My first computer way back in the 80's! I learned how to program in Basic and assembler on this machine, good times! You brought back some fond memories with this series of videos. I had Manic Miner, also. I had a few games, and also books on programming and sound creation for it, and a heap of "Amstrad User" magazines from the UK. Wasn't the easiest to get games for it here in Australia, though. From memory, the Commodore 64 had a firm grip on the market here when the CPC464 came out.
Glad you enjoyed the series and there’ll be more to come on the Amstrad soon. I absolutely loved this machine and still find myself switching it on for the odd session :) As you know, I had the Spectrum first, but this was my first ‘proper’ computer :)
It the mid-80s it seemed like every fab in the world was cranking out 4264 chips as fast as they could. The demand for them was intense and it's amazing that more chips didn't fail after just a few years of use.
I learned years ago that MT RAM = Replace. Normally the opposite is the way to go because if it ain't broke don't fix it. But MT will break itself. Shocked as much survived working to this day.
Good to see it back to life! Regarding modern storage options though, whilst the Dandanator is a good price, I think the best & most compatible option is probably the DDI-5 expansion that Zaxon makes. It's pricey, but it gives you a disk interface & integrated FlashFloppy emulator and there's also HXC Selector software available for the CPC so you can use the CPC itself to select which DSK images to mount. Plus you can also add a real floppy drive or a Gotek as a 2nd drive, as the DDI-5 has a floppy connector too. The DDI-5 also comes with 512KB RAM, so lets you run many (but not all) 128K games on the 464.
To be fair, the DDI5 is much cheaper than if you buy a GOTEK, DDI and a RAM expansion. Pretty amazing! If you already have additional RAM (or don't need it), the USIFAC II is a good and cheap alternative to add mass storage to a CPC.
Unfortunately, to program the dandanator in the first place requires a working CPC :) My dandanator came completely empty :( I have ram testers anyway so no big deal :)
Another great video and nice to watch on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Glad you got the CPC sorted, and it was only the ram chips and nothing more serious. (I had a CPC 464 back in the day, which I'd upgraded to from a 48k speccy.)
That's cool. You should look at wiring up the input line of the external deck to the record line of the internal tape deck with a few diodes so you can record to a cassette from the tzx device.
I’d make one adjustment to the Cassette port you added. Rather than a 5 pin DIN, I’d go for an 8 pin socket. That still allows for standard cables to be used, but I would wire in some 9v rails to the pins not used by the standard cassette. These 9v rails on the extra pins would be use to power the SVI-CAS rather than yet another plug pack.
It isn't a matter of some of those part numbers being still in production. It is more a matter of some part numbers where produced so much that when demand started to drop sharply we ended up with enough inventory that NOS stock lasts for years. If I place an order for some of those old chips what I am getting is either New Old Stock or sometimes even "reclaimed". 4116 (IIRC) is a good example of this. Some parts from that era are still in production because they where used for embedded applications- the Z-80 is a great example. Some of the early Zilog Z-80s are starting to fail after 40 years in service but brand new replacements are easy to get.
@@lawrenceshadai4966 They might fail if the equipment PSU is shoddy and lacks protection, lousy ventilation. MTBF is a thing but its more of a probability thing that has many factors.
@@DerIchBinDa USA most likely, not very well known over here. US ebayers tend to want auction house collector prices for their consumer junk collected from attics and sheds. Not everybody is a crook and a scammer, but lots of them are.
I have the latest prototypes but have no pi zero 2 w boards to test with. The one I did have has gone on to a better place :( As soon as I can get hold of some pi's (without paying extortionate prices!) we'll be moving again :)
why can't you have a module that will convert the 8bit words into a SPDIF signal for feeding a Philips DCC900 tape deck and then pulling the SPDIF signal back in and converting it back into 8bit words via the module.
My first computer way back in the 80's! I learned how to program in Basic and assembler on this machine, good times!
You brought back some fond memories with this series of videos. I had Manic Miner, also. I had a few games, and also books on programming and sound creation for it, and a heap of "Amstrad User" magazines from the UK. Wasn't the easiest to get games for it here in Australia, though. From memory, the Commodore 64 had a firm grip on the market here when the CPC464 came out.
Glad you enjoyed the series and there’ll be more to come on the Amstrad soon. I absolutely loved this machine and still find myself switching it on for the odd session :) As you know, I had the Spectrum first, but this was my first ‘proper’ computer :)
I like the curiously worded message on the driver installer - “The driver is successfully pre-installed in advance” 😅
It the mid-80s it seemed like every fab in the world was cranking out 4264 chips as fast as they could. The demand for them was intense and it's amazing that more chips didn't fail after just a few years of use.
