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Clone Amstrada CPC 464

zaxoniec 28917 44

TL;DR

  • A compact clone of the Amstrad CPC 464 microcomputer was built for educational purposes and to save desk space.
  • The PCB was redrawn in DipTrace, shrunk to 16x15 cm, and updated with a PS/2 keyboard interface.
  • The design replaced the original 40007 chip with the 40010 from the CPC 6128 and initially used the 4164 DRAM chips.
  • After wiring fixes and added connections, the prototype booted as a CPC 464, then was converted to a 6128 version with another 64 KB RAM and a new ROM.
  • The first prototype had reversed DRAM power wiring, a wrong clock generator, and missing connections; the floppy interface still remains external.
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  • #31 14506791
    zaxoniec
    Level 14  
    I prefer to run SymbOS ;)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ish4ReOjdIw

    The rev. 2.0 comes from the factory, another advantage of ordering PCBs in China, I ordered on February 28, I had a deadline on March 9, and they sent 6, immediately emailed, attached photos.

    Clone Amstrada CPC 464

    As for the programs, Diptrace for an amateur like me is very friendly. Intuitive schematic drawing, very easy conversion to PCB. It is also very easy to get your own element base. As a last resort, you can also import elements from the Eagle database. I generally competed for both programs with zero user knowledge and won Diptrace in terms of intuitiveness. Now I have a license for 2000 points and 6 PCB layers and I have no regrets.
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  • #32 14512520
    diseasekowalski
    Level 35  
    SymbOS looks pretty cool indeed. How about its applications in practice? Any text editor? WEB Browser? Java? ;-)
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  • #34 14515049
    Anonymous
    Anonymous  
  • #35 14515095
    zaxoniec
    Level 14  
    The gray board is a disk drive emulator for SD cards, the board in the "edge" slot is a rombox and an additional 512 kb of RAM.
  • #36 14515122
    Anonymous
    Anonymous  
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  • #37 14515254
    zaxoniec
    Level 14  
    And this is not my production, this is HXC floppy emulator. Easy to googgle ;)
  • #38 14523569
    AvrArm
    Level 15  
    Zaxoniec, a very nice project.
    Quote:

    As for the programs, Diptrace for an amateur like me is very friendly. Intuitive schematic drawing, very easy conversion to PCB. It is also very easy to get your own element base. As a last resort, you can also import elements from the Eagle database. I generally competed for both programs with zero user knowledge and won Diptrace in terms of intuitiveness. Now I have a license for 2000 points and 6 PCB layers and I have no regrets.


    Agree, DipTrace is a very nice program ... I have a similar feeling about using this package. Only I have the impression that the program is underestimated in our country. In my opinion, the intuitiveness and ease of use of DipTrace crushes Eagle. In terms of price, Diptrace also wins.
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  • #39 14532006
    mas24
    Level 16  
    Respect.
    I myself used to have CPC6128 and immortal Fruity Frank. I wonder if it would be possible to make a CPC clone on modern chips, then the whole computer would be the size of a credit card. Now there are such possibilities.
  • #40 14541081
    zaxoniec
    Level 14  
    A fully populated rev. 2.0 in action. Three expansion cards plugged into the board, - 512 kb and rombox extension of the frame,
    -hard disk interface on DOM (disk on module) 128 megabytes
    -Sound card 6 channels, 2x Yamaha YM294

    It all works on a 4Mhz Z80 processor.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfvgbh1UdY4&list=UUq0qTOm1ux2WOhEDPbe0Ofg

    And casing fittings:
    Clone Amstrada CPC 464

    To make a clone, of course it is possible, is only a matter of skill, time and money. The ZX Spectrum clone, under the name ZX Uno, has the dimensions of a Raspberry Pi.
  • #41 14541592
    leonow32
    Level 30  
    Wow, looks like straight from the factory :) however, the housing seems to me disproportionately modern to the historic content ;)
  • #42 14541848
    pc majster
    Level 15  
    Install a usb port and rj45 there, this system has the ability to run an older internet explorer with a flash player :)

    Moderated By ANUBIS:

    3.1.13. It is forbidden to publish entries that violate the spelling rules of the Polish language, careless and incomprehensible.
    3.1.11. It is forbidden to publish entries that do not contain substantive content, contain harmful advice, advice that is not an attempt to solve the problem, and the publication of identical entries consecutive or repeating information from the discussion.

  • #43 14542501
    zaxoniec
    Level 14  
    Pc Handyman, what are you talking about?

