Difference between revisions of "Amstrad External Disk Drive"
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'''Amstrad''' made two different [[disk drives]] for the Amstrad/Schneider CPC range: | '''Amstrad''' made two different [[disk drives]] for the Amstrad/Schneider CPC range: | ||
| − | * DDI-1 | + | * DDI-1: a set consisting of the real DDI-1 (= Disk Drive Interface) and a FD-1 3" disk drive, as well as the CP/M 2.2 license and disk. |
| − | This set was for the CPC464 | + | This set was for the CPC464 which didn't have a built-in disk controller. |
| − | * FD-1 | + | * FD-1: a 3" disk drive as secondary disk drive unit for the CPC664, CPC6128 and CPC464 with DDI-1 |
| − | + | There was no official external disk drive for the 6128Plus or even the 464Plus. The difference between a CPC664/CPC6128 and a 6128Plus was simply a changed pin-out which can easily be solved by a new plug on the disk drive's cable. | |
| − | + | The 464Plus was harder to equip with a disk drive. Although the pin-out of the expansion port was left unchanged, the DDI-1 cannot be used on the 464Plus without modifications. | |
| − | + | == Technical Details == | |
| − | + | The two disk drives were identical. The only difference was that the DDI-1 shipped with controller, manual and CP/M 2.2 on one disk. | |
| − | + | The disk drives were jumpered (more accurately, soldered) to react on both drive select lines, A: and B:. | |
| − | + | ||
| − | The disk drives were jumpered ( | + | |
The cable decided which drive became A: and which one became B: : | The cable decided which drive became A: and which one became B: : | ||
| − | * On the CPC664 and CPC6128 computers, DRIVE SELECT 0 was not | + | * On the CPC664 and CPC6128 computers, DRIVE SELECT 0 was not connected on the external connector, so the drive could only become drive B: on these systems. |
| − | * For the DDI-1, DRIVE SELECT 0 was only wired to the | + | * For the DDI-1, DRIVE SELECT 0 was only wired to the outermost connector of the attached cable, while the inner connector was wired to DRIVE SELECT 1 only, thus the drive at the cable's end always became A: while the other one became drive B: accordingly. |
| − | Note that the drive also powered the DDI-1 interface when used together with it | + | Note that the drive also powered the DDI-1 interface when used together with it. Certain pins documented as N/C in the CPC664/CPC6128 manual in fact carry +5V from the drive to the controller. |
| − | The main | + | The main reason for this was that you couldn't connect a standard drive with a more common format (5¼" in the beginning, 3½" later and today) and thus cheaper disks as drive A: without modifications, as the DDI-1 wouldn't work without the power fed from the FD-1. |
== Pictures == | == Pictures == | ||
Revision as of 12:51, 12 October 2009
Amstrad made two different disk drives for the Amstrad/Schneider CPC range:
- DDI-1: a set consisting of the real DDI-1 (= Disk Drive Interface) and a FD-1 3" disk drive, as well as the CP/M 2.2 license and disk.
This set was for the CPC464 which didn't have a built-in disk controller.
- FD-1: a 3" disk drive as secondary disk drive unit for the CPC664, CPC6128 and CPC464 with DDI-1
There was no official external disk drive for the 6128Plus or even the 464Plus. The difference between a CPC664/CPC6128 and a 6128Plus was simply a changed pin-out which can easily be solved by a new plug on the disk drive's cable.
The 464Plus was harder to equip with a disk drive. Although the pin-out of the expansion port was left unchanged, the DDI-1 cannot be used on the 464Plus without modifications.
Technical Details
The two disk drives were identical. The only difference was that the DDI-1 shipped with controller, manual and CP/M 2.2 on one disk.
The disk drives were jumpered (more accurately, soldered) to react on both drive select lines, A: and B:.
The cable decided which drive became A: and which one became B: :
- On the CPC664 and CPC6128 computers, DRIVE SELECT 0 was not connected on the external connector, so the drive could only become drive B: on these systems.
- For the DDI-1, DRIVE SELECT 0 was only wired to the outermost connector of the attached cable, while the inner connector was wired to DRIVE SELECT 1 only, thus the drive at the cable's end always became A: while the other one became drive B: accordingly.
Note that the drive also powered the DDI-1 interface when used together with it. Certain pins documented as N/C in the CPC664/CPC6128 manual in fact carry +5V from the drive to the controller. The main reason for this was that you couldn't connect a standard drive with a more common format (5¼" in the beginning, 3½" later and today) and thus cheaper disks as drive A: without modifications, as the DDI-1 wouldn't work without the power fed from the FD-1.
Pictures
- DDI - 1
Amstrad FD-1/DDI-1 disk drive
Covers
- Manuals
(English) User Manual
(German) User Manual
(Spanish) User Manual
Service Manual
_Manual.jpg)
