Amstrad CPC 6128

Released in the United Kingdom on 15 August 1985, the Amstrad CPC 6128 became the flagship model of the original CPC range. It paired a 4 MHz Zilog Z80A processor with 128KB of RAM and a built-in 3-inch floppy disk drive, while retaining the established CPC graphics and AY-3-8912 sound hardware.

The extra memory and disk drive made the CPC 6128 better suited to serious applications as well as games. It shipped with Locomotive BASIC 1.1, AMSDOS and CP/M Plus, and its compact case and lower launch price quickly displaced the short-lived CPC 664.

Notable Features

• 128KB of RAM, divided into two 64KB banks
• Built-in 3-inch single-sided floppy disk drive storing about 180KB per side
• Locomotive BASIC 1.1, AMSDOS and CP/M Plus support
• Three display modes with up to 16 colours selected from a 27-colour palette
• Compact redesigned case and full keyboard with numeric keypad
• Broad compatibility with software written for the CPC 464 and CPC 664

Historical Significance

• Became the best-equipped and longest-lived model in the original CPC range
• Replaced the CPC 664 only months after that machine reached the market
• Combined a strong games library with credible word-processing and business use under CP/M
• Was particularly successful in continental Europe as well as Britain
• Provided the basis for several regional and licensed CPC derivatives

Collectors Notes

• The internal disk-drive belt commonly fails with age and is often the first repair required
• The computer requires 5V and 12V power, normally supplied by its matching monitor
• Check keyboard operation, disk loading, edge connectors and the monitor leads
• Different regional keyboard layouts and case markings exist
• Systems retaining their monitor, manuals, CP/M disks and original packaging command greater interest

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Amstrad CPC 6128
Manufacturer	Amstrad
Launched	Thursday, August 15, 1985
Discontinued	August 1990
Launch Price	£299 with GT65 green-screen monitor; £399 with CTM644 colour monitor
Country	United Kingdom
CPU	Zilog Z80A
Units Sold
Power	5V and 12V DC supplied by the dedicated Amstrad monitor
Expansion	Expansion bus, second-drive connector, Centronics-compatible printer port, joystick port, RGB/video and stereo audio
Storage	Built-in 3-inch single-sided floppy drive, about 180KB per side
Keyboard	Full-size QWERTY keyboard with numeric keypad and separate cursor keys
Sound	General Instrument AY-3-8912, 3 voices over 7 octaves
ROM	48KB: 32KB operating system and BASIC, plus 16KB AMSDOS
RAM	128KB in two 64KB banks
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