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CPC
,/* ANT (Arnold Number Two) prototype */
[[Category:CPC History| ]][[Category:Hardware| ]][[Category:CPC Internal Components| ]][[Category:Amstrad Products| ]][[Category:CP/M]]The Real meaning of this Wiki.
== Introduction ==
The Amstrad CPC (Colour Personal Computer) series was a series of 8-bit home / personal computers that were manufactured by the British company [[Amstrad]] between 1984 (launch of the CPC464: 21st June 1984) and 1993 (?). The CPC, like most contemporary home micros, had an integrated computer-in-a-keyboard design. Also incorporated in the keyboard was the [[Datacorder|tape recorder ]] 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, [[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. A truck driver, unfamiliar with computers, was often cited as the CPC's target market.
As a result, Amstrad chose ready off-the-shelf components and used low-cost production methods in an effort to bring manufacturing costs down. They also included a monitor to connect the computer to - a move which, while raising the price, was designed to free the 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.
However, at least in the UK, it was initially possible to buy the Amstrad CPC with a modulator instead of an Amstrad monitor: [[File:CPC6128 with modulator - UK ads.jpg|300px]] The combination of low cost, integrated design, good manufacturing quality and some impressive features like CP/M and an 80-column display mode (lacking in much of the competition, particularly the Sinclair [[ZX Spectrum ]] and [[Commodore 64]]) proved to be a success both with home users and small businesses, and Amstrad went on to sell millions of CPCs.
Because of its use of the Z80, which was also used in the Sinclair models, some of the earliest games found on the CPC were fairly direct ports of the Spectrum versions which failed to take advantage of the CPC's extra capabilities. The amount of Spectrum ports has often been overstated by those who wish to knock the machine, and in fact formed a comparatively small number of largely unsuccessful games. Nonetheless, those that were published left users and reviewers with a bad taste in their mouth.
At its core, the CPC combined a standard 4MHz [[Z80|Z80A ]] with off-the-shelf components and a custom [[Gate Array ]] chip. The [[firmware]] comprised two 16k ROMs (combined onto one 32k chip): one was effectively the operating system, the other the fast and flexible [[Locomotive BASIC]] interpreter. All machines except the original 464 would also include a further 16k ROM (on a separate chip), : the AMSDOS disc operating system. Besides AMSDOS, CPCs equipped with floppy drives also shipped with [[CP/M]], allowing access to its vast library of available software.
In all, there were three 'classic' models, the CPC [[464]], [[664]] and [[6128]]; plus two short-lived later [[Plus|advanced]] models, the 464 Plus and the 6128 Plus. A final iteration was the [[Plus|GX4000]] games machine based on the CPC+ computers.
3 million units sold.
''See also: [[CPC Prototypes]].''
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== The 464 Price positioning ==[[Image:464.png|right|thumb|250px|Amstrad CPC [[464]] with colour monitor]]First came the CPC464, the father of the CPC family, released on the 21st June 1984(with production ceasing in 1990). This model used an integrated tape recorder and offered 64KB of RAM. It sold around two million units in Europe and, technologically-wise, was more impressive than the ZX Spectrum and on a similar level with the Commodore 64. (One notable exception was the sound chip; while the C64 employed the splendid custom SID chip, Amstrad opted for a generic sound chip - AY-3-8912 - with unremarkable features. That said, the firmware of the CPC was leagues ahead of the C64.) At its core was a [[Z80]] clocked at 4MHz - though screen display considerations, and the particular design of the Gate Array limited this to an effective 3.3MHz in practice - while the display was managed by the 6845 CRTC along with a gate-array chip.
