In 1968 Alan Sugar founds Amstrad (Alan Michael Sugar Trading), during 70´s is leader in sales of Hi-fi, Radiocassettes and cheap Televisions.

In the summer of 1983 Alan Sugar ordered a computer proyect, the engineers that made it based in 6502 microprocessor, while the case, keyboard and cassete was made around separated. This prototype was a dissaster and he orderer another prototipe to Roland Perry that made the famous prototype "Arnold"  that later will be CPC464. Software was made by Locomotive that has a soft developed for Z80 and Amstrad acepted that finally this was the microprocessor of  CPC.
 

Both apeared in Spain with diferent logos.
CPC464
Made in UK 
January 1984
Distribuited in Spain by Indescomp from December of 1984 to 1987 that converts in Amstrad España.
CPU Zilog Z80 4 MHz
RAM   64 k (42k free)
VRAM 16 k
ROM 32 k
Text Resolution 20 x 25 16 colors, 40 x 25 4 colors
80 x 25 2 colors
Graphic resolution 160 pixels x 200 pixels 16 colors
320 pixels x 200 pixels 4 colors, 640 pixels x 200 pixels monocrome
Sound 3 chanels, 8 octaves +1 noise channel
Printer port
Bus expansion
Joystick port
Disk port
Amstrad monitor jack
Sound Jack connector
In built Cassete
OS  AMSDOS or CP/M
POWER SUPPLY 5v DC (from monitor)

First Amstrad computer, an historic computer.



 

Serigraphied version in english. There was another in german.
CPC 464
Made in Germany with Amstad license
1985
It have the same caracteristics that CPC464 from Amstrad.

Amstrad version, the colors are changed and the conectors are better quality.



First version without Ñ key

Second version with Ñ key
CPC472
Made in Spain by Indescomp for Spain only
It have the same caracteristics thah CPC464 from Amstrad, except RAM memory (72K)

 Special version for Spain of CPC464 with 72K . It was made to avoid a spanish law that append a tax to computers of less than 64k that hasn´t spanish keyboard. For Amstrad was cheaper to append a RAM chip than changhe the keyboard and launch a first version without Ñ. Few months later the law was amplied to all microcomputers, the cheat was useless. Then there was two versions one without Ñ and other with Ñ.


NOT AVAILABLE IN COLLECTION
CPC664
Origin in UK
From march 1985 to end of 1985 (anounced in August)
CPU Zilog Z80 4 MHz
RAM   64 k (42k free)
VRAM 16 k
ROM 32 k
Text Resolution 20 x 25 16 colors, 40 x 25 4 colors
80 x 25 2 colors
Graphic resolution 160 pixels x 200 pixels 16 colors
320 pixels x 200 pixels 4 colors, 640 pixels x 200 pixels monocrome
Sound 3 chanels, 8 octaves +1 noise channel
Printer port
Bus expansion
Joystick port
Disk port
Amstrad monitor jack
Sound Jack connector
In built Cassete
OS  AMSDOS or CP/M
POWER SUPPLY 5v DC (from monitor)
Disk drive Hitachi 3"

The proyect was called IDIOT (Insert Disc Instead Of Tape). Oric and Tatung  choose this disk format and Amstrad sells disk drives very cheap made by Hitachi.

The computer with 64k RAM and built in disk drive remained a little time in the market and is hard to find. Amstrad replace it quickly by CPC6128, due to RAM memory was cheap and Amstrad wants to introduce in American market and company market and for this they  need more RAM memory. Is hard to find due to they made few computers.



 
 


This is the version of Amstrad´s Model.
CPC664
It have the same caracteristics that CPC664

The colors changes respect Amstrad version. Is even more rare than Amstrad computers as only was sold in Germany.



 

First logo version

Second logo version
CPC6128
Origin in UK
Summer of 1985
CPU Zilog Z80 4 MHz
RAM 128K
VRAM 16Kk
ROM 32K
Text Resolution 20 x 25 16 colors, 40 x 25 4 colors
80 x 25 2 colors
Graphic resolution 160 pixels x 200 pixels 16 colors
320 pixels x 200 pixels 4 colors, 640 pixels x 200 pixels monocrome
Sound 3 chanels, 8 octaves +1 noise channel
Printer port
Bus expansion
Joystick port
Disk port
Amstrad monitor jack
Sound Jack connector
In built Cassete
OS  AMSDOS or CP/M
POWER SUPPLY 5v DC (from monitor)
Disk drive Hitachi 3"

The First Amstrad with 128K and disk drive, later Amstrad put it in Sinclair Spectrum+3 in 1988. Amstrad has a mistake and this format wasn´t any success.



