Difference between revisions of "Vortex Disc Drives"

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These are the first generation of floppy disc drives from Vortex. They came in variants having either a single ("S" variant) or two ("D" variant) 80-track drives (BASF 6138). Additionally, a 3" [[Amstrad Disk Drive|FD-1]] can be connected as third drive, ie. unlike most other CPC disk interfaces it supports more than 2 drives. With [[VDOS]] only two drives are accessible at one time. The drives interfacing with their own FDC can be used with the CPC 6128 to use different I/O ports (see below).
 
These are the first generation of floppy disc drives from Vortex. They came in variants having either a single ("S" variant) or two ("D" variant) 80-track drives (BASF 6138). Additionally, a 3" [[Amstrad Disk Drive|FD-1]] can be connected as third drive, ie. unlike most other CPC disk interfaces it supports more than 2 drives. With [[VDOS]] only two drives are accessible at one time. The drives interfacing with their own FDC can be used with the CPC 6128 to use different I/O ports (see below).
  
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==== Variants ====
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=== Variants ===
  
 
* '''F1 - S''' Single 5.25" drive with power supply connected via ribbon cable to interface with [[FDC|NEC765]] and [[VDOS]] 1.0 or 2.11
 
* '''F1 - S''' Single 5.25" drive with power supply connected via ribbon cable to interface with [[FDC|NEC765]] and [[VDOS]] 1.0 or 2.11
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</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
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==== Second drive upgrade ====
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=== Second drive upgrade ===
  
 
An upgrade was available which allowed to upgrade a single -S drive to a dual -D drive.
 
An upgrade was available which allowed to upgrade a single -S drive to a dual -D drive.
  
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==== FD-1 drive adapter ====
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=== FD-1 drive adapter ===
  
 
The Vortex S- and D-drives were originally intended as upgrades to CPC 464 setups already having a DDI-1/FD-1. This adapter allowed to continue using the 3" drive. Since only two drives can be used simultaneously, the drive had to be selected manually using a RSX command.
 
The Vortex S- and D-drives were originally intended as upgrades to CPC 464 setups already having a DDI-1/FD-1. This adapter allowed to continue using the 3" drive. Since only two drives can be used simultaneously, the drive had to be selected manually using a RSX command.
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These are basic and less expensive ''low-capacity'' drives and were meant to be directly connected to a CPC 664/6128 or CPC 464 with DDI-1 (ie. on computers that already provide a floppy controller). Since these drives do not ship with a special controller, they do rely fully on AMSDOS and thus only 40 tracks can be accessed.
 
These are basic and less expensive ''low-capacity'' drives and were meant to be directly connected to a CPC 664/6128 or CPC 464 with DDI-1 (ie. on computers that already provide a floppy controller). Since these drives do not ship with a special controller, they do rely fully on AMSDOS and thus only 40 tracks can be accessed.
  
−
==== Variants ====
+
=== Variants ===
  
 
* '''F1 - Z''' Single 5.25" drive with power supply with ribbon cable (does not come with interface containing FDC or [[VDOS]])
 
* '''F1 - Z''' Single 5.25" drive with power supply with ribbon cable (does not come with interface containing FDC or [[VDOS]])
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These are the latest drives from Vortex for use on CPC 664/6128 or CPC 464 with DDI-1 (ie. on computers that already have a FDC). Only single-drive variants were available. The |S command (for accessing a third drive) is no longer used, the new |X command allows to swap drive A and B (same as [[X-DDOS]] from Dobbertin). These drives are well designed and strong. They are housed in a metal case with power supply (which has good protection with fuses) and have good quality drive mechanisms. The drive has jumpers on it that can be configured as needed.
 
These are the latest drives from Vortex for use on CPC 664/6128 or CPC 464 with DDI-1 (ie. on computers that already have a FDC). Only single-drive variants were available. The |S command (for accessing a third drive) is no longer used, the new |X command allows to swap drive A and B (same as [[X-DDOS]] from Dobbertin). These drives are well designed and strong. They are housed in a metal case with power supply (which has good protection with fuses) and have good quality drive mechanisms. The drive has jumpers on it that can be configured as needed.
  
−
==== Variants ====
+
=== Variants ===
  
 
* '''F1 - X''' Single 80 track, Double Sided, 5.25" drive with power supply and ribbon cable which connects to interface containing [[VDOS]] 2.0
 
* '''F1 - X''' Single 80 track, Double Sided, 5.25" drive with power supply and ribbon cable which connects to interface containing [[VDOS]] 2.0
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</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
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==== X-Modul (RS-232 Interface) ====
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=== X-Modul (RS-232 Interface) ===
  
 
The "X-Modul" adds a RS-232 interface to -X drives.
 
The "X-Modul" adds a RS-232 interface to -X drives.

Revision as of 15:05, 25 May 2022

A series of 3.5" and 5.25" floppy disc drives from Vortex providing up to 720K capacity (704K available).

S- and D-Drives (720K/disk)

These are the first generation of floppy disc drives from Vortex. They came in variants having either a single ("S" variant) or two ("D" variant) 80-track drives (BASF 6138). Additionally, a 3" FD-1 can be connected as third drive, ie. unlike most other CPC disk interfaces it supports more than 2 drives. With VDOS only two drives are accessible at one time. The drives interfacing with their own FDC can be used with the CPC 6128 to use different I/O ports (see below).

