[[Image:Vortex-logo.jpg|thumb|Vortex Logo]]
'''Vortex Computersysteme''' from Neckarsulm, Germany, was a hardware and software manufacturer for the Amstrad CPC. It was founded in 1984 by Mr. Michel and his brother, Mr. Majer and Mrs. Armbruster. Vortex now is called ICP (Intelligent Computer Peripherals) an is an Adaptec Company, specialized in RAID-Controllers.
== F1 =='''Vortex Computersysteme''' from Neckarsulm, Germany, was a hardware and software manufacturer for the Amstrad CPC.
A 5It was founded in 1984 by Mr.25" disc driveMichel and his brother, Mr. 80 tracks Majer and 708KbMrs. Armbruster.
Sold as :Vortex now is called ICP (Intelligent Computer Peripherals) an is an Adaptec Company, specialized in RAID-Controllers.
* '''F1-S''' Single 5.25" drive with controller.* '''F1-D''' Double 5.25" drive with controller.* '''F1-Z''' Single 5.25" drive without controller.== Hardware ==
The disc drive also was available as an extended versions :* [[Vortex Disc Drives]]* [[Vortex Expansion RAM card]]* [[Vortex Winchester Drive (WD20)]] (Hard Disc Drive)
* '''F1-XRS''' which also contains a RS232 interface.* '''F1-X''' which can be updated with a RS232 interface.== Software ==
Disc operation system * [[VDOSGraphic Master]] 2.0 on ROM included.- a graphics program* [[Para Plus]] - a disk utility for CP/M* [[Vector]] - a maths program to print functions or to find a function which follows given points
Manual can be found here [[F1]]== ROMs (Operating Systems) ==
<gallery caption="The * [[BOS]]* [[VDOS]]* [[Vortex F1 Drives">CP/M]]
Image:F1-x.jpg|F1-Z Disc DriveImage:FD1.jpg|F1-D Disc Drive== Adverts ==
<gallery>
File:Vortex Advert (CPCI 9-1986 page 76-77).jpg|Two-page advert from 1986
</gallery>
== M1 ==A 3.5" disc drive. 80 tracks and 1.4MB. Sold as '''M1/S''' with controller, '''M1-Z''' without controller as second drive and '''M1/D''' with controller and two drives. The disc drive also was available as an extended version, called '''M1-XRS''', which also contains a [[RS232]] interface, and '''M1-X''', which can be updated with a RS232 interface. Disc operation system [[VDOS]] 2.0 on ROM included. == The Vortex disc drive controller == The Vortex disc controler was similar to Amstrads own controller.It used the same controler chip, the [[FDC|NEC765]]. <gallery caption="The Vortex Disc Drive Controller"> ImageCategory:vortex controler 1.jpg|A anonymous box houses the controllerImage:vortex controler 2.jpg|Look inside the controllerImage:vortex controler 3.jpg|Controller with [[VDOSPeripherals]] mounted </gallery> == SP == RAM expansion card. Not compatible to the [[dk'tronics]] memory expansion. Sold in different sizes of RAM as '''SP 64''', '''SP 128''', '''SP 256''', '''SP 320''' and '''SP 512''' (resulting in a maximum RAM size of the computer of 576KiB). Usable under [[BASIC]] and [[CP/M]] and offering a RAM disc. <gallery caption="The Vortex Expansion RAM card">Image:sp512top.jpg|The Vortex Expansion RAM cardImageCategory:cpc464bf.jpg|CPC 464 before put the Expansion RAM cardImage:cpc464af.jpg|CPC 464 after put the Expansion RAM card</gallery> == Vector ==A maths program to print functions or to find a function which follows given points. Released 1986. == Para Plus == A program to transfer data [[Vortex Para Plusrelated companies]] == VDOS == The disc operating system [[VDOS]] for use with Vortex drives == Weblinks ==[http://www.vortex.de Vortex/ICP-Homepage] [http://www.kjthacker.f2s.com/docs/sp512.html Vortex SP512 RAM Card] [[Category:PeripheralsGerman companies]] [[Category:CPC related companiesVortex Computersysteme]]