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A series of external 3.,5" and 5.,25" floppy disc drives from [[Vortex_Computersysteme|Vortex]] 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.

These are the very first generation of 720K floppy disc drives from Vortex. They came in variants having either a single drive ("S" variant) or two drives ("D" variant) DS/DD 80-track drives installed . The "S" variant (BASF 6138as well as the less expensive "Z" variant)was delivered with the same double-height casing as the "D" variant, so that a second drive could be retrofitted.

* [[Media:Vortex Floppy Disk Station === F1 für den Schneider CPC 464 - Benutzerhandbuch.pdf|Vortex Floppy Disk Station S and F1 für den Schneider CPC 464 - Benutzerhandbuch]] {{DE}} D (manual5,25")===

=== Variants === * '''The 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 models are based on BASF 6138 (81690-001) type 5.,25" drive with power supply connected via ribbon cable to interface with [[FDC|NEC765]] and [[VDOS]] 1disk drives, i.0 or 2e.11* '''M1 double- 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 power supply connected via ribbon cable to interface with [[FDC|NEC765]] and [[VDOS]] 1.0 or 2sided, 80 tracks per side, 96 tpi density.11<br />

Image:FD1IMG 3163.jpgJPG|Vortex F1-D with CPC 6128 InterfaceImage:vortex controler 1Vortex f1d front.jpg|An anonymous box housing the controller boardF1-D front viewImage:vortex controler 2Vortex f1d back.jpg|Look inside the controller, a NEC 765 chip and [[VDOS]] upgraded to v2.0Image:vortex controler 3.jpg|Controller with mounted [[VDOS]] chipF1-D backside

Image:Vortex fd-1 interface 664.jpg|F1-D Interface interface<br />(CPC 664)Image:Fd1 interface 664 platine front.jpg|F1-D Interface Board interface board (CPC 664)Image:Fd1 interface 664 platine back.jpg|F1-D Interface Board interface board (CPC 664)Image:F1DCONT.jpg|F1-D interface board (CPC 6128)

Image:F1DCONTVortex f1 manual.jpg|F1-S/D Interface Board manualImage:Vortex F1 SystemDisk 464.jpg|F1-S/D system disk<br />(CPC 464)Image:Vortex f1 manual disk.jpg|F1-S/D system disk<br />(CPC 664/6128)

=== Second Drive A1-S Upgrade Kit (5,25") ===

Vortex offered an upgrade option that allowed kit consisting of a single bare drive and an installation manual, allowing to upgrade a F1/M1-S (single ) drive to be upgraded to an a F1/M1-D (dual ) drive. To do this, one simply had to install an the additional drive in the free drive slot of the S-drive housingcase.

This adapter allowed to use an Amstrad === M1-S and M1-D (3" drive on Vortex F1/M1 setups connected to a CPC 464. Since only two drives can be used simultaneously, the 35" drive had to be manually selected first using RSX commands.) ===

* [[Media:3The M1-ZollS and M1-Adapter zur VORTEX-DiskettenstationD models are based on 3,5" disk drives.pdf| === FDA-1 3" Drive Adapter zur VORTEX=== This adapter allows to connect an external FD-Diskettenstation]] {{DE}} (manual)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 RSX commands.

Image:Vortex 3rd drive adapter.jpg|FDA-1 Adapter to connect an additional 3" disc drive in between a CPC 464 and a F1/M1

All types of floppy disk controllers for the F1-S/F1-D/and M1-S/M1-D range series are based on the NEC 765 chip. The manual states that on "controllers having an integrated ROM module/eprommer" (probably the later 6128 interfaces?), the port addresses can be freely configured using a decoder ROM.

== Z-Drives (180K/side) ==

These are basic and less expensive ''low-capacity'' drives and were meant to be directly connected as B drive to a CPC 664/6128 or CPC 464 with DDI-1 (ie. on computers that already provide or a floppy controller)CPC 664/6128. Since these drives do not ship neither with an own controller nor a special controller[[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.

=== Variants F1-Z (5,25") ===

* '''The F1 - Z''' Single 5.25" model is based on a later revision of the BASF 6138 type disk drive with power supply with ribbon cable (does not come with interface containing FDC or [[VDOS]]81757-001)* '''M1 - Z''' Single 3, which offers more configuration options using jumpers.5 The drive was shipped in a " drive with power supply with ribbon cable double step" configuration to use only 40 tracks, and thus the cheaper and more widely available DS DD floppy disks (does not come with interface containing FDC or [[VDOS]]48 tpi, 180K/side)<br />could be used.