Variants

  • F1 - S Single 5.25" drive with power supply connected via ribbon cable to interface with NEC765 and VDOS 1.0 or 2.11
  • F1 - D Double 5.25" drive with power supply connected via ribbon cable to interface with NEC765 and VDOS 1.0 or 2.11
  • M1 - S Single 3.5" drive with power supply connected via ribbon cable to interface with NEC765 and VDOS 1.0 or 2.11
  • M1 - D Double 3.5" drive with power supply connected via ribbon cable to interface with NEC765 and VDOS 1.0 or 2.11


  • Vortex F1-D with CPC 6128 Interface

  • An anonymous box housing the controller board

  • Look inside the controller, a NEC 765 chip and VDOS upgraded to v2.0

  • Controller with mounted VDOS chip

  • F1-D Interface (CPC 664)

  • F1-D Interface Board (CPC 664)

  • F1-D Interface Board (CPC 664)

  • F1-D Interface Board (CPC 6128)

Second drive upgrade

An upgrade was available which allowed to upgrade a single -S drive to a dual -D drive.

FD-1 drive adapter

The Vortex S- and D-drives were originally intended as upgrades to CPC 464 setups already having a DDI-1/FD-1. This adapter allowed to continue using the 3" drive. Since only two drives can be used simultaneously, the drive had to be selected manually using a RSX command.

  • Adapter to connect an additional 3" disc drive in between a CPC 464 and a F1-D

  • Inside the adapter box

  • Inside the adapter box (closeup)

Z-Drives (180K/side)

These are basic and less expensive low-capacity drives and were meant to be directly connected to a CPC 664/6128 or CPC 464 with DDI-1 (ie. on computers that already provide a floppy controller). Since these drives do not ship with a special controller, they do rely fully on AMSDOS and thus only 40 tracks can be accessed.

Variants

  • F1 - Z Single 5.25" drive with power supply with ribbon cable (does not come with interface containing FDC or VDOS)
  • M1 - Z Single 3.5" drive with power supply with ribbon cable (does not come with interface containing FDC or VDOS)


  • Vortex F1-Z

X-Drives (720K/disk)

These are the latest drives from Vortex for use on CPC 664/6128 or CPC 464 with DDI-1 (ie. on computers that already have a FDC). Only single-drive variants were available. The |S command (for accessing a third drive) is no longer used, the new |X command allows to swap drive A and B (same as X-DDOS from Dobbertin). These drives are well designed and strong. They are housed in a metal case with power supply (which has good protection with fuses) and have good quality drive mechanisms. The drive has jumpers on it that can be configured as needed.

Variants

  • F1 - X Single 80 track, Double Sided, 5.25" drive with power supply and ribbon cable which connects to interface containing VDOS 2.0
  • M1 - X Single 80 Track, Double Sided, 3.5" drive with power supply and ribbon cable which connects to interface containing VDOS 2.0
  • F1 - XRS same as F1-X, upgraded with RS232 interface
  • M1 - XRS same as M1-X, upgraded with RS232 interface


  • Vortex F1-X with Manual and Driver Disk

  • Vortex F1-X Backside

  • Front of Vortex M1-X

  • Underneath the Vortex M1-X

  • Inside the Vortex M1-X showing the drive and power

  • Back of Vortex M1-X showing connectors and power.

  • Back of Vortex M1-X showing IDC connection

  • Inside Vortex M1-X with a close up of the drive from above

  • Inside Vortex M1-X with a close up of the back of the drive

X-Modul (RS-232 Interface)

The "X-Modul" adds a RS-232 interface to -X drives.

Technical Details

Vortex Disk Format

See VDOS

I/O Ports

Standard addresses (same as used by AMSDOS)

FB7Eh 765 FDC (internal) Status Register (R) FB7Fh 765 FDC (internal) Data Register (R/W) FA7Eh Floppy Motor On/Off Flipflop

Special addresses (secondary FDC)

The special addresses are mentioned in the manual for the Vortex -X drives, but apparently they are referring to other/older Vortex drives, not the -X drives. The special addresses are used only on CPC 664/6128 and only if the Vortex drive includes an FDC chip.

FBF6h 765 FDC (Vortex,ext) Status Register (Read) FBF7h 765 FDC (Vortex,ext) Data Register (R/W) FA7Eh Floppy Motor On/Off Flipflop (nearly same as normal, bit precise)

The X drive has a different PCB than the PCB for the S, the manual describes connecting the DDI-1 interface to the X drive interface and a 'decoder-ROM' which defines the I/O decoding?

  • Note1: The -Z and -X drives do not include FDC chips.
  • Note2: The -S and -D drives do reportedly work only on CPC 464 (?).

So, not sure if/when the Special addresses are used at all?

RS232 Ports (for -X drives with RS232)

FADC/FADD=Serial Data/Control FBDC/FBDD/FBDF=Counter 0/1/Mode.

So it's probably compatible with Amstrad/Pace (and probably also including, but not using, channel B ports FADE/FADF and FBDE).

Manuals

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