Mainboard Versions

CPC464 version 1 (original)

• Size: ???x??? mm
• Big mainboard, old Gate Array with cooling plate and with VCC2; supplied from VCC via two 12 ohm resistors, R138 and R139, which are seen (with white coating) near the cooling plate.

• Board: PT NO Z70100, without any "MCnnnn" code, Copyright 1983
• Original version. Real wires going to keyboard.

• Board: PT NO Z70100, MC0001A, Copyright 1983
• Keyboard connector now has two rows of soldering points; probably intended to support two different connectors: The old PCB keyboard with wires, and the new CPC664-style 19pin single-foil "membrane" keyboard.

• Board: PT NO 270100, MC0001A, Copyrigh 1983
• Same as "Z70100 MC0001A", but with uncommon text layer: labeled "270100" (not "Z70100"), says "Copyrigh" (not "Copyright"), and, unlike all other boards, its text has slashed zeroes.

• Board: Prototype with Gate Array Simulator (more pictures)
• The Gate Array Simulator board (mounted on top of the mainboard, and almost having the same size as the mainboard) contains four 8K EPROMs, and a Gate Array prototype made of several logic chips. In later versions these evolved into a normal 28pin 32K ROM chip, and the custom 40pin Gate Array chip.

CPC464 version 2 (new gate array)

• Size: 405x152 mm
• Separate soldering points for old and new Gate Array (with changed pin-outs).
• New connector for new 6128-style 2x10pin dual-foil membrane keyboards (still has optional soldering points old 19pin foils).

• Board: PT NO Z70200, MC0002B, Copyright 1984
• The cooling plate and cooling paste are removed on the photo, revealing the normally hidden 40007-4 gate array chip

• Board: PT NO Z70200, MC0002C, Copyright 1984 with MS0043A daughterboard (more pictures)
• The Spanish CPC472, with nonfunctional 8K RAM on the daughterboard

• Board: PT NO Z70200, MC0002D, Copyright 1984

• Board: PT NO Z70200, MC0008D
• French board with shielding plates, and additional filtering loops, and french AZERTY rom.
• Without old 19pin keyboard connector.

CPC464 version 3 (medium-sized)

• Size: 240x150 mm
• Medium sized mainboard. Same components as previous version, but arranged more tightly. Joystick/stereo moved to left side.
• Can be optionally fitted with Amphenol connectors (instead of Edge connectors, as far as known, this option was never used for the 464). The screw-holes have contacts for optional shielding-plate (this option was used in german Schneider models).

• Board: PT NO Z70374, MC0044A

• Board: PT NO Z70374, MC0044B

• Board: PT NO Z70375, MC0044D
• Mostly same as Z70374. The 3 resistors in upper-right are arranged differently, different cassette connector installed, tinned GND fields.

• Board: PT NO Z70378, MC0046A
• Additional filtering loops near cassette, monitor, keyboard connectors. Used in german Schneider models.

• Shielding as found in german Schneider models

CPC464 version 4 (cost-down)

• Size: ???x??? mm

• Board: PT NO Z80329, MC0099A, Copyright 1988
• Tiny mainboard. Uses 100pin SMD Gate Array (combines the old Gate Array, CRTC, and some FDC/DRAM/RESET logic in one chip).

CPC664

• Size: ???x??? mm

• Board: PT NO Z70205, MC0005A
• 8pin FDC Data Separator

• Board: PT NO Z70205, MC0005B
• Another 664 version, found in german Schneider CPCs (but might be also used in other countries?)
• This board version typically includes a small patch: A resistor soldered between Pin9 (A0) and Pin14 (/CASADDR) of IC105. The patch is also seen here. The resistor is labeled as R160 in the schematic, but isn't labeled on the PCB, so it was apparently added after designing the PCB.

CPC6128 version 1 (8pin data separator, solder points for old and new gate array)

• Size: ???x??? mm

• Board: PT NO Z70210, MC0009A
• Separate soldering points for old and new Gate Array (as far as known, the old Gate Array was never used in 6128 though, only in 464).
• 8pin FDC Data Separator.
• Can be fitted with Amphenol connectors (as used in german cpcs) (instead of edge connectors).

CPC6128 version 2 (24pin data separator, solder points for new gate array only)

• Size: 320x155 mm

• Board: PT NO Z70290, MC0020B, R1706-94HB, Copyright 1985
• Can be fitted with Amphenol connectors (done in germany) (instead Edge connectors).
• Uses 24pin FDC Data Separator.
• Here's also another picture.