{| class="wikitable sortable"|-! Machine! Manufacturer! Price (Francs)! Source: [https://www.abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag= The 472 =41&page=1 Micro 7 #21 (11/1984)]|-| [[image:CPC_472_es.jpgAtari|right800XL (PAL)]]|thumbAtari|200px2199|Spanish Amstrad CPC 472advertisement Atari|-| [[Atari|800XL (SCART)]]The CPC 472 was a Spanish version of the | Atari| 2499| advertisement Atari|-| [[Matra Alice|Alice]]| Matra| 1199| advertisement Alice|-| [[Matra Alice|Alice 32 in suitcase]]| Matra| 2495| advertisement Alice|-| [[Oric-1/Atmos|Atmos]]| Oric| 2350| advertisement Vismo|-| [[BBC Micro]]| Acorn| 5990| advertisement JCS|-| [[C64|C64 (PAL)]]| Commodore| 2990| advertisement Ordividuel|-| [[C64|C64 (SCART)]]| Commodore| 3990| ads Ordividuel (C64 modified by Procep)|-| '''CPC 464 with an additionalcolour monitor'''| Amstrad| 4490| advertisements Vismo, nonJCS and Ordividuel|-functional 8KB RAM. A Spanish law required that every computer | '''CPC 464 with up to 64KB should have extra keys for the Spanish language, or an extra tax would be levied. So monochrome monitor'''| Amstrad soldered in an extra 8kb which was not, however| 2990| advertisements Vismo, usable by the machine since it was not connected to anything else. Later on Amstrad released a 472 with a proper Spanish keyboard. After the rule changed there was also a CPC472 with nonJCS and Ordividuel|-Spanish keys available for a very short time. The CPC 472 is very rare.| [[Exelvision EXL100|Exl 100]]| Exelvision| 3190| advertisement JCS|-| Laser 200| V-tech| 1280| advertisement Ordividuel|-| Laser 310| V-tech| 1490| advertisement Ordividuel|-| Macintosh 512KB (all-in-one)| Apple| 29995| article|-| [[Thomson computers|MO5]]| Thomson| 2450| advertisement Ordividuel|-| [[MSX|MSX PHC-28]]| Sanyo| 2990| advertisement Vismo|-| [[MSX|MSX Prism]]| Goldstar| 2950| article|-| PC 128KB (all-in-one)| Goupil| 24200| article|-| [[Thomson computers|TO7/70]]| Thomson| 3590| advertisement Ordividuel|-| [[VG 5000]]| Philips| 1590| article|-| [[ZX Spectrum|ZX Spectrum 48KB]]| Sinclair| 1990| advertisement Ordividuel|-| [[ZX80/81|ZX81]]| Sinclair| 580| advertisements Vismo and Ordividuel|}
But all things considered, it was an excellent value, as both a tape recorder and a monitor were expensive items. And most buyers didn’t have spare ones to reuse anyway as it was their first computer.
Note: In June 1985, Amstrad took the initial design and, building upon the same idea, removed the tape recorder and replaced it with a disc drive, using the same hardware sold as the France we had an additional problem in that our TVs were [[DDI-1]] add-on for 464 owners. The resulthttps: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SECAM SECAM] only in the CPC66480s. Sporting a less colourful and easier-to-type-on keyboard, A monitor was required for foreign computers like the CPC664 appealed as a more serious machine and proved a success, especially due to its quite fast 3", 180KBC64 PAL or the ZX Spectrum that didn't output RGB. TVs only became PAL/side driveSECAM compatible in the 90s.
In June 1985, the CPC 664 was launched at 4490 Francs for monochrome and 5990 Francs for colour. Source: Micro 7 #28 - 06/1985
The evolution of Amstrad CPC prices over the years is described in that article: [https://www.cpc-power.com/cpcarchives/index.php?page=articles&num=90 L'histoire des CPC selon GENERAL]
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== Late to the market ==
Amstrad jumped into the home computer market in June 1984, one year after the [[MSX]] Standard of June 1983 which was thought at the time to be the end of the "cowboy" era of disparate and incompatible 8-bit computers.
It was just in time to shake things up with its unique all-in-one concept for the home market.
