GX4000 cartridge - Revision history

Eto: /* Misc */

2025-12-15T23:25:22Z

Misc

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:25, 15 December 2025
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	* [[RAM7]], a French hardware developer, created a device to hack [[RAM7 Cartridge Hacker\|CPC Plus cartridges]].		* [[RAM7]], a French hardware developer, created a device to hack [[RAM7 Cartridge Hacker\|CPC Plus cartridges]].
	* [[CPC GX4000-Multi EPROM Cartridge]]		* [[CPC GX4000-Multi EPROM Cartridge]]
			* [[Multi Cartridge 8 ROMs\|DIY Multi Cartridge for up to 8 ROMs]]
	* [[Converted GX4000 Software]]		* [[Converted GX4000 Software]]

Phi2x: /* Misc */

2025-03-23T17:28:08Z

Misc

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:28, 23 March 2025
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	* [[RAM7]], a French hardware developer, created a device to hack [[RAM7 Cartridge Hacker\|CPC Plus cartridges]].		* [[RAM7]], a French hardware developer, created a device to hack [[RAM7 Cartridge Hacker\|CPC Plus cartridges]].
	* [[CPC GX4000-Multi EPROM Cartridge]]		* [[CPC GX4000-Multi EPROM Cartridge]]
			* [[Converted GX4000 Software]]

	==Links==		==Links==

Gryzor: /* Pictures */ High-res scans added

2014-11-13T10:32:25Z

Pictures: High-res scans added

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:32, 13 November 2014
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	Image:Burning Rubber - cara A.jpg\|Case Front (Component Side)		Image:Burning Rubber - cara A.jpg\|Case Front (Component Side)
	Image:Burning Rubber - cara B.jpg\|Case Back (Solder Side)		Image:Burning Rubber - cara B.jpg\|Case Back (Solder Side)
			Image:AMSTRAD CPC CARTRIDGE PT NO Z90903 B PARTSSIDE WITHOUT PARTS PCB SCAN ATV.jpg\|Component Side (scan by ArcadeTV)
			Image:AMSTRAD CPC CARTRIDGE PT NO Z90903 B SOLDERSIDE WITHOUT PARTS PCB SCAN ATV.jpg\|Back side (scan by ArcadeTV)
	</gallery>		</gallery>

MacDeath: /* Demonstration System */

2012-07-28T03:38:50Z

Demonstration System

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:38, 28 July 2012
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	Courtesy of Amstrad.cpc.free.fr		Courtesy of Amstrad.cpc.free.fr

			More informations at the [[Amstrad CSD]] page.

	== Pin-Outs ==		== Pin-Outs ==

MacDeath at 19:17, 19 December 2010

2010-12-19T19:17:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:17, 19 December 2010
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	[[Category:Hardware]][[Category:Cartridges\| ]][[Category:DATA Storage]]		[[Category:Hardware]][[Category:Cartridges\| ]][[Category:DATA Storage]]
	[[Category:CPC Internal Components]][[Category:CPC History]]		[[Category:CPC Internal Components]][[Category:CPC History]][[Category:CPC Plus]]

Redbox at 17:07, 5 December 2010

2010-12-05T17:07:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:07, 5 December 2010
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	[[Image:Burning Rubber - cara A.jpg\|right\|thumb\|250px\|A cartridge ~~for the + series~~]]		[[Image:Burning Rubber - cara A.jpg\|right\|thumb\|250px\|GX4000 Burnin' Rubber cartridge]]

	A cartridge system was introduced with the launch of the [[Plus]] and GX4000 series. This enabled developers to distribute games via cartridges on the new Amstrad. The cartridges are protected with the [[ACID]] chip.		A cartridge system was introduced with the launch of the [[Plus]] and GX4000 series. This enabled developers to distribute games via cartridges on the new Amstrad. The cartridges are protected with the [[ACID]] chip.

Redbox at 17:06, 5 December 2010

2010-12-05T17:06:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:06, 5 December 2010
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	[[Image:Burning Rubber - cara A.jpg\|right\|thumb\|250px\|A cartridge for the + series]]		[[Image:Burning Rubber - cara A.jpg\|right\|thumb\|250px\|A cartridge for the + series]]

	A cartridge system was introduced with the launch of the ~~CPC+~~ series. This enabled developers to distribute games via cartridges on the new Amstrad. The cartridges are protected with the [[ACID]] chip.		A cartridge system was introduced with the launch of the [[Plus]] and GX4000 series. This enabled developers to distribute games via cartridges on the new Amstrad. The cartridges are protected with the [[ACID]] chip.

