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The [http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=183 Amstrad PC 1512] was launched in 1986. After the Amstrad CPC 464, the CPC 664 and the CPC 6128 (three home computers based on Z80) and the PCW 8256 and the PCW 9512 (both dedicated word processing computers based on Z80 as well). Amstrad decided to make the first low cost PC clone, it was a great European success it captured more than 25% of the European computer market (impressive now, & was phenomenal then).<br>
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This cheap computer was, however, complete and offered more than some others did. The small power supply (57 W) was integrated into the monitor.<br>
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Four models were proposed: PC 1512 SD/DD (with one or two 5.25" floppy disk drives) with color or monochrome monitor and two models with hard disk (HD10 with 10mb hard disk and HD20 with 20mb hard disk).<br>
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The Amstrad used a "enhanced" CGA graphic mode, which can display 640x200 pixels with 16 colors (or grayscale). It was sold with MS-DOS 3.2, DR-DOS plus 1.2 (an operating system from Digital Research), GEM (a graphic interface, also used in the Atari ST, TT & Falcon), GEMPAINT and GEM BASIC.<br>
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'''Technical Information:'''<br>
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* Name: PC 1512
* Manufacturer: Amstrad
* Type: Professional Computer
* Year: 1986
* CPU: Intel 8086
* Speed: 8 MHz
* RAM: 512 KB (up to 640 KB)
* ROM: 16 KB
* Text Modes:
** 40 x 25
** 80 x 25
* Graphic Modes:
** CGA graphic modes :
*** 320 x 200
*** 640 x 200
** Amstrad specific mode:
*** 640 x 200 / 16 colors
* Colors:
** 4 (CGA colors)
** 16 (Amstrad Mode)
* Sound: bipper
* I/O Ports:
** Centronics
** DC In
** Video In
** RS232: 25-Pin Male,
** Mouse: 9-Pin
** Joystick: 9-Pin
** Half Length 8 bit ISA slots (3) - IBM PC/XT (IBM PC Compatible)
* Built In Media: One 5.25" Floppy drive, 360KB capacity
* OS:
** MS-DOS
** DR-DOS
* Upgradeability: None. Cannot change processor, change motherboard, add RAM, replace monitor, replace keyboard, replace mouse, and system had to be chopped apart to install Hard Drive.<br>
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* Status: Working
* Condition: Good
* Serial #: Keyboard: 543-6Y 04462 Monitor: 311-6Y 36764 System Unit: 534-6Y 04011
==== Peripherals ====
* 4 x Panasonic SPECIAL AA "R6R" Batteries (inside the System Unit)
* 1 x Two button Mouse with 9-Pin Connector
* 10 x Blank 3M 5¼" DS, HD Diskettes - Packed in original packaging
* [https://www.lo-tech.co.uk/wiki/Lo-tech_ISA_CompactFlash_Adapter_revision_2 Lo-tech ISA CompactFlash Adapter revision 2] - flashed / re-programmed with 20-Feb-15 version of ide_xt.bin using Binary Download: [https://www.lo-tech.co.uk/downloads/XTIDE-Universal-BIOS/XUBR580.ZIP R580] from [https://www.lo-tech.co.uk/wiki/XTIDE_Universal_BIOS XTIDE Universal BIOS] web site