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The Amstrad CPC (Colour Personal Computer) series was a series of 8-bit home / personal computers that was were manufactured by the british British company [[Amstrad]] between 1984 (launch of the CPC464: 21st June 1984) and 1993 (?). The CPC, like most of its contemporary home micros, had an integrated computer-in-a-keyboard design. Also incorporated to in the keyboard was the [[Datacorder|tape recorder of disk ]] 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, A.[[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 - so as to make the product attractive to the layman who could theoretically buy it off the back of a track (TM of Amstrad's early practices). As a resultA truck driver, he chose ready off-the-shelf components and used low-cost production methods in an effort to bring manufacturing costs down. He also included a monitor to connect the computer to - a move which, while raising the priceunfamiliar with computers, was designed to free often cited as the home TV from little brats hogging it for a dose of Ikari Warriors while Eastenders was on. This proved to be a success, and Amstrad went on to sell millions of CPCsCPC's target market.

The combination of low costAs a result, integrated design, good manufacturing quality and some impressive features like CP/M Amstrad chose ready off-the-shelf components and used low-cost production methods in an 80effort to bring manufacturing costs down. They also included a monitor to connect the computer to -column display mode (a move which , while raising the price, was lacking in designed to free the competition) home TV from little brats hogging it for a dose of Ikari Warriors while Eastenders was on. This concept appealed to users and proved to be a success both with home users and small businesses, and Amstrad went on to sell millions of CPCs.

In all, there were three basic modelsHowever, at least in the CPC [[464]]UK, [[664]] and [[6128]], plus two more [[Plus|advanced]] models, the CPC464+ and the 6128+. A final iteration it was initially possible to buy the [[GX4000]] games machine based on the Amstrad CPC+ computers.with a modulator instead of an Amstrad monitor:

== The 464 ==[[Image:464.png|right|thumb|250px|Amstrad CPC [[464]] with colour monitor]]First came Because of its use of the CPC464Z80, during the summer of 1984 (with production ceasing in 1990). This model which was also used an integrated tape recorder and used 64KB or RAM. It sold around 2 million units in Europe andthe Sinclair models, technologically-wise, was quite higher than some of the ZX Spectrum and earliest games found on a similar level with the Commodore c64 (with CPC were fairly direct ports of the notable exception Spectrum versions which failed to take advantage of the sound chip; while CPC's extra capabilities. The amount of Spectrum ports has often been overstated by those who wish to knock the c64 employed the splendid SID chipmachine, Amstrad opted for and in fact formed a generic sound chip - AY-3-8912 - with unremarkable features)comparatively small number of largely unsuccessful games. At its core one would find a [[Z80]] clocked at 4MHz while the display was managed by the 6845 CRTC along Nonetheless, those that were published left users and reviewers with a gate-array chipbad taste in their mouth.

The CPC464sported At its core, the CPC combined a palette of 27 colours standard 4MHz [[Z80|Z80A]] with off-the-shelf components and three distinct resolutions: 160x200x16 colours a custom [[Gate Array]] chip. The [[firmware]] comprised two 16k ROMs (mode 0combined onto one 32k chip): one was effectively the operating system, 320x200x4 colours (mode 1) the other the fast and 640x200x2 colours flexible [[Locomotive BASIC]] interpreter. All machines except the original 464 would also include a further 16k ROM (mode 2, 80-column modeon a separate chip): the AMSDOS disc operating system.

Because of its use of the Z80Besides AMSDOS, which was CPCs equipped with floppy drives also used in the Sinclair models, many of the games found on the CPC were direct ports of the Spectrum version. As a result, they failed to take advantage of the CPC's extra capabilities, leaving users and reviewers shipped with a bad taste in their mouth[[CP/M]], a fact that was going allowing access to last for the entire life its vast library of the machinesavailable software.

The CPCIn all, there were three 's operating system was called classic' models, the CPC [[AmsDOS464]], [[664]] (Amstrad's Disk Operating System) and was included on a ROM chip of 48KB[[6128]]; plus two short-lived later [[Plus|advanced]] models, the 464 Plus and the 6128 Plus. Also in ROM there A final iteration was the Locomotive BASIC interpreter which made [[Plus|GX4000]] games machine based on the CPC very fast in BASIC operations, compared to other contemporary machines+ computers.

