A new arrival - Amstrad PPC512
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rubber_jonnie
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- Posts: 14899
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- Location: Essex
Re: A new arrival - Amstrad PPC512
OK, so the expander board, with PicoMEM and no PicoPSU is working just fine. I'm amazed, and all off the PPC power. Didn't see that coming.
I will install it regardless though as it'll be a useful part of the project, though I may need to have B20 switchable in case I want to use the expander without power.
Need to get it some feet too :)
I will install it regardless though as it'll be a useful part of the project, though I may need to have B20 switchable in case I want to use the expander without power.
Need to get it some feet too :)
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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rubber_jonnie
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- Posts: 14899
- Joined: 17 Aug 2017 19:40
- Location: Essex
Re: A new arrival - Amstrad PPC512
OK then.
So it looks like I waited for the PicoPSU parts unnecessarily... The ISA board only works when the Pico is unpowered, and works just fine without the PSU installed at all. There you go.
PicoMEM board works just great for hard drives, next I need to test the Adlib section of the PicoMEM.
So it looks like I waited for the PicoPSU parts unnecessarily... The ISA board only works when the Pico is unpowered, and works just fine without the PSU installed at all. There you go.
PicoMEM board works just great for hard drives, next I need to test the Adlib section of the PicoMEM.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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HigashiJun
- Posts: 2383
- Joined: 19 Jun 2020 07:21
- Location: Tokyo
Re: A new arrival - Amstrad PPC512
Nice to hear the Picomem suits your PPC512.
Planned to get one for my Tandy but changed my mind at the last minute...
Planned to get one for my Tandy but changed my mind at the last minute...
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rubber_jonnie
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- Posts: 14899
- Joined: 17 Aug 2017 19:40
- Location: Essex
Re: A new arrival - Amstrad PPC512
Oh, you really should get one, bit expensive I know but an amazing bit of kit. I have 3 2GB drives mounted on mine, it's so easy and the config tools even allow for creating your own images, not to mention Adlib sound and floppy emulation, as well as extra RAM.HigashiJun wrote: 03 Apr 2025 11:58 Nice to hear the Picomem suits your PPC512.
Planned to get one for my Tandy but changed my mind at the last minute...
I can't recommend it enough and the XT-IDE get's kicked into touch for sure.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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HigashiJun
- Posts: 2383
- Joined: 19 Jun 2020 07:21
- Location: Tokyo
Re: A new arrival - Amstrad PPC512
@rubber_jonnie
I have no doubt about the Picomem's qualities, and I was going to buy one from SERDASHOP, as they sell a 1.20 revision with the DAC already integrated.
https://www.serdashop.com/PicoMEM
I then realised that it would be a bit problematic to fit it in the Tandy together with the VGA card, as it would require modifying the upper case.
Freddy also sells a low profile version, but that doesn't save me from moifying the case either.
:(
I have no doubt about the Picomem's qualities, and I was going to buy one from SERDASHOP, as they sell a 1.20 revision with the DAC already integrated.
https://www.serdashop.com/PicoMEM
I then realised that it would be a bit problematic to fit it in the Tandy together with the VGA card, as it would require modifying the upper case.
Freddy also sells a low profile version, but that doesn't save me from moifying the case either.
:(
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rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin

- Posts: 14899
- Joined: 17 Aug 2017 19:40
- Location: Essex
Re: A new arrival - Amstrad PPC512
That's a shame.HigashiJun wrote: 03 Apr 2025 12:20 @rubber_jonnie
I have no doubt about the Picomem's qualities, and I was going to buy one from SERDASHOP, as they sell a 1.20 revision with the DAC already integrated.
https://www.serdashop.com/PicoMEM
I then realised that it would be a bit problematic to fit it in the Tandy together with the VGA card, as it would require modifying the upper case.
Freddy also sells a low profile version, but that doesn't save me from moifying the case either.
:(
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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HigashiJun
- Posts: 2383
- Joined: 19 Jun 2020 07:21
- Location: Tokyo
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rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin

- Posts: 14899
- Joined: 17 Aug 2017 19:40
- Location: Essex
Re: A new arrival - Amstrad PPC512
Well, I finally bit the bullet and have ordered a colour display for the PPC512 and I'll be following the path of Noels Retro Lab: PPC Colour upgrade.
Won't be here for a couple of weeks and then I can get onto it.
Won't be here for a couple of weeks and then I can get onto it.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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HigashiJun
- Posts: 2383
- Joined: 19 Jun 2020 07:21
- Location: Tokyo
Re: A new arrival - Amstrad PPC512
Looking forward to seeing the result !
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rubber_jonnie
- Site Admin

- Posts: 14899
- Joined: 17 Aug 2017 19:40
- Location: Essex
Re: A new arrival - Amstrad PPC512
Me too. I got a very similar display to his so I'm hoping it'll work out just as well.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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