<br> == The CPC series == === The 464 ===<gallery>464.png|Amstrad CPC [[464]] with colour monitorCPC464 pre-production sample.jpg|Pre-production sample made by Orion Japan for Amstrad UKSchneider cpc 464 ddi1.jpg|Schneider CPC [[464]] with monochrome monitor and [[Amstrad External Disk Drive|DDI-1]] extensionAmstrad CPC464 grey keys.jpg|Amstrad CPC464 with grey keys</gallery><gallery>File:CPC464 english ad.jpg|English adFile:CPC464 australian ad.jpg| Australian adFile:CPC464 french ad.jpg|French adFile:CPC464 spanish ad.jpg|Spanish adFile:CPC464 danish ad.jpg|Danish adFile:CPC464 greek ad.jpg|Greek ad</gallery> First came the CPC464, the father of the CPC family, released on the 21st June 1984 (with production ceasing in 1990). This model used an integrated tape recorder and offered 64KB of RAM. It sold around two million units in Europe and, technology-wise, was more impressive than the [[ZX Spectrum]] and on a similar level with the [[Commodore 64]]. The firmware of the CPC was also leagues ahead of the C64. One notable exception was the sound chip: while the C64 employed the splendid custom [[SID]] chip, Amstrad opted for a generic sound chip - [[AY|AY-3-8912]] - with unremarkable features. It is no surprise though as there was not much choice in off-the-shelf sound chips in early 1984. At its core was a [[Z80]] clocked at 4MHz - though screen display considerations, and the particular design of the [[Gate Array]] limited this to an effective 3.3MHz in practice - while the display was managed by the [[CRTC|6845 CRTC]] along with a gate-array chip. The CPC464 sported a palette of 27 colours and [[Video modes|three distinct resolutions]]: 160x200x16 colours (mode 0), 320x200x4 colours (mode 1) and 640x200x2 colours (mode 2, 80-column mode). Before the launch of the CPC 464, 45 pre-production hand built machines with a grey case had been issued to software houses to get their games ready on time. <br> === The 472 ===[[image:CPC_472_es.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Spanish Amstrad CPC 472]]The [[472|CPC 472]] was a Spanish version of the CPC 464 with an additional, non-functional 8KB RAM. The reason was that Spain charged an import tax on home computers with 64K or less RAM, the fake "72K" CPC version bypassed that tax. The tax was invented in September 1985, and was dropped a few months later (when Spain joined the EEC). Also in 1985, but independtly of that tax, Spain dictated that computers must have spanish keyboards, which resulted in two CPC 472 versions: Older models with english keys, newer ones with spanish keys. Another oddity is that the older CPC472 had BASIC 1.1 while the newer CPC472 had BASIC 1.0. The CPC 472 is very rare. "''We had basically stuck two fingers in the air to the Spanish government, who were trying to screw our business, and there wasn’t much they could do about it''" — Alan Sugar Read the full story behind the CPC 472 directly from the horse's mouth: https://amstrad.com/product/cpc472/ <br> === The 664 ===<gallery>Amstrad-cpc-664.png|Amstrad CPC 664Schneider cpc 664.jpg|Schneider CPC 664</gallery> In June 1985, Amstrad took the initial design and, building upon the same idea, removed the tape recorder and replaced it with a disc drive, using the same hardware sold as the [[DDI-1]] add-on for 464 owners. The result: the CPC664. Sporting a less colourful and easier-to-type-on keyboard, the CPC664 appealed as a more serious machine and proved a success, especially due to its quite fast 3", 180KB/side drive. Never the less, the 664 did have a very short life and was soon replaced by the 6128 (according to [[Amstrad Action]], Issue 1, Oct 1985, page [[:File:Amstrad Action001 08.jpg|8]], the 664 was produced only from May until August 1985). * ''[http://www.gondolin.org.uk/hchof/review.php?id=29&mcid=27 Your Computer (June 1985) review of the CPC664]'' <br> === The 6128 === <gallery>Amstrad CPC6128.jpg|Amstrad CPC 6128File:Amstrad CPC 6128 white.jpg|Amstrad CPC 6128 with white sticker</gallery> Shortly afterwards, Amstrad launched the CPC6128 for the American market only, through its distributor [[Indescomp]]. The new machine sported 128k of memory and a still more sober appearance, but was otherwise nearly identical to the 664. The height of the case was greatly reduced, and the cursor keys were arranged more comfortably, both making the keyboard more ergonomically than the 464/664. Internally, the keyboard consists of two foils, although such membrane foils are relative fragile, they were more robust and reliable than the single foil used in the 664. Despite initial denials, the machine was launched in Europe shortly afterwards, replacing