I learned years ago that MT RAM = Replace. Normally the opposite is the way to go because if it ain't broke don't fix it. But MT will break itself. Shocked as much survived working to this day.
Nice fix. I'm all upto date with your vids now. Looking forward to the next one.
Good to see it back to life!
Regarding modern storage options though, whilst the Dandanator is a good price, I think the best & most compatible option is probably the DDI-5 expansion that Zaxon makes. It's pricey, but it gives you a disk interface & integrated FlashFloppy emulator and there's also HXC Selector software available for the CPC so you can use the CPC itself to select which DSK images to mount. Plus you can also add a real floppy drive or a Gotek as a 2nd drive, as the DDI-5 has a floppy connector too. The DDI-5 also comes with 512KB RAM, so lets you run many (but not all) 128K games on the 464.
One for the shopping list then :)
To be fair, the DDI5 is much cheaper than if you buy a GOTEK, DDI and a RAM expansion. Pretty amazing!
If you already have additional RAM (or don't need it), the USIFAC II is a good and cheap alternative to add mass storage to a CPC.
With the Dandanator you could have used the Diagnostics ROM to identify if/which chips are faulty. Usually only a single or maybe few chips are fried.
Unfortunately, to program the dandanator in the first place requires a working CPC :) My dandanator came completely empty :( I have ram testers anyway so no big deal :)
Nice to see that you resolved the issue.
Thanks - I was massively happy that it was simply a RAM issue :) :)
Another great video and nice to watch on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Glad you got the CPC sorted, and it was only the ram chips and nothing more serious. (I had a CPC 464 back in the day, which I'd upgraded to from a 48k speccy.)
That's cool. You should look at wiring up the input line of the external deck to the record line of the internal tape deck with a few diodes so you can record to a cassette from the tzx device.
I’d make one adjustment to the Cassette port you added. Rather than a 5 pin DIN, I’d go for an 8 pin socket. That still allows for standard cables to be used, but I would wire in some 9v rails to the pins not used by the standard cassette. These 9v rails on the extra pins would be use to power the SVI-CAS rather than yet another plug pack.
So, forty year old memory chips are still in production? What an age we live in.
Generic parts. Probably used in industrial equipment from that era that is still being used today.
It isn't a matter of some of those part numbers being still in production. It is more a matter of some part numbers where produced so much that when demand started to drop sharply we ended up with enough inventory that NOS stock lasts for years. If I place an order for some of those old chips what I am getting is either New Old Stock or sometimes even "reclaimed". 4116 (IIRC) is a good example of this. Some parts from that era are still in production because they where used for embedded applications- the Z-80 is a great example. Some of the early Zilog Z-80s are starting to fail after 40 years in service but brand new replacements are easy to get.
@@lawrenceshadai4966 They might fail if the equipment PSU is shoddy and lacks protection, lousy ventilation. MTBF is a thing but its more of a probability thing that has many factors.
Glad it worked out! Very nice machine. One day I hope to get myself a Amstrad of some kind. They never was around where I live.
Where do you live that there are none on ebay if I may ask?
@@DerIchBinDa USA most likely, not very well known over here.
US ebayers tend to want auction house collector prices for their consumer junk collected from attics and sheds.
Not everybody is a crook and a scammer, but lots of them are.
retrovirtualmachine , does both Amstard CPC and Sinclair ZX Spectrum, the Debian version installs and correctly adds a menu item (to Mint).
Hi you have the zx baremulator board in your pcbway sponsor section. Does that mean it's ready to go.
I have the latest prototypes but have no pi zero 2 w boards to test with. The one I did have has gone on to a better place :( As soon as I can get hold of some pi's (without paying extortionate prices!) we'll be moving again :)
How well does that dandanator work with an MKTronic ram pack, if you have one to try it with? I know Zaxon's DDI-3 works just fine with one.
Cool video and nice mod/gadgets B)
I might have to get me one of those.
Does the Dandanator work on the 6128 too?
I guess it does.
Great job,?this was my 2nd gaming experience after the Atari 130xe
Face reveal at 6:11 :)
why can't you have a module that will convert the 8bit words into a SPDIF signal for feeding a Philips DCC900 tape deck and then pulling the SPDIF signal back in and converting it back into 8bit words via the module.
Java!
Bro actually said harrier attack is a bad game again