== The 664 ==[[Image:cpc6643 million units sold.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Amstrad CPC [[664]] with colour monitor in 80-column display mode]]

A few months later Amstrad took the initial design and, building upon the same idea, removed the tape recorder and replaced it with the interface and mechanism of the external Floppy Disk Drive it was selling up to then. The result''See also: the CPC664. Sporting a less colourful and easier-to-type-on keyboard, the CPC664 appealed as a more serious machine and set off to become a success, especially due to its quite fast 3", 180KB/side drive[[CPC Prototypes]]. ''

== The 6128 ==[[Image:Cpc6128While earlier computers like the Tandy TRS-80 Model III, Commodore PET, Commodore Educator 64, Apple Lisa and Apple Macintosh had pioneered the all-in-one design, they were primarily aimed at businesses and education.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Amstrad CPC [[6128]] with colour monitor]]

Success never came, however, since a few months after its launch Amstrad presented the CPC6128 which was a 664 with redesigned keyboard (yet again) and double By the amount end of memory - a great 128KB. This effectively killed off the 6641985, to its users' frustration, since it offered more at all the same price. The 6128 came bundled with CP/M 2.2, DR Logo big names were already established in both 8-bit and CP/M+ (with the GSX extension) and it was quite an appealing solution at a low price. Though the 128KB of memory could not be accessed all at once (due to [[Z80]]'s limitation)newer 16-bit systems, the upper 64KB could still be used as a RAM disk and brought into view through memory banking. Even without this amount, however, Amstrad's efficient designed allowed leaving no room for a TPA (Transient Program Area) of 42KB, more than enough to run all CP/M softwarenewcomers.

<gallery>cpc6128plus.jpg|Amstrad [[Image:cpc464plusPlus|6128 Plus]] with colour monitorAmstrad 464 Plus.jpg|leftAmstrad [[Plus|thumb464 Plus]]File:Amstrad-plus-ad.jpg|200pxEnglish advertisementFile:Amstrad-plus-french-ad.jpg|French advertisementFile:Amstrad-plus-spanish-ad.jpg|Spanish advertisement</gallery>The last models in the Amstrad CPC range were the [[Plus|CPC6128+Amstrad 464 Plus]] with colour monitorand [[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. However, the "CPC Plus" branding was used by Amstrad España in their advertising material.

The last models in Plus series were quite (but not 100%) compatible with the original CPC range computers. The compatibility issues came mostly from:* The emulated [[8255|PPI]] chip, making the keyboard unresponsive* The emulated [[CRTC]], breaking CPC demos* Unlike the original model, the 464 Plus lacks a tape counter for tracking cassette positions. It also omits the distinctive loading sounds that were once audible through the CPC464+ speaker during tape operations on the original CPC 464* Unlike the original model, the 464 Plus features the BASIC 1.1 ROM* The new AMSDOS ROM, breaking ROM access to the floppy drive ROM issues can be easily fixed by using a [[Plus System Cartridge|Downgrade System cartridge]]. The Plus series 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 CPC6128+a choice of 4096 colours all in a new, launched together sleek case which mimicked the keyboard-computer design that was ''en vogue'' in 1990the 16-bit market (ST, Amiga etc).  Described as a solution of 'too little, too late', this was Amstrad's 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 CPC+ were mostly (but not quite 100%) compatible with the original CPC computers, and incorporated a list of new features, like a cartridge port for instant program loading, a better sound chip, DMA, hardware scrolling, 64 (?) hardware sprites of 32 colours each, and a palette of 4096 colours all in a new, sleek case which reminded the higher-end machines.  While the CPC+ Amstrad Plus computers were arguably one of the best most advanced 8-bit computers ever built for the mass market, they died a natural an early death as the 16-bit era had trully and well set was infull swing. And 32-bit computers were already appearing. The year before, Amstrad launched its first 32-bit PC, the [[Amstrad PC|PC2386]]. Also, the [[Apple II|Apple IIGS]] and the [[MSX|MSX Turbo-R]] proved that 8-bit machines could be upgraded to 16-bit. It would have been possible with the CPC if Amstrad had decided to do so. <br>