• Board: PT NO Z70290, MC0020I, 94V.0-FR-4, Copyright 1985

• Board: PT NO Z70290, MC0023D, 94HB-R1706, Copyright 1985
• Sold in germany, with Amphenol connectors (and dummy edge-connectors which don't have any contacts, and which are covered by green solder-stop layer, seen on bottom side), front of mainboard has several vias for giving better contact to shielding plate).
• Note: The via in the text makes it easy to misread the part number (it's Z70290, not Z70250).

• Board: PT NO Z70290, MC...?, 94...?
• Looks almost like the above german board, but the "94HB-R1706" is different
• http://www.1000bit.it/scheda.asp?id=30 (not perfect picture quality; and board numbers are hidden under shielding plate and capacitors)
• EDIT: There was a picture of that board - but now it's replaced by better picture, but now showing a totally different 6128 board :-/

• Shielding as found in german Schneider models

• Board: PT NO Z70290, MC0057A, Copyright 1985
• An uncommon version. The cooling plate indicates that this CPC 6128 board was downgraded for supporting the pin-outs of the old gate array (?) Most bizarre, the /INT resistor, R144, has white coating, seen at lower-left edge of the cooling plate. On 464 boards similar coating is used on VCC2 resistors. Most likely, this board is a homebrew joke.

CPC6128 version 3 (cost-down)

• Size: ???x??? mm

• Board: PT NO Z80330, MC0100A (1988)
• Uses 100pin SMD Gate Array (combines the old Gate Array and PAL, CRTC, and some FDC/DRAM/RESET logic in one chip).
• Can be fitted with four 64Kx4 RAM chips (or the normal sixteen 64Kx1 RAM chips)
• Printer port consists of 74LS174+74LS175 (instead of 74LS273)

CPC 464+

• Size: 282x142 mm

• Board: 2700-016P-3, MC0122D, Copyright 1990
• Same mainboard is used in 464+ and 664+ (though not all components installed in 464+, and with different LK Links. Uses 160pin SMD Gate Array (ASIC).

CPC 6128+

• Size: 282x142 mm
• Same mainboard is used in 464+, but with additional components installed (extra RAM chips, FDC chips, internal/external floppy connectors, and with different LK Links).
• Uses 160pin SMD Gate Array (ASIC).

• Board: 2700-016P-3, MC0122C, Copyright 1990

Other Plus versions are shown in the Service Manuals (Plus series, page 5 = MC0122B, and page 16 = MC0122A).

GX4000

• Size: ???x??? mm
• Same chipset as CPC+, but lacks Keyboard, Expansion Port, Printer Port, Tape/Disc Interfaces.
• Additional Scart Connector and TV Modulator.

• Board: 2700-017P-4, MC0123C, Copyright 1990, K1

• Board: 2700-017P-4, MC0123C, Copyright 1990, K4
• Looks same as above (only the "K4" text near the LED changed).

• Board: 27...?, MC...?, Copyright 1990 (without TV modulator)
• Version without TV Modulator installed, and with IC101 replaced by 4 transistors (used in French models; where the PAL modulator would be useless).
• See this picture (might be same mainboard as above, not sure - the photo doesn't show the boards part number; hidden behind the cartridge slot, one thing that IS different is the K1 vs K3 text near the LED).

Another GX4000 board (2700-017P-3, MC0123A, Copyright 1990) is shown in Service Manuals (Plus series, page 24 and page 32/france).

System Cartridge (BIOS of CPC+) and Game Cartridges

• Size: 51x60 mm (more pictures)

• Board: PT-NO-Z90903-MC0121A
• With custom LKs, and double-sided soldering points.

• Board: PT-NO-Z90903-MS0201A
• With custom LKs, and single-sided soldering points.

• Board: 2700-023P-1
• With hardwired LK1 and LK6, and single-sided soldering points.

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

DDI-1

• Size: 160x65 mm

• Board: MF0004B, ISS3, (C) Amstrad 1984 (more pictures)
• 20pin FDC Data Separator

Clones

• Size: 370x200 mm

• KC Compact (more pictures)
• East german CPC464 clone (CPC 464-style 64K RAM, Tape Drive, though using 6128 BIOS version)

• Size: ???x??? mm

• Board: PATISONIC ALESTE 520EX 01.003 (more pictures)
• Russian CPC128 clone with some additonal features (512K RAM, additional video modes, RTC, SIO, etc.)

Notes

• The last letter of the PT NO Znnnnn, MCnnnnX board numbers does not seem to indicate a revision (the boards appear to be identical regardless of that letter, as long as the other digits are same). So, the last letter may indicate the manufacturing date or manufacturing location.

See also

• Amstrad part numbers - Part Numbers for PCBs and Chips
• Keyboard Versions
• Schematics
• Service Manuals - (cost-down 6128 is in the Amendment manual)

Forum

• http://cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php/topic,678.0.html - CPC Mainboard Versions related