Amstrad CPC6128
I have two main units, Amstrad DMP3250 -printer and green monitor (gt64).
type computer
country England
year 1985
os AMSDOS or CP/M
cpu Z80A
speed 4 MHz
ram 128 KB
rom 48 KB
storage build in 3″ disk-drive
graphic 256×192
colors 16
sound 3 channels, 7 octaves
ports Printer, bus, joystic, floppy, amstrad monitor, stereo jack output
The Amstrad CPC6128 — The Definitive 8-bit Amstrad
Launched in 1985, the Amstrad CPC6128 was the flagship of the original CPC range and widely regarded as the definitive version of the platform. Doubling the RAM of the CPC464 to 128 KB and replacing the cassette deck with a built-in 3-inch floppy disk drive, the 6128 delivered a significantly more capable machine that could run CP/M software, load games in seconds rather than minutes, and handle more ambitious programming projects. It sold approximately 1.5 million units and remained in production until 1990.
The Upgrade That Mattered
The move from tape to disk was transformative. Where loading a game on the CPC464 could take three to five minutes from cassette, the 6128’s built-in 3-inch Amstrad disk drive loaded the same software in under thirty seconds. The 128 KB of RAM — twice the 464’s capacity — allowed more complex programs, larger game levels, and better multitasking. Crucially, the extra memory enabled full CP/M Plus (version 3.0) compatibility, opening the door to a vast library of serious business software including WordStar, dBASE, and Lotus 1-2-3 precursors.
CP/M — A Serious Business Machine
The CPC6128’s CP/M capability transformed it from a games machine into a genuine productivity computer. With the right software, it could function as a capable word processor, spreadsheet, and database machine at a price point far below IBM PC compatibles of the era. This dual identity — games machine for children, productivity machine for adults — gave the 6128 unusually broad appeal and extended its commercial life well beyond that of most 8-bit computers.
The Computer Museum Ata Collection
The collection includes two CPC6128 units, an Amstrad DMP3250 dot matrix printer, and a green phosphor GT64 monitor — a particularly evocative setup that captures exactly how the machine appeared in thousands of British, French, and Spanish homes and offices during the late 1980s. The green monitor, while less visually striking than the colour CTM640, was the preferred choice for extended text work thanks to its reduced eye strain.