Difference between revisions of "Amstrad External Disk Drive"

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'''Amstrad''' made two different [[disk drives]] for the Amstrad/Schneider CPC range:
 
'''Amstrad''' made two different [[disk drives]] for the Amstrad/Schneider CPC range:
  
−
* DDI-1 - a set, consisting of the real DDI-1 (= Disk Drive Interface) and a FD-1 3" disk drive, as well as the CP/M 2.2 license and disk.
+
* DDI-1: a set consisting of the real DDI-1 (= Disk Drive Interface) and a FD-1 3" disk drive, as well as the CP/M 2.2 license and disk.<br> This set was for the CPC464 which didn't have a built-in [[765 FDC]] disk controller.
  
−
This set was for the CPC464, which doesn't have the disk controller built-in.
+
* FD-1: a 3" disk drive as secondary disk drive unit for the CPC664, CPC6128, and for the CPC464 with DDI-1
  
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* FD-1  - a 3" disk drive as secondary disk drive unit for the CPC664, CPC6128 and CPC464 with DDI-1
+
All drives are for use with [[CF2 Compact Floppy Disc]] 3" discs.
  
−
Note that there was no official external disk drive for the 6128Plus or even the 464Plus.
+
There was no official external disk drive for the 6128Plus or even the 464Plus. The difference between a CPC664/CPC6128 and a 6128Plus was simply a changed pin-out which can easily be solved by a new plug on the disk drive's cable.
  
−
While the difference between a CPC664/CPC6128 and a 6128Plus was simply a changed pin-out which can easily be solved by a new plug on the disk drive's cable.
+
The 464Plus was harder to equip with a disk drive. Although the pin-out of the expansion port was left unchanged, the DDI-1 cannot be used on the 464Plus without modifications (see [[Connecting a Disc Interface to CPC464+]]).
  
−
The 464Plus was harder to equip with a disk drive: Although the pin-out of the expansion port was left unchanged, the DDI-1 cannot be operated on the 464Plus without modifications.
+
== Technical Details ==
  
−
== Technically Speaking ==
+
The two disk drives were identical. The only difference was that the DDI-1 shipped with controller, manual and CP/M 2.2 on one disk.
  
−
The two disk drives were identical, the only difference was that the DDI-1 shipped with controller, manual and CP/M 2.2 on one disk.
+
The disk drives were jumpered (more accurately, soldered) to react on both drive select lines, A: and B:.
−
 
+
−
The disk drives were jumpered (rather: soldered) to react on both drive selects, A: and B:.
+
  
 
The cable decided which drive became A: and which one became B: :
 
The cable decided which drive became A: and which one became B: :
  
−
* On the CPC664 and CPC6128 computers, DRIVE SELECT 0 was not wired externally, so the drive could only become drive B: on these systems.
+
* On the CPC664 and CPC6128 computers, DRIVE SELECT 0 was not connected on the external connector, so the drive could only become drive B: on these systems.
−
* For the DDI-1, DRIVE SELECT 0 was only wired to the outmost connector of the attached cable, while the inner connector was wired to DRIVE SELECT 1 only, thus the drive at the cable's end always became A: while the other one became drive B: accordingly.
+
* For the DDI-1, DRIVE SELECT 0 was only wired to the outermost connector of the attached cable, while the inner connector was wired to DRIVE SELECT 1 only, thus the drive at the cable's end always became A: while the other one became drive B: accordingly.
  
−
Note that the drive also powered the DDI-1 interface when used together with it: Certain pins documented as N/C in the CPC664/CPC6128 manual in fact carry +5V from the drive to the controller.
+
Note that the drive also powered the DDI-1 interface when used together with it. Certain pins documented as N/C in the CPC664/CPC6128 manual in fact carry +5V from the drive to the controller.
−
The main benefit of this was, that you couldn't connect a standard drive with a more common format (5¼" in the beginning, 3½" later and today) and thus cheaper disks as drive A: without modifications, as the DDI-1 won't work without the power fed from the FD-1.
+
The main reason for this was that you couldn't connect a standard drive with a more common format (5¼" in the beginning, 3½" later and today) and thus cheaper disks as drive A: without modifications, as the DDI-1 wouldn't work without the power fed from the FD-1.
  
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== Pictures ==
+
Details on [[AMSDOS]], Amstrad's implementation of [[CP/M]] can be found in [[Soft158A:_DDI-1_Firmware_-_The_Complete_CPC_464_DOS_ROM_Specification|DDI-1 Firmware SOFT158A]].
  
