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'''Amstrad''' made two different disk drives for the Amstrad/Schneider CPC range:
'''Amstrad''' made two different [[disk drives]] for the Amstrad/Schneider CPC range:


* DDI-1 - a set, consisting of the real DDI-1 (= Disk Drive Interface) and a FD-1 3" disk drive, as well as the CP/M 2.2 license and disk.
* DDI-1: a set consisting of the real DDI-1 (= Disk Drive Interface) and a FD-1 3" disk drive, as well as the CP/M 2.2 license and disk.<br> This set was for the CPC464 which didn't have a built-in [[765 FDC]] disk controller.


This set was for the CPC464, which doesn't have the disk controller built-in.
* FD-1: a 3" disk drive as secondary disk drive unit for the CPC664, CPC6128, and for the CPC464 with DDI-1


* FD-1  - a 3" disk drive as secondary disk drive unit for the CPC664, CPC6128 and CPC464 with DDI-1
All drives are for use with [[CF2 Compact Floppy Disc]] 3" discs.


Note that there was no official external disk drive for the 6128Plus or even the 464Plus.
There was no official external disk drive for the 6128Plus or even the 464Plus. The difference between a CPC664/CPC6128 and a 6128Plus was simply a changed pin-out which can easily be solved by a new plug on the disk drive's cable.


While the difference between a CPC664/CPC6128 and a 6128Plus was simply a changed pin-out which can easily be solved by a new plug on the disk drive's cable.
The 464Plus was harder to equip with a disk drive. Although the pin-out of the expansion port was left unchanged, the DDI-1 cannot be used on the 464Plus without modifications (see [[Connecting a Disc Interface to CPC464+]]).


The 464Plus was harder to equip with a disk drive: Although the pin-out of the expansion port was left unchanged, the DDI-1 cannot be operated on the 464Plus without modifications.
== Technical Details ==


== Technically Speaking ==
The two disk drives were identical. The only difference was that the DDI-1 shipped with controller, manual and CP/M 2.2 on one disk.


The two disk drives were identical, the only difference was that the DDI-1 shipped with controller, manual and CP/M 2.2 on one disk.
The disk drives were jumpered (more accurately, soldered) to react on both drive select lines, A: and B:.


The disk drives were jumpered (rather: soldered) to react on both drive selects, A: and B:.
The cable decided which drive became A: and which one became B: :


The cable decided which drive became A: and which one became B: :
* On the CPC664 and CPC6128 computers, DRIVE SELECT 0 was not connected on the external connector, so the drive could only become drive B: on these systems.
* For the DDI-1, DRIVE SELECT 0 was only wired to the outermost connector of the attached cable, while the inner connector was wired to DRIVE SELECT 1 only, thus the drive at the cable's end always became A: while the other one became drive B: accordingly.


* On the CPC664 and CPC6128 computers, DRIVE SELECT 0 was not wired externally, so the drive could only become drive B: on these systems.
Note that the drive also powered the DDI-1 interface when used together with it. Certain pins documented as N/C in the CPC664/CPC6128 manual in fact carry +5V from the drive to the controller.
* For the DDI-1, DRIVE SELECT 0 was only wired to the outmost connector of the attached cable, while the inner connector was wired to DRIVE SELECT 1 only, thus the drive at the cable's end always became A: while the other one became drive B: accordingly.
The main reason for this was that you couldn't connect a standard drive with a more common format (5¼" in the beginning, 3½" later and today) and thus cheaper disks as drive A: without modifications, as the DDI-1 wouldn't work without the power fed from the FD-1.


Note that the drive also powered the DDI-1 interface when used together with it: Certain pins documented as N/C in the CPC664/CPC6128 manual in fact carry +5V from the drive to the controller.
Details on [[AMSDOS]], Amstrad's implementation of [[CP/M]] can be found in [[Soft158A:_DDI-1_Firmware_-_The_Complete_CPC_464_DOS_ROM_Specification|DDI-1 Firmware SOFT158A]].
The main benefit of this was, that you couldn't connect a standard drive with a more common format (5¼" in the beginning, 3½" later and today) and thus cheaper disks as drive A: without modifications, as the DDI-1 won't work without the power fed from the FD-1.


