Difference between revisions of "GX4000 cartridge"

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[[Image:burning rubber cartr.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A cartridge for the + series]]
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[[Image:Burning Rubber - cara A.jpg|right|thumb|250px|GX4000 Burnin' Rubber cartridge]]
  
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A cartridge system was introduced with the launch of the CPC+ series. This enabled developers to destribute games via cartridges on the new Amstrad....
+
A cartridge system was introduced with the launch of the [[Plus]] and GX4000 series. This enabled developers to distribute games via cartridges on the new Amstrad. The cartridges are protected with the [[ACID]] chip.
  
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== Technical specs. ==
+
== EPROMs ==
  
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A device to hack [[RAM7 Cartridge Hacker|+ cartridges]]
+
All 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-outs:
 +
  VCC ---LK1--- EPROM.A18 ---LK2--- CA18
 +
  VCC ---LK3--- EPROM.A17 ---LK4--- CA17
 +
  VCC ---LK5--- EPROM.A15 ---LK6--- CA15
 +
Usually 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  32  128K  LK6 (A15=A15=Address)  N/A                    LK1 (A18=VCC=/PGM)
 +
  27C2001  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.
 +
 
 +
== Protection ==
 +
 
 +
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 [[ACID]] chip, otherwise the [[Plus]]/GX4000 refuses to work, meaning that unlicensed third-party developers couldn't produce cartridges without buying the [[ACID]] hardware from Amstrad.
  
 
== Pictures ==
 
== Pictures ==
  
−
<gallery caption="GX4000 cartridges">
+
<gallery caption="2700-023P-1 (with hardwired LK1 and LK6, and single-sided soldering points)">
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Image:Inside GX4000 cart 1.jpg|Inside view of a CPC+ cartridge
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Image:Cartridge-2700-023P-1-Components.jpg|Components
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Image:Inside GX4000 cart 2.jpg|Inside view of a CPC+ cartridge
+
Image:BurningRubberGX4000versionPCB.jpg|Components installed
 +
Image:Cartridge-2700-023P-1-Top.jpg|Component Side
 +
Image:Cartridge-2700-023P-1-Bottom.jpg|Solder Side
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
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[[Category:Hardware]]
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<gallery caption="PT-NO-Z90903-MS0201A (with custom LKs, and single-sided soldering points)">
 +
Image:Cartridge-PT-NO-Z90903-MS0201A-Cartridge.jpg|Cartridge
 +
Image:Cartridge-PT-NO-Z90903-MS0201A-Installed.jpg|Components installed
 +
Image: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 1 unrotated.jpg|Components installed
 +
Image:Inside GX4000 cart 2.jpg|Solder Side
 +
Image: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 Side
 +
File:Cart PCB AMSTRO1 bottom.jpg|Solder Side
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
<gallery caption="Cartridge Slot">
 +
File:GX4000 Top.jpg|GX4000 with top-loading cartridge slot
 +
File:CPC464Plus LeftSide Nighfallcrew.jpg|CPC Plus with side-loading cartridge slot
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
== Demonstration System ==
 +
 
 +
Amstrad released a Demonstration system for his retailer in order to show GX4000 games: the [[Amstrad CSD]] (Cartridge Software Demonstrator).
 +
 
 +
It was a 464 [[Plus]] motherboard, with an extra "daughter board" allowing the insertion of 12 games cartridges, plus an extra special cartridge acting as an OS.
 +
 
 +
<gallery caption="Some photos of Amstrad Expo 90">
 +
Image:csdscreen1.jpg
 +
Image:csdscreen2.jpg
 +
Image:csdface.jpg
 +
Image:csddaughter.jpg
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
Courtesy of Amstrad.cpc.free.fr
 +
 
 +
More informations at the [[Amstrad CSD]] page.
 +
 
 +
== Pin-Outs ==
 +
 
 +
* [[Connector:Cartridge Slot (CPC Plus only)|Cartridge Slot Pin-Outs]]
 +
 
 +
== Misc ==
 +
 
 +
* [[RAM7]], a French hardware developer, created a device to hack [[RAM7 Cartridge Hacker|CPC Plus cartridges]].
 +
* [[CPC GX4000-Multi EPROM Cartridge]]
 +
 
 +
==Links==
 +
 
 +
* [http://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:Hardware]][[Category:Cartridges| ]][[Category:DATA Storage]]
 +
[[Category:CPC Internal Components]][[Category:CPC History]][[Category:CPC Plus]]

Latest revision as of 05:32, 13 November 2014

GX4000 Burnin' Rubber cartridge

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

EPROMs

All 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-outs: 

 VCC ---LK1--- EPROM.A18 ---LK2--- CA18
 VCC ---LK3--- EPROM.A17 ---LK4--- CA17
 VCC ---LK5--- EPROM.A15 ---LK6--- CA15

Usually 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  32   128K   LK6 (A15=A15=Address)  N/A                    LK1 (A18=VCC=/PGM)
 27C2001  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.

Protection

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 ACID chip, otherwise the Plus/GX4000 refuses to work, meaning that unlicensed third-party developers couldn't produce cartridges without buying the ACID hardware from Amstrad.

Pictures

  • 2700-023P-1 (with hardwired LK1 and LK6, and single-sided soldering points)

  • Components

  • Components installed

  • Component Side

  • Solder Side

  • PT-NO-Z90903-MS0201A (with custom LKs, and single-sided soldering points)

  • Cartridge

  • Components installed

  • Solder Side

  • PT-NO-Z90903-MC0121A (with custom LKs, and double-sided soldering points)

  • Components installed

  • Solder Side

  • Case Front (Component Side)

  • Case Back (Solder Side)

  • Component Side (scan by ArcadeTV)

  • Back side (scan by ArcadeTV)

  • Spanish cartridge without text-layer on PCB (otherwise same as 2700-023P-1)

  • Components installed

  • AMSTRO1 (with hardwired LK1 and LK6, and double-sided soldering points)

  • Component Side

  • Solder Side

  • Cartridge Slot

  • GX4000 with top-loading cartridge slot

  • CPC Plus with side-loading cartridge slot

Demonstration System

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

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

  • Some photos of Amstrad Expo 90
  • Csdscreen1.jpg
  • Csdscreen2.jpg
  • Csdface.jpg
  • Csddaughter.jpg

Courtesy of Amstrad.cpc.free.fr

More informations at the Amstrad CSD page.

Pin-Outs

Misc

Links

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