View source for Vortex Computersysteme

[[Image:Vortex-logo.jpg|thumb|Vortex Logo]]
'''Vortex Computersysteme''' from Neckarsulm, Germany,  was a hardware and software manufacturer for the Amstrad CPC. It was founded in 1984 by Mr. Michel and his brother, Mr. Majer and Mrs. Armbruster. Vortex now is called ICP (Intelligent Computer Peripherals) an is an Adaptec Company, specialized in RAID-Controllers.

== F1 ==

A 5.25" disc drive. 80 tracks and 708Kb.

Sold as :

* '''F1 - S''' Single 5.25" drive with controller.
* '''F1 - Z''' Single 5.25" drive without controller.
* '''F1 - D''' Double 5.25" drive with controller.

The disc drive also was available as an extended versions :

* '''F1-XRS''' which also contains a RS232 interface.
* '''F1-X''' which can be updated with a RS232 interface.

Disc operation system [[VDOS]] 2.0 on ROM included.

Manual can be found here [[F1]]

<gallery caption="The Vortex F1 Drives">

Image:F1-x.jpg|F1-Z Disc Drive
Image:FD1.jpg|F1-D Disc Drive

</gallery>

== M1 ==
A 3.5" disc drive. 80 tracks and 1.4MB.

Sold as :

* '''M1/S''' with controller.
* '''M1/D''' with controller and two drives.
* '''M1-Z''' without controller as second drive.

The disc drive also was available as an extended version:

* '''M1-XRS''' which also contains a [[RS232]] interface.
* '''M1-X''' which can be updated with a RS232 interface.

Disc operation system [[VDOS]] 2.0 on ROM included.

== The Vortex disc drive controller == 

The Vortex disc controler was similar to Amstrads own controller.
It used the same controler chip, the [[FDC|NEC765]].

<gallery caption="The Vortex Disc Drive Controller">

Image:vortex controler 1.jpg|A anonymous box houses the controller
Image:vortex controler 2.jpg|Look inside the controller
Image:vortex controler 3.jpg|Controller with [[VDOS]] mounted

</gallery>

== SP ==

RAM expansion card. Not compatible to the [[dk'tronics]] memory expansion. Sold in different sizes of RAM as '''SP 64''', '''SP 128''', '''SP 256''', '''SP 320''' and '''SP 512''' (resulting in a maximum RAM size of the computer of 576KiB). Usable under [[BASIC]] and [[CP/M]] and offering a RAM disc.

<gallery caption="The Vortex Expansion RAM card">
Image:sp512top.jpg|The Vortex Expansion RAM card
Image:cpc464bf.jpg|CPC 464 before put the Expansion RAM card
Image:cpc464af.jpg|CPC 464 after put the Expansion RAM card
</gallery>

== Vector ==
A maths program to print functions or to find a function which follows given points. Released 1986.

== Para Plus ==

A program to transfer data [[Vortex Para Plus]]

== VDOS ==

The disc operating system [[VDOS]] for use with Vortex drives

== Weblinks ==
[http://www.vortex.de Vortex/ICP-Homepage]

[http://www.kjthacker.f2s.com/docs/sp512.html Vortex SP512 RAM Card]

[[Category:Peripherals]] [[Category:CPC related companies]]