Difference between revisions of "Vortex Disc Drives"
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* First 9K contain two System Tracks (eg. CP/M Bootstrap) | * First 9K contain two System Tracks (eg. CP/M Bootstrap) | ||
* Next 4K contain directory (see Note) | * Next 4K contain directory (see Note) | ||
| − | * Next | + | * Next 704K are data (allocated in 4K blocks) (aka 4K clusters) |
* Last 3K are unused (due to 4K allocation size) | * Last 3K are unused (due to 4K allocation size) | ||
Note: According to the manual, the directory can hold 128 entries under VDOS2.0 (whole 4K used), but only 64 entries under VDOS1.0 (only half of the 4K area used). | Note: According to the manual, the directory can hold 128 entries under VDOS2.0 (whole 4K used), but only 64 entries under VDOS1.0 (only half of the 4K area used). | ||
Revision as of 13:48, 3 January 2010
Disc drives from Vortex.
Contents
F1
A 5.25" disc drive. 80 tracks and 708Kb.
- 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 :
On the F1-S/D Controllers the Disc operation system VDOS 1.0 on ROM was included.
On the F1-X/XRS Controllers the Disc operation system VDOS 2.0 on ROM was included.
M1
A 3.5" disc drive. 80 tracks and 708KB Formatted per Disk.
- M1 - S Single 3.5" drive with controller.
- M1 - Z Single 3.5" drive without controller.
- M1 - D Double 3.5" drive with controller.
The disc drive also was available as an extended version:
On the M1-S/D Controllers the Disc operation system VDOS 1.0 on ROM was included.
On the M1-X/XRS Controllers the Disc operation system VDOS 2.0 on ROM was included.
Tape
- Tape
Software
The Vortex disc drive controller
The Vortex disc drive controler was similar to Amstrads own controller on DDI-1.
It used the same controler chip, the NEC765.
It has VDOS on ROM.
Vortex Disk Format
Sector numbers are 01h..09h (same as AMSDOS IBM Format, but with a 9th sector) Disks are Double-Sided, Double Density, 80 Tracks, 9 Sectors Total capacity is 720K (704K available):
- First 9K contain two System Tracks (eg. CP/M Bootstrap)
- Next 4K contain directory (see Note)
- Next 704K are data (allocated in 4K blocks) (aka 4K clusters)
- Last 3K are unused (due to 4K allocation size)
Note: According to the manual, the directory can hold 128 entries under VDOS2.0 (whole 4K used), but only 64 entries under VDOS1.0 (only half of the 4K area used).
The Vortex -Z drives do not seem to include any VDOS ROM (so they do support only normal 40-Track AMSDOS Formats, but NOT the 80-Track Vortex format).
Pictures
- The Vortex F1 Drives
F1-Z Disc Drive
F1-D Disc Drive
- The Vortex Disc Drive Controller
A anonymous box houses the controller
Look inside the controller
Controller with VDOS mounted
