CPC464 Restart: Difference between revisions

From RevSpace
Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
 
(One intermediate revision by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Project
  {{Project
   |Name= CPC464 Restart
   |Name=CPC464 Restart
  |Picture=Cpc464.computer.750pix.jpg
  |Omschrijving=Getting a CPC464 without monitor to work
   |Status=Completed
   |Status=Completed
   |Contact= mahjongg
   |Contact=Mahjongg
   }}
   }}


Line 22: Line 24:
Fix the keys, and try to load a game from cassette.
Fix the keys, and try to load a game from cassette.


Some time ago the CPC464, and about a hundred other home computers that where in my possession,  have been donated (in bruikleen gegeven) to awesome space, so that means a status change here to "Completed".
Some time ago the CPC464, and about a hundred other home computers that where in my possession,  have been donated (in bruikleen gegeven) to awesome space, http://awesomespace.nl so that means a status change here to "Completed".

Latest revision as of 20:59, 16 January 2016

Project CPC464 Restart
Cpc464.computer.750pix.jpg
Getting a CPC464 without monitor to work
Status Completed
Contact Mahjongg
Last Update 2016-01-16

CPC464 Restart is a project where an old Amstrad CPC464 (without monitor) is restored to working order again.

First issue is that the original CPC464 came with a monitor that had a built in power supply, the monitor could be either color or monochrome, and the CPC464 needs 5V @ 2A.

The power supply isn't a problem, as there are plenty of power supplies at Revspace that can be used. The only PAL monitor though we have ready is a PAL monitor that only has a composite input, not a SCART one, which was a bit of a problem because the only documentation I could find about adding your own monitor were about using the RGB input via SCART using a SCART TV/Monitor.

After studying the schematics, and connector pinouts of the 6-pin DIN monitor connection, I came to the conclusion that the center pin was used for a "Luminance" signal, and that the signal also included sync, so this seemed to be a PAL composite (monochrome) output.

So a power cable with 4mm banana plugs was made, and a 5-pin DIN to RCA video cable, and that did the trick, we got a nice and crisp video output. The CPC464 happened to have a 64K memory expansion built inside, so BASIC reported this was a 128K machine!

The machine worked but was a bit "flaky", and one of the keys didn't work.

Next: Fix the keys, and try to load a game from cassette.

Some time ago the CPC464, and about a hundred other home computers that where in my possession, have been donated (in bruikleen gegeven) to awesome space, http://awesomespace.nl so that means a status change here to "Completed".