720K capacity (704K available).

Vortex -S and -D Drives (720K/disk)

  • F1 - S Single 5.25" drive with power supply connected via ribbon cable to interface with NEC765 and VDOS 1.0 or 2.11
  • F1 - D Double 5.25" drive with power supply connected via ribbon cable to interface with NEC765 and VDOS 1.0 or 2.11
  • M1 - S Single 3.5" drive with power supply connected via ribbon cable to interface with NEC765 and VDOS 1.0 or 2.11
  • M1 - D Double 3.5" drive with power supply connected via ribbon cable to interface with NEC765 and VDOS 1.0 or 2.11

These are the original drives from Vortex, for use on CPC 464. The interface supports one or two 80 track drives, additionally a 3" FD-1 can be connected as third drive, ie. unlike most other CPC disk interfaces it supports more than 2 drives. With VDOS only two drives are accessible at one time.

TO BE CONFIRMED: Does the interface fully decode US0/US1 from NEC765 and if you select unit 3 which drive is accessed.

TO BE CONFIRMED: The motors of each drive can be controlled individually. How is this done?

TO BE CONFIRMED: One of the Vortex interfaces with it's own FDC can be used with the CPC6128 and uses different I/O ports. How was this implemented?

Vortex -Z Drives (180K/side or 180K/disk?)

  • F1 - Z Single 5.25" drive with power supply with ribbon cable (does not come with interface containing FDC or VDOS)
  • M1 - Z Single 3.5" drive with power supply with ribbon cable (does not come with interface containing FDC or VDOS)

These are the Low-Capacity drives from Vortex, for use on CPC 664/6128 or CPC 464 with DDI-1 (ie. on computers that already have a FDC and AMSDOS). There doesn't seem to be anything special about this product, just an off-the-shelf disk drive, shipped with a CPC-specific connection cable.

AMSDOS can only access 40 tracks.

TO BE CONFIRMED: Are the drives 80 track, double sided? Is there any way to access the second side with AMSDOS (e.g. side switch??)

Vortex -X Drives (720K/disk)

  • F1 - X Single 80 track, Double Sided, 5.25" drive with power supply and ribbon cable which connects to interface containing VDOS 2.0
  • M1 - X Single 80 Track, Double Sided, 3.5" drive with power supply and ribbon cable which connects to interface containing VDOS 2.0
  • 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. on computers that already have a FDC). 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)

These drives are well designed and strong. They are housed in a metal case with power supply (which has good protection with fuses) and have good quality drive mechanisms. The drive has jumpers on it that can be configured as needed.

Vortex Add-ons

  • Vortex X modul (adding RS232 support to -X drives)
  • VDOS2.0 (upgrading older drives to VDOS 2.0)
  • Second drive unit (for upgrading a single -S drive to a dual -D drive)

I/O Ports

 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 -X drives) (but apparently they are referring
 to other/older Vortex drives, not the -X drives)

The Special addresses are used only on CPC 664/6128 and only if the Vortex drive includes an FDC chip.

The X drive has a different PCB than the PCB for the S, the manual describes connecting the DDI-1 interface to the X drive interface and a 'decoder-ROM' which defines the I/O decoding?


  • Note1: The -Z and -X drives do not include FDC chips.
  • Note2: The -S and -D drives do reportedly work only on CPC 464 (?).

So, not sure if/when the Special addresses are used at all?

 RS232 Ports (for -X drives with RS232)
   FADC/FADD=Serial Data/Control
   FBDC/FBDD/FBDF=Counter 0/1/Mode.
 So it's probably compatible with Amstrad/Pace 
 (and probably also including, but not using,
 Channel B Ports FADE/FADF and FBDE).

Vortex Disk Format

See VDOS

The Vortex -Z drives do not seem to include any VDOS ROM (so they do support only normal 40-Track AMSDOS Formats, but NOT the 80-Track Vortex format).

Pictures



Manuals