Amstrad · Gen
Hardware
The original CPC model, the CPC 464 combined a Z80-based microcomputer with a built-in cassette deck and was sold as a home computer package with either a green-screen or colour monitor. It was introduced in the UK in 1984 and became one of the most successful 8-bit computers in Europe. The machine used 64 KB of RAM and Locomotive BASIC 1.0.
The CPC 664 replaced the cassette deck of the 464 with an internal 3-inch floppy disk drive while keeping the same 64 KB memory class. It launched in the UK in 1985 and shipped with updated firmware built into ROM. The model was quickly superseded by the CPC 6128.
The CPC 6128 was the high-end CPC model, adding 128 KB of RAM and a built-in 3-inch floppy disk drive. It used the updated firmware and became one of the most common CPC machines in mainland Europe. Like the other classic CPCs, it was sold as a bundled desktop package with a monitor.
A short-lived Spanish-market derivative of the CPC 464, the CPC 472 used the same main hardware but replaced the original ROM with Locomotive BASIC 1.1 and added 8 KB of extra RAM for that firmware. It was sold by Indescomp exclusively in Spain during 1985. Externally it was essentially identical to the CPC 464 aside from the model marking.
The CPC 6128 Plus updated the CPC 6128 with the Plus hardware platform, cartridge slot, and enhanced video and audio capabilities while keeping the 3-inch disk drive. It was launched alongside the CPC 464 Plus and GX4000 in 1990. The machine aimed to extend the life of the CPC architecture into the early 1990s.
The CPC 464 Plus was a hardware refresh of the CPC line that retained cassette storage but added the new Plus-family chipset and cartridge support. It was introduced in September 1990 as part of Amstrad's attempt to modernize the CPC range. Compatibility with standard CPC software remained a central feature, but the enhanced hardware was only fully used by Plus-specific software.
The GX4000 was Amstrad's cartridge-based console derived from the CPC Plus hardware family. It shared the same core architecture as the Plus computers but omitted the keyboard and mass-storage support, making it a dedicated games machine. Amstrad launched it in Europe in 1990 with bundled controllers and a pack-in game.