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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 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). The "S" variant (as 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. The 5,25" drives used were BASF 6138 type drives (double-sided, double density, 80 tracks per side, 96 tpi).

* [[Media:Vortex Floppy Disk Station === F1 für den Schneider CPC 464 - Benutzerhandbuch.pdf|Benutzerhandbuch für die Vortex Floppy Disk Station S and F1 für den Schneider CPC 464]] {{DE}} (Vortex F1 user manual)* [[Media:Vortex_Vdos_2.0_Manual.pdf|Benutzerhandbuch für das Diskettenbetriebssystem VDOS 2.0]] {{DE}} (VDOS 2.0 user manual)* [[Media:Vortexf1.dsk|Vortex F1 System Utilities Disk Image (720K)]]* [[Media:Vortex10.zip|VDOS 1.0 ROM]] {{DE}}* [[Media:Vortex20.zip|VDOS 2.0 ROM]] {{DE}}* [[Media:80307-058 BASF 6138 Mini Disk Apr83.zip|BASF 6138 Datasheet D (F1-S/D/Z Floppy Disk Drive5,25")]]===

=== Variants === * '''The F1 - S''' Single 5.25" drive with power supply and custom [[765_FDC|NEC 765]] based controller providing [[VDOS]]* '''F1 - D''' Double models are based on BASF 6138 (81690-001) type 5.,25" drive with power supply and custom [[765_FDC|NEC 765]] based controller providing [[VDOS]]* '''M1 - S''' Single 3disk drives, i.5" drive with power supply and custom [[765_FDC|NEC 765]] based controller providing [[VDOS]]* '''M1 e. double- D''' Double 3sided, 80 tracks per side, 96 tpi density.5" drive with power supply and custom [[765_FDC|NEC 765]] based controller providing [[VDOS]]<br />

Image:IMG 3163.JPG|Vortex F1-DImage:Vortex f1d front.jpg|Vortex F1-D Front front viewImage:Vortex f1d back.jpg|Vortex F1-D Back viewImage:Vortex f1 manual.jpg|Vortex F1 ManualImage:Vortex f1 manual disk.jpg|Vortex F1 System Utilities Diskbackside

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)

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

Vortex offered an upgrade kit consisting of a single bare 5,25" drive (BASF 6138) and an installation manual, allowing to upgrade a single F1-S (single) drive to a dual F1-D (dual) drive. To do this, one simply had to install the additional drive in the free slot of the drive case.

This adapter allows to use an external Amstrad FD=== M1-1 S and M1-D (3,5" drive on Vortex F1/) === The M1 setups connected to a CPC 464. Since only two drives can be used simultaneously, the -S and M1-D models are based on 3,5" drive had to be manually selected first using RSX commandsdisk drives. === FDA-1 3" Drive Adapter ===

* [[Media:This adapter allows to connect an external FD-1 3-Zoll-Adapter zur VORTEX-Diskettenstation" drive on Vortex F1/M1 setups on the CPC 464.pdf|Since only two drives can be used at the same time, the external 3" Adapter zur VORTEX-Diskettenstation]] {{DE}} (manual)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.

These are less expensive drives and were meant to be directly connected as B drive to a CPC 464 with DDI-1 or a CPC 664/6128. Since these drives do not ship neither with an own controller or nor a [[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.  === F1-Z (5,25") === The F1-Zmodel is based on a later revision of the BASF 6138 type disk drive (81757-drives were basically S-drives without 001), which offers more configuration options using jumpers. The drive was shipped in a Vortex controller "double step" configuration to use only 40 tracks, and CPthus the cheaper and more widely available DS DD floppy disks (48 tpi, 180K/M licenseside) could be used. <gallery>Image:Basf 6138 81757 001.jpg|BASF AG 6138 (81757-001) driveImage:Basf 6138 81757 001 jumpers.jpg|BASF AG 6138 (81757-001) 40 track jumper configuration</gallery>