the 664 for the same price - a situation which understandably irritated some of those who had recently purchased 664s. As well as the [[CP/M]] 2.2 and [[DR Logo]] that had shipped with the DDI-1 and the CPC664, the 6128 came bundled with CP/M Plus (with the GSX graphics extension) making it an appealing all-round computer at a low price. Though the 128KB of memory could not be accessed all at once from BASIC (due to limitations of the [[Z80]]), the upper 64KB could be used readily from machine code courtesy of an upgraded [[Gate Array]]. A bundled program, [[Bankman]], provided some access from BASIC. The presence of this extra memory and the clever design of Amstrad's CP/M Plus implementation allowed for a TPA (Transient Program Area) of 42KB61KB, more than enough to run all CP/M software. <br> === Accessories === Amstrad pushed the all-in-one package concept even further by selling unusual accessories to go along with their computer. Most notably, they proposed:* A [[Amstrad CT-1 Radio/Alarm-Clock|clock/radio/alarm module]]* A [[MP-3|TV tuner]] to transform the Amstrad CPC into a TV* A [[CS-10 Computer Desk|computer desk]] [[Image:Amstrad CPC accessories.jpg|200px]] <br>
== ANT (Arnold Number Two) prototype ==
At the same time, Amstrad was designing the immensely successful [[PCW]] word-processor series, also with software by [[Locomotive Software|Locomotive]] and featuring an all-in-one Z80-based design.
A shared architecture was developed that would encompass both the PCW and a new, upgraded CPC - codenamed [[ANT]], or Arnold Number Two. It shared many features with the PCW, such as its larger memory and its exceptionally elegant screen-handling hardware, but boasted colour and sound, and retained CPC compatibility. The aim was to see off the Atari ST and Commodore Amiga, next-generation games machines already on the horizon.
A few of the PCW's design features which don't appear to make any sense on their own stem from this shared ancestry. But the project was dropped at a fairly early stage, and the CPC Classic lived on before eventually succumbing to the Plus. Only one prototype board is believed to survive, in the possession of ex-Locomotive Software engineer [[Richard Clayton]].
"''We did an Amstrad machine basically a [[PCW]] with hi-res colour and sound synth, called ANT (Arnold Number Two) but it never went anywhere as production. It was really nice, but by then [[Amiga]] did everything we wanted to do, 8-bit was meh, and [[Amstrad PC|PCs]] were more important.''" — Vik Olliver [https://x.com/VikOlliver/status/1191156134876311554 Source]
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== The Plus series ==
<gallery>cpc6128plus.jpg|Amstrad [[Image:cpc6128plusPlus|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 the Amstrad CPC range Plus series were quite (but not 100%) compatible with the Amstrad 464 Plus and Amstrad 6128 Plus, launched together in 1990original CPC computers. The compatibility issues came mostly from:* The emulated [[8255|PPI]] chip, making the keyboard unresponsive* The emulated [[CRTC]], breaking CPC name is said to have been dropped because of a legal dispute with a French firmdemos* Unlike the original model, though it is the 464 Plus lacks a tape counter for tracking cassette positions. It also likely omits the distinctive loading sounds that "were once audible through the speaker during tape operations on the original CPC 6128 464* Unlike the original model, the 464 Plus" was considered too unwieldy a name and one redolent of features the machine's mid-80s heritageBASIC 1.1 ROM* The new AMSDOS ROM, breaking ROM access to the floppy drive
== The GX4000 ==
[[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, 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 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 Plus motherboard in a new case, with no keyboard, cassette deck or disc drive, and with most extension ports gone - save for the cartridge port and two joypads]].
The GX4000 was, in essence, an Amstrad 464+ motherboard in a new case, with no keyboard, cassette deck nor disc drive, and with most 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, it had to suffer the same fate GX4000 joined the long list of failed attempts to repurpose computers as game consoles, alongside the Atari XEGS, the even less powerful 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 and attain leader status in several countries. The France was the sole market where the CPCs achieved the top position for years. Still, the CPCs were very popular in the UK, Spain, France, Greece, Germany and Australia, to name a few countries. <br> ==See also==