[[Image:Gx4000Amstrad-GX4000-Console.jpg|right|thumb|200px300px|The Amstrad [[GX4000]] ]]By 1990 Amstrad had realised that the home market was heading towards the 16-bit machines, one 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 CPC+ by upgrading the old machines, 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 CPCan Amstrad 464+ motherboard in a new case, with no keyboard , cassette deck nor disc drive, and with most entension extension ports gone - save for the cartridge port and two joypads. The GX4000 was officially announced along with the 464 plus and 6128 plus computers at the CNIT Centre in Paris in August 1990. The system was launched a month later in four countries: Britain, France, Spain, and Italy. It was priced at £99.99 in Britain and 990F in France; software was priced at £25 for most games. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_GX4000 Source] As expected, the GX4000 was a flop that could not break the stranglehold that Sega and Nintendo had on the market at the time. The Nintendo NES was a best seller and Sega released the Mega Drive in November 1990 in Europe. As a result, the GX4000 was soon to be found selling at ridiculously low prices - as little as £19.99 in the UK - as dealers tried to offload their stock. It was a shame, because if Amstrad had realised the market potential and produced this console a few years earlier, it could well have been a success. As it was, the GX4000 joined the long list of failed attempts to repurpose computers as game consoles, alongside the Atari XEGS, the Commodore 64GS, the Amiga CDTV, the Amiga CD32, the FM Towns Marty and the Apple Pippin. <br> == Clones == There were two clones of the CPC, neither of which were 100% compatible with the CPC. * [[KC Compact]]: An East German clone. The Gate-Array was replaced with TTL logic which performed a similar function. There are some hardware differences, especially in the interrupts. This clone is much closer to the CPC in terms of functionality. * [[Aleste 520EX]]: This clone also had some MSX like hardware which made it possible to run some modified MSX titles. This clone also ran faster than the original CPC. * [https://hackaday.io/project/188511-xialeste XiAleste]: This expanded clone is the successor of the Aleste. Currently under development. <br> == Outro == All in all, the CPC series met with great success. Although they would never achieve the universal status of the [[Commodore 64]] or the humble [[ZX Spectrum]] series, the CPCs managed to sell very well. France was the sole market where the CPCs achieved the top position for years. Still, the CPCs were very popular in the UK, Spain, Greece, Germany and Australia, to name a few countries.

== Outtro ==*[[CPC timeline]]*[https://youtu.be/MTsCiZ3ZBD4 Entrevista a ROLAND PERRY] by [[Las Cosas Retro]]*[https://youtu.be/bD_gBz2fwDM Amstrad CPC - Top 150 games (1984-2020)] Top 50 CPC games from [https://youtu.be/F3pVjc4tmCU 1984] [https://youtu.be/8w7Rx1dOmPs 1985] [https://youtu.be/c18muwWbVZc 1986] [https://youtu.be/NpL1uq0IAz4 1987] [https://youtu.be/0mnR3vTJXw8 1988]*[https://youtu.be/ZOOwlWwlltM All in all, the Amstrad CPC series met with great successgames] from [https://youtu. Although they would never achieve the status be/Smpv8v1OP5A 1984] [https://youtu.be/_JJjHXNGEyY 1985] [https://youtu.be/5XRyZIW4c9s 1986] [https://youtu.be/V7yRLp-Xvfs 1987] [https://youtu.be/afn70FPDRoQ 1988] [https://youtu.be/tpQ1PhUWnYw 1989] [https://youtu.be/8_JvuGdumC4 1990] [https://youtu.be/yJsm1DeF7Pk 1991] [https://youtu.be/LQmDzkNs0P4 1992]*[https://youtu.be/hBlHUWRlmug Amstrad CPC - Best of the c64 or even the humble Spectrum series, the CPCs managed to sell very well and attain leader status in several countriesMusic with Video (3 hours)]*[https://youtu. The CPCs were very popular in the UK, Spain, France, Greece and Australia, to name a few countriesbe/BvramomEtSM Amstrad TV adverts] [https://youtu.be/n7U6E7bDFlc Amstrad French TV adverts]*[https://youtu.be/8o1OTwFv7WQ Part 1] [https://youtu.be/f1KS7nSKnxE Part 2] Amstrad CPC Story by [[Nostalgia Nerd]]*[https://youtu.be/fB9M6RMtMUE Partie 1] [https://youtu.be/F0CzNJjjkO4 Partie 2] [https://youtu.be/la5IhBbrqPc Partie 3] [https://youtu.be/uUR5oKBxRzA Partie 4] Histoire de l'Amstrad CPC by [[Génération Micros]]*[https://youtu.be/mesZ1zbA654 Amstrad : La gamme CPC (1984/1985)] [https://youtu.be/Ijuqsz69Euk Amstrad 6128 Plus] by [[Rodrik Studio]]*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0vvdDx4egk&list=PLIX9fyYxV0k9phQiqATmOe2OZJyeMuY0a C64 vs Amstrad CPC] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfZ77Ltkols&list=PLIX9fyYxV0k_VOgMOIxseJH1c91KKcxKB ZX Spectrum vs Amstrad CPC]