=== Variants A1-Z Upgrade Kit (5,25") ===

* '''Vortex offered an upgrade kit consisting of a controller, a manual, a CP/M license and an utility disk which allows a F1 - Z''' Single 5.25" drive with power supply with ribbon cable (does not come with interface containing FDC or [[VDOS]])* '''M1 to be upgraded to a F1- Z''' Single 3S drive.5" drive with power supply with ribbon cable (does not come with interface containing FDC or [[VDOS]])

=== A1M1-Z Upgrade Kit (3,5") ===

Vortex offered an upgrade kit consisting of The M1-Z model is equipped with a controllersingle 3, manual, CP/M license and utility 5" disk which upgraded a Z-Drive to a S-Drivedrive.

These are the latest drives from Vortex for use with a CPC 464 with DDI-1 or a CPC 664/6128 (ie. on systems that already have a floppy disc controller); no additional controller 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 very well designed and have solved many of the problems of the earlier series, especially in terms of compatibility.

* [https://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/Vortex%20X=== F1-Laufwerke%20Manual.de.rar Vortex Xand F1-Laufwerke] {{DE}} XRS (manual5,25")* [[Media:Manual de las Unidades Vortex.pdf|Manual de las Unidades Vortex]] {{ES}} (manual)* [[Media:NEC_FD1035_Floppy.pdf|NEC FD1035 Datasheet (M1-X Floppy Disk Drive)]]===

=== Variants === * '''The F1 - X''' Single 80 trackmodel is based on either a single BASF 6138 (81690-001) or a single BASF 6139 5, Double Sided, 5.25" disk drive with power supply* '''M1 - X''' Single 80 Track, Double Sided. The BASF 6139 is a revisioned version which is slightly more compact (~1cm shorter), 3and also a number of electronical and mechanical design flaws that affected durability were corrected.5" drive with power supply* '''The F1 - XRS''' same as F1-X, upgraded variant is equipped with an additional RS232-C interface* '''M1 - XRS''' same as M1-X, upgraded with RS232-C interface<br />.

File:F1-x front.jpg|F1-X (CPC 664)File:Vortex-f1-x-cpc464 backside.jpg|F1-X backside, showing IDC connector (CPC 664464) backsideFile:Vortex f1-x cpc664 backside edge.jpg|F1-X (CPC 664) backside, showing edge connector(CPC 664)File:F1-x inside.jpg|F1-X (CPC 664) inside view, showing a BASF 6139 drive

File:vortex-m1-x-front.png|M1-X (CPC 464)File:vortex-m1-x-back.png|M1-X (CPC 464) backsideFile:vortex-m1-x-connector.png|M1-X (CPC 464) backside, showing IDC connector (CPC 464)File:vortex-m1-x-under.png|M1-X (CPC 464) undersideFile:vortex-m1-x-inside.png|M1-X (CPC 464) inside view, showing the drive and powerFile:vortex-m1-x-drive-close.png|M1-X (CPC 464) inside view, close-up of the drive from aboveFile:vortex-m1-x-drive-details.png|M1-X (CPC 464) inside view, close-up from the backside

The X-drives for the CPC 664/6128 are connected directly to the floppy port. To In order to provide [[VDOS]], the "X-Modul" (sometimes referred to as also called "VDOS module") had to must be installed connected additionally to the expansion port. This is contains a ROM board containing that provides a VDOS 2.0-X ROM and was also available with an additional RS232-C interface (then referred to as "XRS-Modul"). The ROM board supplied for the CPC 464 version came together with a chunky housing in which both the "X(RS)-Modul" and the DDI-1 had to be controller were installed. * [[Media:VDOS20X.ROM|VDOS 2.0All variants were also available with an additional RS232-X ROM]] {{DE}} C interface (German VDOS 2.0in this case called either "XRS-Modul" or "X ROM for CPC 664-Modul/6128RS") <br />.

Image:Vortex fd1 464 controller 1.jpg|X(RS)XRS-Modul (CPC 464)Image:Vortex fd1 464 controller 2.jpg|X(RS)XRS-Modul with built-in DDI-1 visible (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)