Amstrad External Disk Drive

2011-02-24T18:25:23Z

KaosOverride: /* Pictures */

'''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.<br> 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.

== Pictures ==

<gallery>
Image:Fd-1.jpg|FD-1 (disc 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
</gallery>

== Covers ==

<gallery caption="Manuals">

Image:Amstrad DDI-1 Manual En.jpg|(English) User Manual
Image:DDI-1 User (German) Manual.jpg|(German) User Manual
Image:Manual de Usuario del DDI-1.jpg|(Spanish) User Manual
Image:DDI1-FD1 Service Manual.jpg|Service Manual

</gallery>

== Manuals ==

* [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]
* [[Media:DDI-1_Handbuch.pdf]] (German) Manual

== Service Manual ==

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

File:DDI-1 cable.jpg

2011-02-24T18:24:06Z

KaosOverride: DDI-1 cable and special pinout

DDI-1 cable and special pinout

CPCWiki - THE Amstrad CPC encyclopedia! - User contributions [en]

Amstrad External Disk Drive

File:DDI-1 cable.jpg