KCC plus - a new, enhanced, CPC6128 compatible home computer

WORK IN PROGRESS

The KCC plus is a retroactively designed hypothetical early 1990s successor to the KC compact. The KC compact was a largely compatible clone of the Amstrad CPC 6128, built without custom silicon.

Once completed, it can be considered a cousin of, but not a clone of the Amstrad 6128 Plus.

Planned feature set

The following hardware features are currently planned

• Between 256 KiB and 1024 KiB of RAM, ideally as a pair of SRAM chips
• Two AY-2-8910 PSGs for additional polyphony and additional control lines, on-board Digiblaster
• 16 bit data path for pixel generation and duplication of the relevant logic for twice the color depth
• Bypassable EGA-like latch in the second RAM chip's data path to keep block fill/copy operations fast
• At least one attribute mode, e.g. for colorful high-res pseudo text modes
• Possibility to optionally double the CPU clock and/or FDC clock, if feasible
• Floppy disk and tape interface
• Internal IDE and Serial ports, if feasible
• The CPC 6128's form factor: System board should fit inside a German CPC 6128 case
• High quality keyboard with n-key rollover
• 50-pin micro ribbon expansion port
• Bi-directional 8-bit printer port (DB25)
• DIN and SCART video output and 3.5 mm audio line-out
• Two digital joystick ports
• Light pen connector
• Laser-cut case, e.g. painted plywood

Hardware components

These hardware components have been completed

• Keyboard assembly using the CPC 6128 form factor

These hardware components are planned

• Feature evaluation module for CPC
  • Clock generation and audio board
  • RAM and video board
  • Mass storage board
• System board
• Laser-cut case

License

All design files contained herein may be redistributed and/or modified under the terms of the CERN-OHL-P license.