Amstrad CPC 464

Released in the United Kingdom on 21 June 1984, the Amstrad CPC 464 was Amstrad's first home computer and the opening model in its Colour Personal Computer range. It combined a Zilog Z80A processor, 64KB of RAM, a full-size keyboard and an integrated cassette recorder in a single unit supplied with either a green-screen or colour monitor.

Amstrad designed the CPC as a complete, easy-to-install package. Locomotive BASIC, three display modes, a 27-colour palette and AY-3-8912 sound made it suitable for games, education and programming, while the supplied monitor also powered the computer.

Notable Features

• Integrated cassette recorder and full-size 74-key keyboard
• Three display modes with up to 16 colours selected from a 27-colour palette
• Locomotive BASIC 1.0 in ROM
• AY-3-8912 three-voice sound chip with stereo output
• Sold as a complete package with a dedicated green-screen or colour monitor that also powered the computer
• Expansion connector supported disk drives, additional ROM and RAM, printers and other peripherals

Historical Significance

• Amstrad's first home computer and the foundation of the successful CPC family
• Entered a crowded 1984 market by emphasizing an integrated, ready-to-use package
• Developed largely by MEJ Electronics, with Locomotive Software providing BASIC and firmware
• Built a substantial software library and a strong following in Britain, France, Spain and Germany
• Established Amstrad as a major European computer manufacturer

Collectors Notes

• The computer requires an Amstrad monitor or a suitable modern power and video adapter
• Cassette drive belts commonly deteriorate and may require replacement
• Early and later case and keyboard revisions exist, as do several regional keyboard layouts
• Check the edge connectors, tape mechanism, keys and power switch when assessing an example
• Boxed systems with their matching monitor, manuals and software are especially desirable

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Amstrad CPC 464
Manufacturer	Amstrad
Launched	Thursday, June 21, 1984
Discontinued	August 1990
Launch Price	£199 with GT64 green-screen monitor; £299 with CTM640 colour monitor
Country	United Kingdom
CPU	Zilog Z80A
Units Sold
Power	5V DC supplied by the dedicated Amstrad monitor
Expansion	Expansion bus, Centronics-compatible printer port, joystick port, RGB/video output and stereo audio output
Storage	Integrated cassette recorder; optional DDI-1 3-inch floppy drive
Keyboard	74-key QWERTY keyboard with numeric keypad and cursor keys
Sound	General Instrument AY-3-8912, 3 voices over 7 octaves
ROM	32KB containing the operating system and Locomotive BASIC 1.0
RAM	64KB (more than 42KB available to BASIC)
Graphics	Motorola 6845-compatible CRTC; 27-colour palette
Display	Mode 0: 160 × 200, 16 colours; Mode 1: 320 × 200, 4 colours; Mode 2: 640 × 200, 2 colours
CPU Speed	4 MHz