Changes

[[Image:Burning Rubber - cara A.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A GX4000 Burnin' Rubber cartridge for the + series]]

A cartridge system was introduced with the launch of the CPC+ [[Plus]] and GX4000 series. This enabled developers to distribute games via cartridges on the new Amstrad. The cartridges are protected with the [[ACID]] chip.

== Technical specs. EPROMs ==There are different versions of the cartridges which contain EPROMs of different sizes. To indicate the EPROM size to the CPC+, different combinations of links have to be shorted.

{|{{Prettytable|width: 700px; fontAll known manufactured cartridges contain EPROMs (rather than PROMs or ROMs). The cartridges can be fitted with different EPROMs in range of 32kb through 512kb, but only 128kb to 256kb versions are known to have been produced. The cartridge PCBs typically include six [[LK Links]] to match the PCB to the EPROM pin-sizeouts: 2em;}}|'' VCC ---LK1--- EPROM type''||''.A18 ---LK2--- CA18 VCC ---LK3--- EPROM size''||''Contacts''.A17 ---LK4--- CA17| VCC ---LK5--- EPROM.A15 ---LK6--- CA15||27C512||64kb||LK3Usually the following LKs should be installed:| (----- EPROM -----) (------------------------ Links installed -------------------------)|| Type Pins Size A15 A17 A18 27C256 28 32K LK5 (A15=VCC=High) LK3 (A17=VCC=Supply) N/A 27C512 28 64K LK6 (A15=A15=Address) LK3 (A17=VCC=Supply) N/A 27C1001||128kb|| 32 128K LK6 (A15=A15=Address) N/A LK1 + LK6|-(A18=VCC=/PGM)| 27C2001||256kb||LK3 + 32 256K LK6 (A15=A15=Address) LK4 (A17=A17=Address) LK1 (A18=VCC=/PGM)|} 27C4001 32 512K LK6 (A15=A15=Address) LK4 (A17=A17=Address) LK2 (A18=A18=Address)Some cartridge PCBs don't have any LKs installed, instead, the etched circuit has hardwired connections between some of them. One could scratch them off, and then use the LK soldering points to reconfigure the board for eproms of other size.

The EPROMs aren't encrypted, making it very easy to dump their content, or to replace them by other EPROMs. However, all cartridges must contain an [[RAM7ACID]]chip, a French hardware developer, created a device to hack otherwise the [[RAM7 Cartridge Hacker|CPC Plus ]]/GX4000 refuses to work, meaning that unlicensed third-party developers couldn't produce cartridgeswithout buying the [[ACID]]hardware from Amstrad.

<gallery caption="GX4000 cartridges2700-023P-1 (with hardwired LK1 and LK6, and single-sided soldering points)">Image:Cartridge-2700-023P-1-Components.jpg|ComponentsImage:BurningRubberGX4000versionPCB.jpg|Components installedImage:Cartridge-2700-023P-1-Top.jpg|Component SideImage:Cartridge-2700-023P-1-Bottom.jpg|Solder Side</gallery> <gallery caption="PT-NO-Z90903-MS0201A (with custom LKs, and single-sided soldering points)">Image:Cartridge-PT-NO-Z90903-MS0201A-Cartridge.jpg|CartridgeImage:Cartridge-PT-NO-Z90903-MS0201A-Installed.jpg|Components installedImage:Cartridge-PT-NO-Z90903-MS0201A-Bottom.jpg|Solder Side</gallery> <gallery caption="PT-NO-Z90903-MC0121A (with custom LKs, and double-sided soldering points)">Image:Inside GX4000 cart 1unrotated.jpg|Inside view of a CPC+ cartridgeComponents installedImage:Inside GX4000 cart 2.jpg|Inside view of a Solder SideImage:Burning Rubber - cara A.jpg|Case Front (Component Side)Image:Burning Rubber - cara B.jpg|Case Back (Solder Side)Image:AMSTRAD CPC CARTRIDGE PT NO Z90903 B PARTSSIDE WITHOUT PARTS PCB SCAN ATV.jpg|Component Side (scan by ArcadeTV)Image:AMSTRAD CPC CARTRIDGE PT NO Z90903 B SOLDERSIDE WITHOUT PARTS PCB SCAN ATV.jpg|Back side (scan by ArcadeTV)</gallery> <gallery caption="Spanish cartridge without text-layer on PCB (otherwise same as 2700-023P-1)">File:Dragon CPC Plus System Cartridge PC Spanish.jpg|Components installed</gallery> <gallery caption="AMSTRO1 (with hardwired LK1 and LK6, and double-sided soldering points)">File:Cart PCB AMSTRO1 top.jpg|Component SideFile:Cart PCB AMSTRO1 bottom.jpg|Solder Side</gallery> <gallery caption="Cartridge Slot">File:GX4000 Top.jpg|GX4000 with top-loading cartridge slotFile:CPC464Plus LeftSide Nighfallcrew.jpg|CPC+ Plus with side-loading cartridgeslot

Amstrad released a Demonstration system for his retailer in order to show GX4000 games: the [[Amstrad CSD]](Cartridge Software Demonstrator).

It was a 464plus 464 [[Plus]] motherboard, with an extra "daughter board) " allowing the insertion of 12 games cartridges, plus an extra special cartridge acting as an OS.

More informations at the [http://amstrad[Amstrad CSD]] page.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid =16 Link to the = Pin-Outs == * [[Connector:Cartridge Slot (CPC Plus only)|Cartridge Slot Pin-Outs]] == Misc == * [[RAM7]], a French article on the matterhardware developer, created a device to hack [[RAM7 Cartridge Hacker|CPC Plus cartridges]].* [[CPC GX4000-Multi EPROM Cartridge]]

* [[CPC GX4000-Multi EPROM Cartridgehttp://www.vieuzordiland.fr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=34 Vieuxzordiland's page on replacing EPROMs. In French]* [http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=16 Link to the French article on the Demonstration System]

[[Category:StubCPC Internal Components]][[Category:Built in HardwareCPC History]][[Category:CPC HistoryPlus]]