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The '''Aleste 520EX''' is a [[Clones|clone]] of the Amstrad CPC 6128 developed 1993 by [[Patisonic ]] in Omsk (Siberia). The Aleste is rare, according to Patisonic themselves, they ''"produced several dozens of the model, some of them was were in 'kit' form"''.

Additionally In addition to the standard CPC6128 features, it includes a number of extra features: '''64-color''' palette, '''double color depth''' in slightly '''decreased horizontal resolution''' mode (eg. 16 color at 256x200 resolution), battery-backed '''Real Time Clock''' chip, '''512Kbyte RAM''' (of which 192K can be accessed as on 64K CPC with 128K dk'tronics memory expansion), '''8bit printer''' port, expanded keyboard matrix with '''10 additional keys''', two software controlled '''LEDs''', extended Expansion Port (with additional pins for '''DMA support'''). The computer works with Amstrad [[CP/M]] and MSXDOS as well (note: MSXDOS is a CP/M clone, which uses a FAT filesystem, as used on MSX and MS-DOS computers, instead of the normal CP/M filesystem).

==Amstrad ModePictures ==

Differences: - Interrupts can't be manually cleared. This was possible on the CPC by writing to the Gate Array with data bit 7 set 1, bit 6 set to 0 and bit 4 set to 1. In the Aleste this bit is controls an LED. - Decoding of it's equivalent of the Gate-Array is based on A15 only. - The Aleste uses a patched CPC6128 Operating System ROM. It is patched to use the Aleste's 8-bit printer port and has a different startup message. <gallery caption==Special Mode== At this mode computer have different memory manager. The manager seems same like MSX mapper and could swicth ON any 16KB page of whole memroy at the any of 16KB page of CPU memory. The mode have different color coding system. It has the color lookup table (CLUT) or another name pallette. That is dual port memory one prot for coversion pixel's color number to RGB levels. But second for CPU acccess. There is 2 bits for each channel at the pallette present, then it lets to have 64 colors. The mode have two additional modes with 32KB of video memory. Pixel encoding the same as at Amstrad mode but each line has twice more bytes (and pixels). Two 16KB pages transfer to output, one buffer for odd and second even lines of screen. The computer have also mc146818 compatible RTC and a 8251 compatible serial. A serial mouse can be used. The 8253 timer is used to generate transmit and receive clock for serial. In addition the CURSOR output of the CRTC is connected as a trigger which is then connected to the colour hardware. So the CRTC cursor can be used to switch colours by the hardware. "Aleste ROM is 64KB:* page 0 is modified Amstrad CPC6128 OS ROM* page 1 is Amstrad BASIC* page 2 is AMSDOS (Amstrad DOS)* page 3 is Boot Rom, BIOS Setup, MSXDOS boot loader The BIOS SETUP lets control over: date and time, boot drive, RAM disk, screen mode and style, printer, serial port, and mouse. At the boot time computer loads BIOS and MSXBDOS (BIOS for Disc BIOS) from a bood disc. After that COMMAND.COM (MSXDOS). Computer can bott from RAM disc as well. Computer go to AMSTRAD mode when 520EX"Shift" is pressed while reset.> == Hardware Expansions == Most pins on the expansion port are the same as on CPC, so most CPC expansions should work on the Aleste (with a 62pin to 50pin adaptor). Additional Aleste specific expansions areFile: === External Disc Drive === The Aleste contains a disk controller, so no external disc interface is required. The floppy connector is the same as the "Drive B Connector" on CPC, the only difference is that outputs select signals for two drives (A and B)ALESTE_520EX_PCB_Top.jpg|PCB TopThe 'official' Aleste drive is 3.5", 720K, 80 tracks. It does also contain the power supply for the computer (which must be connected via whatever separate cable). === Magic Sound Expansion Board === MagicSound is a four channel DMA playback device. Supports 8 bit per sample, 6 bits of volume per channel, and 16bit samplerate timer per channel. Computer uses the board for playing STM (Scream Tracker) files. For details, seeFile: * [[Magic Sound Board]] === Foton Expansion Board === Another additional board FOTON is a "Light Processor"ALESTE_520EX_PCB_Bottom. The board have D54 interface and Aleste with special FX application controls over club's light. (In english: it could be named "Photon Disco Light Controller")jpg|PCB Bottom === 2MB RAM Expansion === The Aleste is said to be expandable to 2MB RAM. Whether or not (and how) this is possible is unclear. There seem to be no provisions for that on the mainboard. The register file (chip number D88) could actually store two additional bank bits. But the I/O port (port 7FFFh with Bit6-7=high) has only ONE spare bit (bit5), so, with that I/O port, only 1MB would be possible, not 2MB. === Turbo Mode Upgrade === Runs the CPU at faster speed. Intended for programs that require a lot of CPU load, like compilers, or ported MSX games (which need to draw the MSX video display processors (VDP) hardware sprites by software).* The Turbo Mode schematic is unknown* Turbo Mode is said to be incompatible with AMSDOS disk access for timing reasons (ie. works only with MSXDOS or so) (not sure if that's a bios/software related problem - it might also be caused by video resolution (which changes CPU and DOT clocks)File: working in 256/512 pix modes, but not in amstrad-style 160/320/640 pix modes) == VDP Emulator aka GameBIOS == It is not clear exactly what this isALESTE_Keyboard.jpg|Keyboard It seems to describe a collection of software functions (BIOS or library) which aids with converting MSX or MSX2 games to the Aleste. Certainly the games that have been converted to Aleste are patched, and it seems they do not access any special I</O ports. It doesn't appear to be an emulator as such, and it seems the Aleste should be modified to run at 8Mhz to run the games at sufficient speed.  Computer have "GameBios" with is emulator of VDP9938. it was sufficiently - to replace the first several kilos-byte of game and MSX2 game worked. Certainly, video processor MSX is by apparatus sharpened for the games, but they worked sufficiently rapidly to 8MGts of game on "alesta" in order in them to play. Game "FireBird" typical"vertical scroller" worked very well. == Pictures ==gallery>