−
<gallery caption="DDI - 1">
+
== Pictures ==
−
 
+
−
Image:ddi1.gif|Amstrad FD-1/DDI-1 disk drive
+
  
 +
<gallery>
 +
Image:Fd-1.jpg|FD-1 (disc drive)
 +
Image:DDI-1 Tomdalby.jpg|DDI-1 (disc interface)
 +
Image:DDI-1 ISS3 MF0004B.jpg|DDI-1 (pcb)
 +
Image:DDI Schematic.png|DDI-1 (schematic)
 +
Image:Gerald DDI-1 MF0004B.jpg|DDI-1 (top)
 +
Image:Gerald DDI-1 MF0004B-Back with ABBA switch mod.jpg|DDI-1 (bottom)
 +
Image:DDI1_PCB_Top.jpg|MF0004B Models 9,5,3 and 1 PCB (top)
 +
Image:DDI1_PCB_Bottom.jpg|MF0004B Models 9,5,3 and 1 PCB (bottom)
 +
Image:ACU850102 -012.jpg|Advert (ACU Jan 1985)
 +
Image:Amstrad Computer User8504 044.jpg|Advert (ACU Apr 1985)
 +
Image:DDI-1_cable.jpg| DDI-1 cable pinout
 +
Image:DDI-1.jpg|DDI-1 - complete with manual, interface, FD-1 drive & CF-2 discs
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
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* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/ddi-1.zip Amstrad DDI-1 (English) Manual]
 
* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/ddi-1.zip Amstrad DDI-1 (English) Manual]
 
* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/DDI-1.es.rar Amstrad DDI-1 (Spanish) Manual]
 
* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/DDI-1.es.rar Amstrad DDI-1 (Spanish) Manual]
 +
* [[Media:DDI-1_Handbuch.pdf]] (German) Manual
  
 
== Service Manual ==
 
== Service Manual ==
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* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/DDI-1%20FD-1%20Service%20Manual.en.rar Amstrad DDI-1 FD-1 Service Manual]
 
* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/DDI-1%20FD-1%20Service%20Manual.en.rar Amstrad DDI-1 FD-1 Service Manual]
  
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[[Category:Hardware]] [[Category:Peripherals]] [[Category:Manual]]
+
== Datasheets ==
 +
 
 +
* [[Media:UPD765 Datasheet OCRed.pdf]] - uPD765 disc controller
 +
* [[Media:FDC9229BT Datasheet.pdf]] - FDC9229BT data separator (that usually assists the uPD765 chip)
 +
* [[Media:DDI Schematic.png]] - DDI-1 Schematic (disc interface for CPC464)
 +
 
 +
[[Category:Peripherals]] [[Category:Manual]][[Category:DATA Storage]][[Category:CPC Internal Components]][[Category:Amstrad Products]]

Latest revision as of 05:30, 6 May 2018

Amstrad made two different disk drives for the Amstrad/Schneider CPC range:

  • DDI-1: a set consisting of the real DDI-1 (= Disk Drive Interface) and a FD-1 3" disk drive, as well as the CP/M 2.2 license and disk.
    This set was for the CPC464 which didn't have a built-in 765 FDC disk controller.
  • FD-1: a 3" disk drive as secondary disk drive unit for the CPC664, CPC6128, and for the CPC464 with DDI-1

All drives are for use with CF2 Compact Floppy Disc 3" discs.

There was no official external disk drive for the 6128Plus or even the 464Plus. The difference between a CPC664/CPC6128 and a 6128Plus was simply a changed pin-out which can easily be solved by a new plug on the disk drive's cable.

The 464Plus was harder to equip with a disk drive. Although the pin-out of the expansion port was left unchanged, the DDI-1 cannot be used on the 464Plus without modifications (see Connecting a Disc Interface to CPC464+).

Technical Details

The two disk drives were identical. The only difference was that the DDI-1 shipped with controller, manual and CP/M 2.2 on one disk.

The disk drives were jumpered (more accurately, soldered) to react on both drive select lines, A: and B:.

The cable decided which drive became A: and which one became B: :

  • On the CPC664 and CPC6128 computers, DRIVE SELECT 0 was not connected on the external connector, so the drive could only become drive B: on these systems.
  • For the DDI-1, DRIVE SELECT 0 was only wired to the outermost connector of the attached cable, while the inner connector was wired to DRIVE SELECT 1 only, thus the drive at the cable's end always became A: while the other one became drive B: accordingly.

Note that the drive also powered the DDI-1 interface when used together with it. Certain pins documented as N/C in the CPC664/CPC6128 manual in fact carry +5V from the drive to the controller. The main reason for this was that you couldn't connect a standard drive with a more common format (5¼" in the beginning, 3½" later and today) and thus cheaper disks as drive A: without modifications, as the DDI-1 wouldn't work without the power fed from the FD-1.

Details on AMSDOS, Amstrad's implementation of CP/M can be found in DDI-1 Firmware SOFT158A.

Pictures

  • FD-1 (disc drive)

  • DDI-1 (disc interface)

  • DDI-1 (pcb)

  • DDI-1 (schematic)

  • DDI-1 (top)

  • DDI-1 (bottom)

  • MF0004B Models 9,5,3 and 1 PCB (top)

  • MF0004B Models 9,5,3 and 1 PCB (bottom)

  • Advert (ACU Jan 1985)

  • Advert (ACU Apr 1985)

  • DDI-1 cable pinout

  • DDI-1 - complete with manual, interface, FD-1 drive & CF-2 discs

Covers

  • Manuals

  • (English) User Manual

  • (German) User Manual

  • (Spanish) User Manual

  • Service Manual

Manuals

Service Manual

Datasheets

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