    Leonow32, you are right, the only advantage is the power supply, the board consumes almost 2 amps / 5V. Anyway, I feel sorry to close it in the housing. Maybe I will order 2 plexiglass plates with an engraving as for my other toy.

    Clone Amstrada CPC 464
  • #44 14543283
    Atlantis86
    Level 19  
    BTW maybe there is an Ethernet module for Amstrad that could be adapted to this project? The prospect of connecting to some BBS (no longer by phone, of course, but via telnet) would be very interesting. ;)
  • #45 14543308
    zaxoniec
    Level 14  
    You can do, for example, on the ZX Spectrum there is a card called Spectranet, you can, for example, load the game from the Internet to your computer directly or use Twitter ;)
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Topic summary

✨ The discussion revolves around the creation of a clone of the Amstrad CPC 464 microcomputer, primarily for educational purposes and to save desk space. The author redesigned the original schematic using Diptrace, modifying the dedicated chip from 40007 (CPC 464) to 40010 (CPC 6128) and adding a PS/2 keyboard interface. Various technical challenges are discussed, including memory configuration, PCB design, and the integration of modern components. Participants express interest in the project, inquire about the PCB manufacturing process, and discuss potential expansions like ROM modules and floppy disk emulators. The author plans to share the design and possibly sell kits after finalizing the project.
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FAQ

TL;DR: 16 × 15 cm PCB [Elektroda, zaxoniec, post #14461337]; “DipTrace crushed Eagle in intuitiveness” [Elektroda, zaxoniec, post #14506791] DIY clone shrinks the Amstrad CPC 464, adds 3 expansion slots, floppy-to-SD support, and runs on ≈ 2 A @ 5 V [Elektroda, zaxoniec, post #14542501]

Why it matters: It shows how to revive 1984-era hardware with off-the-shelf parts and modern fabrication.

Quick Facts

• PCB size: 160 mm × 150 mm (single board) [Elektroda, zaxoniec, post #14461337] • Power draw: approx. 2 A at 5 V [Elektroda, zaxoniec, post #14542501] • China fab turnaround: 7–9 days incl. shipping [Elektroda, zaxoniec, post #14506791] • Rare 40010 gate-array price: ~PLN 120 (≈ USD 30) [Elektroda, zaxoniec, post #14468364] • On-board RAM: 64 KB 4164 DRAM; up to 512 KB extra via X-Mem card [Elektroda, zaxoniec, post #14482350]

Which key differences exist between the clone and a stock CPC 464?

It swaps the 40007 gate array for the CPC 6128’s 40010, adds a PS/2 keyboard interface, optional 6128 ROM, three expansion slots, and a footprint for an HxC floppy-to-SD emulator [Elektroda, zaxoniec, #14461337; #14484455].

What was the biggest bring-up failure?

Power was wired backwards to all 4164 DRAMs, killing memory until the trace was fixed—common when assuming 74xx pin-outs [Elektroda, zaxoniec, post #14461337]

How do I order a similar PCB from China?

  1. Export Gerbers from DipTrace.
  2. Upload to a low-cost fab, pick 1.6 mm FR-4, 2-layer.
  3. Pay; expect shipment in ≈ 7 days [Elektroda, zaxoniec, post #14506791]

What display connection is used?

The board outputs RGB with composite sync; author plugs it into a TV/monitor via SCART. VGA is possible only on monitors supporting sync-on-green [Elektroda, zaxoniec, #14468656; ArturAVS, #14469068].

Can I add Ethernet or Wi-Fi?

Yes. The clone’s edge connector exposes the CPC bus, so projects like Spectranet (ZX Spectrum) can be adapted for telnet-based BBS access [Elektroda, zaxoniec, post #14543308]

Is the design or kit available for purchase?

The author plans to release Gerbers and offer limited "KITS"—PCB, case, and hard-to-find ICs—after rev. 2.0 testing [Elektroda, zaxoniec, post #14467983]

What does the grey "tile" with an SD card do?

It’s an HxC floppy emulator that mimics a 3-inch drive using SD images; the CPC sees standard 180 KB-per-side disks, not gigabytes [Elektroda, zaxoniec, post #14515095]

Which expensive parts must I source early?

The 40010 gate array (~PLN 120) and HD46505 CRT controller (USD 7–10) are scarce; Z80, 8255, and 4164 DRAM remain common [Elektroda, zaxoniec, post #14468413]

What operating systems run on the clone?

CP/M Plus, BASIC 1.1, and SymbOS—a multitasking GUI shown running from SD on a 4 MHz Z80 [Elektroda, zaxoniec, #14506791; #14541081].
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