 

German Versión, there was another in english
CPC6128
Made in Germany with Amstrad license
It have the same caracteristics that CPC6128

In this version improved the rear conectors made in the best quality, La ROM is the same according I readed changing 3 jumpers the boot screen turns Amstrad to Schneider (I don´t know which jumpers).

The australian version was imported by Mitsubishi, it was called AWA. Externaly was identical to Amstrad and the only diference was the boot screen (AWA on screen).



In 1985 Amstrad made PCW computers. It was dedicaded computers to word process for officces. Was the Amstrad PCW 8256, 8512, 9512 and 16



On 7th april of 1986 Amstrad bought Sinclair by 5 million Pounds, his logo and ZX Spectrum and QL stocks, later they develop 8 bit Sinclair computers +2, +3, +2A, +2B , PC200, PC500, PC800 and a rare 386 with Sinclair logo.



Keyboard Spanish versión, the cartidge contains Locomotive Basic and Ocean´s Burnin´Rubber Game
CPC464+
Origin in UK
1990
CPU Zilog Z80A 4 MHz
RAM 64 k
ROM 32 k
Text resolution 20, 40, 80 columns x 25 lines 16, 4 and monocrome respectively
Graphic resolution 160 pixels x 200 pixels 16 colors
320 pixels x 200 pixels 4 colors, 640 pixels x 200 pixels monocrome
Sound 3 channel stereo, 8 octaves+1 noise channel
Bus expansion
Light pen or gun port
Stereo sound output (jack)
Centronics port
2 Joystick ports (Atari)
1 Analogic port
Cartidge Slot
RGB monitor DIN output for Amstrad monitor
Built in Cassette
Power Suppy thought monitor 5V

It was an attempt to revitalice this antique computers including a console, giving it a look that seems like the new computers that appeared in the market.



Spanish keyboard version, green color cartidge version
CPC6128+
Origin in UK
1990
CPU Zilog Z80A 4 MHz
RAM 128K
ROM 32 K
Text resolution 20, 40, 80 columns x 25 lines 16, 4 and monocrome respectively
Graphic resolution 160 pixels x 200 pixels 16 colors
320 pixels x 200 pixels 4 colors, 640 pixels x 200 pixels monocrome
Sound 3 channel stereo, 8 octaves+1 noise channel
Bus expansion
Light pen or gun port
Stereo sound output (jack)
Centronics port
2 Joystick ports (Atari)
1 Analogic port
Cartidge Slot
RGB monitor DIN output for Amstrad monitor
Built in disk drive 3"
Power Suppy thought monitor 5V

Disk version, they sold few in Spain.


GX4000
Origin in UK
1990
CPU Zilog Z80A 4 MHz
RAM 64 k
ROM 32 k
Text resolution 20, 40, 80 columns x 25 lines 16, 4 and monocrome respectively
Graphic resolution 160 pixels x 200 pixels 16 colors
320 pixels x 200 pixels 4 colors, 640 pixels x 200 pixels monocrome
Sound 3 channel stereo, 8 octaves+1 noise channel
Gun port
Stereo output jack
2 Joystick ports
1 Analogic port
RGB monitor DIN output for Amstrad monitor
Scart Euroconector
Power suply external 11V or 5V from Amstrad monitor

Amstrad try to do the same that Commodore with the C64GS to utilice the hardware with incorporated console of plus models plus to launch his 8 bits console, they failed because they was a bad competence with 16 bits consoles due to they has better caracteristics and better price/quality relation.



 

First Notepad from Amstrad similar to Z88 but more powerful.
NC 100
Made in UK
August 1992
CPU Z80
RAM 64 k
ROM 256 k
Text resolution 80 columns x 8 lines
Graphic resolution 480 pixels x 64 pixels 3 grey tones
Sound (beeper)
295 x 210 x 28 mm. / 1 Kg
Centronics port
RS-232 port
Slot PCMCIA
Software in ROM: BBC BASIC, word processor, diary, calculator, address book, serial terminal
External Power supply 7.5V or 4 bateries AA type 1,5 V

In 1992 Alan Sugar tried to revitalice the brand computers with this kind of computers, they was made in Japan.



Motherboard Versions:

Amstrad made several PCB motherboards to CPC systems, It called Arnold  to all like the prototype made by Roland Perry in 1983.

Arnold 1 for CPC464
Arnold 2 for CPC664
Arnold 3 and 4 for CPC6128
Arnold 5 for CPC464+
Arnold 6 for CPC6128+
Motherboard of GX4000 console (reduced Arnold 5 version)