 == Technical specs == * CPU[[Media: Z80* Clock: 4Mhz (CPC mode derived from a 16Mhz crystal)AlesteStartupManual.txt]] - info on building the computer, 3.2Mhz fixing bugs on the PCB (Aleste mode derived from a 13Mhz crystaltranslated to english) * Memory manager[[Media: Dk'Tronics compatible memory mapper (CPC mode), msxAlesteSchematicDescription.txt]] -mapper description of schematics (Aleste modetranslated to english)* Memory[[Media: 512КБ AlesteUserManual.txt]] - includes external pin-out; some of them conflict with schematics (up translated to 2МБenglish)* Audio[[Media: AY8910AlesteBiosDisassembly.txt]] - Disassembly of differences between CPC6128 and Aleste BIOS* Graphics[[Media:** 256x212:16 colors** 512x212:4 colors** 320x200:16 colirs** 640x200:4 colors** 640x400:4 colors interleaved** Palette 64 colors** Hardware scroll AlesteBootmenuRomBank3.asm]] - Original source code for BOOTMENU (standard CRTC hardware scroll)* Floppy disk Upper ROM Bank 3.5"* Mouse* RTC (mc146818 compatible)* Expansion slot[[Aleste Translation PROMs and EPROMs]] - description of the numbers in the look-up PROMs/EPROMs** 19 address lines** DMA to whole memory** External board MagicSound*** 4 channels*** 8 bits per channel*** Stereo output* Touch screen (only prototype)* Light[[Media:Aleste Interview Deepfb Valeriy.h t m l]] -Processor Interview with D54 == Software ==* MSXDOS* С compiler* GUI Debugger* GameBIOS with VDP emulator* Text editor PowerEdit* Text files converter TRC. Convert between MSX, one of the Alestedevelopers (to view the file: repair the extension, and DOS* Disk Fixer (ported/or insert HTML and /HTML tags - for some reason, cpcwiki doesn't support the html format)* Disk Edit (ported)* Image viewer* Player of S3M, STM files* Editor of S3M, STM files* Games ported from MSX2** VampireKiller** KingValery 2** FireBird** MetalGear

[[Category:Hardware]][[Category:Non CPC Computers]][[Category:Clones]]