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Clone Amstrada CPC 464

zaxoniec 28035 44
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  • Clone Amstrada CPC 464

    Hello, I would like to introduce my Amstrad 464 microcomputer clone.

    Why did I make it? Well, mostly for educational purposes, besides, the original Amstrad 464 is awfully long and takes up a lot of desk space. ;)
    Mine takes less. ;)

    Clone Amstrada CPC 464

    Diagram: Original diagram of Amstrad 464

    Clone Amstrada CPC 464

    I redraw it in the Diptrace program, the record is 16x15 cm. Made in China.

    Changes from the original:
    I changed the original dedicated chip 40007 used in CPC 464 to 40010 used in CPC 6128.
    I added the PS / 2 keyboard interface layout courtesy of my friend Gerald from a friendly forum about CPC (the board in my implementation)

    Clone Amstrada CPC 464

    I did not make a layout that supports printer port.

    Activation:
    After assembling the prototype board, errors appeared, of course.

    The basic mistake was that I inversely connected the power to the 4164 memory chips (1bit dram). My mistake, because I drew the memory wrong while making the base of elements in Diptrace. Instinctively I assumed that the 16-pin DIP circuit is powered like in the 74xx series.
    The second error was that I made the clock signal generator based on the schematic of the first version 464, based on the 7400, and not as in the subsequent versions on the 74hcu04.
    On top of that, there were some missing connections.

    After corrections by kynar and adding a few "spider" layouts, the album was launched.



    After launching the CD as Amstrad 464 and under the pressure of my friendly CPC forum, I converted it to the 6128 version. I added another 64 kb RAM, changed the ROM. Of course, the album looks terrible after such modifications. ;)
    The floppy interface is still external but is working on a new board version that will have it. As well as the keyboard, mouse and expansion card slots.

    Action videos:
    Version 464
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51Iymj_V_aY&list=UUq0qTOm1ux2WOhEDPbe0Ofg

    Version 6128

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiJKtdmkNKE&list=UUq0qTOm1ux2WOhEDPbe0Ofg

    Cool? Ranking DIY
    About Author
    zaxoniec
    Level 14  
    Offline 
    zaxoniec wrote 190 posts with rating 834. Been with us since 2007 year.
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  • #2 14461418
    leonow32
    Level 30  
    What were those times when a computer diagram could fit on one sheet of paper :)

    How long have you been designing the tile? Did you model the original one or did it your own way?
  • #3 14461445
    zaxoniec
    Level 14  
    I made the records my own way ;) I was going to make a motherboard with the possibility of attaching additional expansion cards. Still CPC and the board like from a PC with sockets. Friends from the Cpc world make nice expansion cards, e.g. hard disk. I drew the CD, including the library of elements, for about 3-4 nights ;) What can be seen.
    Clone Amstrada CPC 464
  • #4 14461651
    Anonymous
    Level 1  
  • #5 14461677
    zaxoniec
    Level 14  
    I'm working on it, only in Amstrad the framework is connected differently. Large memory bones require multiplexers and can be too fast. While in the ZX Spectrum or Atari, the existing memories can be easily converted to SRAM, but not so much in the case of Amstrad. The problem is separating D in and D out.
  • #6 14461768
    ArturAVS
    Moderator  
    There is a tear in the eye. Eccchhh .... those were the times. Nice that someone else will make a clone. Maybe I'll be tempted by myself. Show your schematic with remakes.
  • #7 14462204
    amorfus
    Level 11  
    Good job.
    Can you write more about this PCB from China?
    Where? For how much? How long ?
    How could you take more pictures.

    Greetings,
    Qba
  • #8 14462360
    Anonymous
    Anonymous  
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  • #9 14462701
    LA72
    Level 41  
    zaxoniec wrote:
    The floppy interface is still external, but I am working on a new version of the board that will have it. As well as the keyboard, mouse and expansion card slots.


    Are you using an original drive or a PC?

    Batch with software from where?
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  • #10 14467936
    Atlantis86
    Level 19  
    I think that I am asking the following question not only on my behalf, but there will be a larger group of people interested.

    Are you considering making the PCB design available or possibly ordering more PCBs and selling them to interested parties? ;)
  • #11 14467983
    zaxoniec
    Level 14  
    I can see by the amount of PM that PCBs from China are interested. Here I wrote about it:

    https://www.elektroda.pl/rtvforum/topic2911915.html#14160610

    As for the rest of the questions.
    The "housing" is a piece of Leroy-Merlin perforated aluminum sheet. Cut with scissors.

    The drive from the PC, you just need to modify it slightly. I am using HXC floppy emulator and SD card.

    Wsady, I used the original roms.

    I drew my diagram in the commercial version of Diptrace so probably the free one will not open it.

    I'll share everything when I'm finished. I still have a few things to improve and order a second prototype. Then I plan to do some CDs for my friends.
    Something like that, more or less.