	== EPROMs ==		== EPROMs ==

	All known manufactured cartridges contain EPROMs (rather than PROMs or ROMs). The cartridges can be fitted with different EPROMs in range of ~~32K~~ through ~~512K (actually~~ produced ~~are only 128K..256K)~~. The cartridge PCBs typically include six [[LK Links]] to match the PCB to the EPROM pin-outs:		All known manufactured cartridges contain EPROMs (rather than PROMs or ROMs). The cartridges can be fitted with different EPROMs in range of 32kb through 512kb, but only 128kb to 256kb versions are known to have been produced. The cartridge PCBs typically include six [[LK Links]] to match the PCB to the EPROM pin-outs:
	VCC ---LK1--- EPROM.A18 ---LK2--- CA18		VCC ---LK1--- EPROM.A18 ---LK2--- CA18
	VCC ---LK3--- EPROM.A17 ---LK4--- CA17		VCC ---LK3--- EPROM.A17 ---LK4--- CA17
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	== Protection ==		== Protection ==

	The EPROMs aren't encrypted, making it very easy to dump their content, or to replace them by other EPROMs. However, all cartridges must contain an ~~'''~~ACID~~'''~~ chip, otherwise the ~~CPC+~~/GX4000 refuses to work, meaning that unlicensed third-party developers couldn't produce cartridges without buying the ~~ACID hardware from Amstrad.~~		The EPROMs aren't encrypted, making it very easy to dump their content, or to replace them by other EPROMs. However, all cartridges must contain an [[ACID]] chip, otherwise the [[Plus]]/GX4000 refuses to work, meaning that unlicensed third-party developers couldn't produce cartridges without buying the [[ACID]] hardware from Amstrad.

	* For details on the chip, see [[ACID]].

	== Pictures ==		== Pictures ==
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	Amstrad released a Demonstration system for his retailer in order to show GX4000 games: the [[Amstrad CSD]] (Cartridge Software Demonstrator).		Amstrad released a Demonstration system for his retailer in order to show GX4000 games: the [[Amstrad CSD]] (Cartridge Software Demonstrator).

	It was a ~~464plus~~ motherboard, with an extra "daughter board) allowing the insertion of 12 games cartridges, plus an extra special cartridge acting as an OS.		It was a 464 [[Plus]] motherboard, with an extra "daughter board" allowing the insertion of 12 games cartridges, plus an extra special cartridge acting as an OS.

	<gallery caption="Some photos of Amstrad Expo 90">		<gallery caption="Some photos of Amstrad Expo 90">

Nocash: /* Links */

2010-07-26T11:25:44Z

Links

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:25, 26 July 2010
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	[[Category:Hardware]][[Category:Cartridges\| ]][[Category:DATA Storage]]		[[Category:Hardware]][[Category:Cartridges\| ]][[Category:DATA Storage]]
	~~[[Category:Stub]]~~[[Category:CPC Internal Components]][[Category:CPC History]]		[[Category:CPC Internal Components]][[Category:CPC History]]

Nocash: /* Pictures */

2010-07-24T13:11:12Z

Pictures

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:11, 24 July 2010
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	</gallery>		</gallery>

	<gallery caption="~~Cartirdge~~ Slot">		<gallery caption="Cartridge Slot">
	File:GX4000 Top.jpg\|GX4000 with top-loading cartridge slot		File:GX4000 Top.jpg\|GX4000 with top-loading cartridge slot
	File:CPC464Plus LeftSide Nighfallcrew.jpg\|CPC Plus with side-loading cartridge slot		File:CPC464Plus LeftSide Nighfallcrew.jpg\|CPC Plus with side-loading cartridge slot

Nocash: /* Pictures */

2010-07-24T13:10:48Z

Pictures

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:10, 24 July 2010
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	<gallery caption="Cartirdge Slot">		<gallery caption="Cartirdge Slot">
	File:GX4000 Top.jpg\|GX4000 with top-loading cartridge slot		File:GX4000 Top.jpg\|GX4000 with top-loading cartridge slot
	File:~~NoPicture~~.~~png~~\|CPC Plus with side-loading cartridge slot		File:CPC464Plus LeftSide Nighfallcrew.jpg\|CPC Plus with side-loading cartridge slot
	</gallery>		</gallery>