== X<gallery>Image:Basf 6138 81757 001.jpg|BASF AG 6138 (81757-Drives 001) driveImage:Basf 6138 81757 001 jumpers.jpg|BASF AG 6138 (720K81757-001) ==40 track jumper configuration</gallery>

These are the latest drives from Vortex for use on CPC 464 with DDI=== A1-1 or CPC 664/6128 computers Z Upgrade Kit (ie. on computers that already have a FDC)5, so no own FDC 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). These drives are well designed and strong. They are housed in a metal case with power supply (which has good protection with fuses25") and have good quality drive mechanisms. The drive has jumpers on it that can be configured as needed.===

* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/Vortex%20X-Laufwerke%20Manual.de.rar Vortex X-Laufwerke] {{DE}} (offered an upgrade kit consisting of a controller, a manual)* [[Media:Manual de las Unidades Vortex.pdf|Manual de las Unidades Vortex]] {{ES}} (manual)* [https:, a CP//nfggames.com/X68000/Documentation/Floppy%20Drives/NEC/NEC%20FD1035%20Floppy.pdf NEC M license and an utility disk which allows a F1-Z drive inside Vortex M1to be upgraded to a F1-X] NEC S drive inside Vortex . === M1-XZ (3,5") ===

File:Vortex-f1-xcpc464 backside.jpg|F1-X backside, showing IDC connector (CPC 464)File:Vortex f1-x cpc664 backsideedge.jpg|F1-X backside, showing edge connector (CPC 664)File:F1-x inside.jpg|F1-X inside view, showing a BASF 6139 driveFile:F1x m1x manual.jpg|F1-X/M1-X manual and utility system utilities disk

File:vortex-m1-x-connector.png|M1-X backside, showing IDC connection connector (CPC 464)

The X-drives for the CPC 664/6128 are connected directly to the floppy port. To In order to provide [[VDOS]], a the "X-Modul" had to (sometimes also called "VDOS module") must be installedconnected additionally to the expansion port. This was contains a single-ROM board with that provides a VDOS 2.0-X and came in two versions, one of which providing an additional RS232-C interface ("XRS-Modul")ROM. The version ROM board supplied for the CPC 464 came together with a chunky housing in which both the "X(RS)-Modul " and the DDI-1 had to be 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").

Image:Vortex fd1 464 controller 1.jpg|F1-XRS Interface -Modul (CPC 464)Image:Vortex fd1 464 controller 2.jpg|F1-XRS Interface -Modul with built-in DDI-1 installed visible (CPC 464)Image:Xrs 464.jpg|XRS-Modul board beneath the DDI-1 (CPC 464)Image:Vortex xrs 464 board backside.jpg|XRS-Modul board backside (CPC 464)

Image:VDOSVortex X-2Modul 6128.JPGjpg|X-Modul (CPC 6128)Image:VDOSVortex X-internalModul 6128 Board Front.JPGjpg|X-Modul board (CPC 6128) Image:Vortex X-Modul 6128 Board Backside.jpg|X-Modul boardbackside (CPC 6128)

==== RS232 I/O Ports ====

The RS232-C interface of the -"XRS modules were -Modul" was advertised to be compatible with Amstrad/Pace interfaces, but have offers only one channel (so no channel B). * [[Media:Vortex RS232-C Manual.pdf|Vortex RS232-C Manual]] {{DE}} (pdf)

== VDOS = Downloads ===

* [https://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/Vortex%20X-Laufwerke%20Manual.de.rar Benutzerhandbuch für die Vortex X-Laufwerke] {{DE}} (manual)* [[Media:Vortex_Vdos_2.0_ManualVortex RS232-C Manual.pdf|Benutzerhandbuch für das Diskettenbetriebssystem 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 user manual-X ROM for CPC 664/6128)* [[Media:NEC_FD1035_Floppy.pdf|NEC FD1035 Datasheet (M1-X Floppy Disk Drive)]]

See == 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 ==== * [[VDOS#Vortex_Disc_formatMedia:DOSCOPY.DSK|VDOSDOSCOPY 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 Disc FormatPARA 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. === FutureOS ===[[FutureOS]] has support for Vortex drives, it uses the Vortex 704 KB format for 80 Track drives.  <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>