    Clone Amstrada CPC 464
  • #12 14468340
    Anonymous
    Anonymous  
  • #13 14468364
    zaxoniec
    Level 14  
    Most deals are up for grabs. Unfortunately, the prices are a bit scary, for example, for the 40010 chip itself, I paid about PLN 120.
    Overall, it's not a cheap machine. It is possible that, if I get to the end of the project, I will have "KITS", a CD, a housing, plus hard-to-reach circuits. But it's too early to talk about it.
  • #14 14468388
    Anonymous
    Anonymous  
  • #15 14468413
    zaxoniec
    Level 14  
    Because it was only used probably only in Amstrada and made to order, so you can get it only in the form of storage deck chairs. The second is the HD46505SP, but they are easier to buy for around $ 7-10. The rest is available.
    Z-80 processor, memory 4164, port 8255, popular TTL 74xx, R6765 and FDC 9229T disk drive controller.
  • #16 14468633
    kevin52
    Level 17  
    How did you connect the VGA monitor, especially the sync signals? A complex synchro comes out of CPC, and the monitor requires H and V separately.
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  • #17 14468656
    zaxoniec
    Level 14  
    This is a TV and monitor in one, connected via SCART.
  • #18 14469068
    ArturAVS
    Moderator  
    kevin52 wrote:
    How did you connect the VGA monitor, especially the sync signals? A complex synchro comes out of CPC, and the monitor requires H and V separately.


    There is also something like Sync On Green. Not every monitor has it, but you can then give a complex sync signal along with a G signal and the rest, R and B normally.
  • #19 14472109
    Grzegorz77
    Level 25  
    zaxoniec wrote:
    I'm working on it, only in Amstrad the framework is connected differently. Large memory bones require multiplexers and can be too fast. While in the ZX Spectrum or Atari, the existing memories can be easily converted to SRAM, but not so much in the case of Amstrad. The problem is separating D in and D out.


    This is not a problem because in normal constructions (like Amstrad) these pins are short-circuited and treated as one input / output.
  • #20 14472212
    ArturAVS
    Moderator  
    Corresponding control of the signals RDl and WRl. However, the 6845 video processor implements DRAM control, and there are address buses switched. If the RAM was not shared between the CPU and VPU, it wouldn't be a problem.

    Insert 4464 or 44256 in place of 4164. The board will become smaller. Instead of eight hands, only two. And so D In and D out are linked.

    Added after 14 [minutes]:

    Corresponding control of the signals RDl and WRl. However, the 6845 video processor implements DRAM control, and there are address buses switched. If the RAM was not shared between the CPU and VPU, it wouldn't be a problem.
  • #21 14473993
    Anonymous
    Level 1  
  • #22 14481472
    zaxoniec
    Level 14  
    Well, but to tell the truth, the memory swap only complicates this project. 4164 dice are available without problems and for pennies. There is space on the board, and if not, it will be a little larger. After all, it is not a mass project counting on 10,000 or 100,000 pieces, where every cm2 of the board and each resistor counts ;)
  • #23 14481544
    ArturAVS
    Moderator  
    I agree with you zaxoniec. I still have quite large stocks of 4164 and 41256, from the times of PC XT and the first PC AT. However, the tile would look neater, and what can I say; the use of more modern components would be in place.
  • #24 14481628
    zaxoniec
    Level 14  
    Hmm, what's the difference in the PCB design, is there one 32-pin circuit or 8 16-pin devices? I was doing it especially in THT, thinking that maybe someone else will want to put it together ;) And for ease of repair by amateurs.

    Here is an example, two versions of the same interface,
    one modern, 4-layer PCB, SMD, tiny
    Clone Amstrada CPC 464

    And the second, and they work exactly the same
    Clone Amstrada CPC 464

    Hardly anyone was interested in the first one. The second is quite popular ;)
  • #25 14482323
    kevin52
    Level 17  
    Do you envisage adding a ROM module? I mean the extended ROM, not the system one. According to me, it is one of the most interesting and strongest options of this computer.
  • #26 14482350
    zaxoniec
    Level 14  
    The board will, in fact, already have slots for expansion modules, including the X-mem card. (512kilobytes of ram and rombox)
  • #27 14484455
    zaxoniec
    Level 14  
    Ok, I ordered another album, corrected the mistakes, probably made new ones ;)

    64 kilobytes of ram, an additional 512 kilobytes on the expansion card.
    3 slots for expansion cards
    The floppy interface, the holes on the board allow you to mount the HXC floppy emulator slim
    I added a reset button and a power switch.

    Clone Amstrada CPC 464
  • #28 14486751
    leonow32
    Level 30  
    Do you design these tiles manually or with a machine? How many layers are there laminate?
  • #29 14488311
    piotr411
    Level 22  
    The PCB Diptrace has a good autorouter, sometimes it is enough to slightly improve individual tracks, although a well configured one will do it very correctly without corrections. Additionally, Diptrace is very user-friendly.
  • #30 14496826
    pc majster
    Level 15  
    Cool XD design
    If smaller is 32 bit, run Slockware on it :D
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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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