== Pictures ==
== Pictures ==


<gallery caption="DDI - 1">
<gallery>
 
Image:Fd-1.jpg|FD-1 (disc drive)
Image:ddi1.gif|Amstrad FD-1/DDI-1 disk drive
Image:DDI-1 Tomdalby.jpg|DDI-1 (disc interface)
 
Image:DDI-1 ISS3 MF0004B.jpg|DDI-1 (pcb)
Image:DDI Schematic.png|DDI-1 (schematic)
Image:Gerald DDI-1 MF0004B.jpg|DDI-1 (top)
Image:Gerald DDI-1 MF0004B-Back with ABBA switch mod.jpg|DDI-1 (bottom)
Image:DDI1_PCB_Top.jpg|MF0004B Models 9,5,3 and 1 PCB (top)
Image:DDI1_PCB_Bottom.jpg|MF0004B Models 9,5,3 and 1 PCB (bottom)
Image:ACU850102 -012.jpg|Advert (ACU Jan 1985)
Image:Amstrad Computer User8504 044.jpg|Advert (ACU Apr 1985)
Image:DDI-1_cable.jpg| DDI-1 cable pinout
Image:DDI-1.jpg|DDI-1 - complete with manual, interface, FD-1 drive & CF-2 discs
</gallery>
</gallery>


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* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/ddi-1.zip Amstrad DDI-1 (English) Manual]
* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/ddi-1.zip Amstrad DDI-1 (English) Manual]
* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/DDI-1.es.rar Amstrad DDI-1 (Spanish) Manual]
* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/DDI-1.es.rar Amstrad DDI-1 (Spanish) Manual]
* [[Media:DDI-1_Handbuch.pdf]] (German) Manual


== Service Manual ==
== Service Manual ==
Line 55: Line 65:
* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/DDI-1%20FD-1%20Service%20Manual.en.rar Amstrad DDI-1 FD-1 Service Manual]
* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/manuals/DDI-1%20FD-1%20Service%20Manual.en.rar Amstrad DDI-1 FD-1 Service Manual]


[[Category:Hardware]] [[Category:Peripherals]] [[Category:Manual]]
== Datasheets ==
 
* [[Media:UPD765 Datasheet OCRed.pdf]] - uPD765 disc controller
* [[Media:FDC9229BT Datasheet.pdf]] - FDC9229BT data separator (that usually assists the uPD765 chip)
* [[Media:DDI Schematic.png]] - DDI-1 Schematic (disc interface for CPC464)
 
[[Category:Peripherals]] [[Category:Manual]][[Category:DATA Storage]][[Category:CPC Internal Components]][[Category:Amstrad Products]]

Latest revision as of 10:30, 6 May 2018

Amstrad made two different disk drives for the Amstrad/Schneider CPC range:

  • DDI-1: a set consisting of the real DDI-1 (= Disk Drive Interface) and a FD-1 3" disk drive, as well as the CP/M 2.2 license and disk.
    This set was for the CPC464 which didn't have a built-in 765 FDC disk controller.
  • FD-1: a 3" disk drive as secondary disk drive unit for the CPC664, CPC6128, and for the CPC464 with DDI-1

All drives are for use with CF2 Compact Floppy Disc 3" discs.

There was no official external disk drive for the 6128Plus or even the 464Plus. The difference between a CPC664/CPC6128 and a 6128Plus was simply a changed pin-out which can easily be solved by a new plug on the disk drive's cable.

The 464Plus was harder to equip with a disk drive. Although the pin-out of the expansion port was left unchanged, the DDI-1 cannot be used on the 464Plus without modifications (see Connecting a Disc Interface to CPC464+).

Technical Details

The two disk drives were identical. The only difference was that the DDI-1 shipped with controller, manual and CP/M 2.2 on one disk.

The disk drives were jumpered (more accurately, soldered) to react on both drive select lines, A: and B:.

The cable decided which drive became A: and which one became B: :

  • On the CPC664 and CPC6128 computers, DRIVE SELECT 0 was not connected on the external connector, so the drive could only become drive B: on these systems.
  • For the DDI-1, DRIVE SELECT 0 was only wired to the outermost connector of the attached cable, while the inner connector was wired to DRIVE SELECT 1 only, thus the drive at the cable's end always became A: while the other one became drive B: accordingly.

Note that the drive also powered the DDI-1 interface when used together with it. Certain pins documented as N/C in the CPC664/CPC6128 manual in fact carry +5V from the drive to the controller. The main reason for this was that you couldn't connect a standard drive with a more common format (5¼" in the beginning, 3½" later and today) and thus cheaper disks as drive A: without modifications, as the DDI-1 wouldn't work without the power fed from the FD-1.

Details on AMSDOS, Amstrad's implementation of CP/M can be found in DDI-1 Firmware SOFT158A.

Pictures

Covers

Manuals

Service Manual

Datasheets

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