The FDC speed is more impressive when you realize the Amstrad CPC’s tape loads at only 2 kbits/s in fast mode. Note: tape loading can be way faster than that if an MP3 player is used instead of a real physical tape, as it has been demonstrated here: https://youtu.be/MAIsOIwgJWA
Note: Some FDC commands don't require the motor to be on. For example, the seek or recalibrate commands that move the floppy drive head work fine with the motor off. And seek/calibrate recalibrate also work without floppy disk. [https://64nops.wordpress.com/2021/07/10/a-la-decouverte-du-fdc-episode-2/ Source]
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