SEGA Mega Drive
Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Bill Bertram
The Amstrad CPC 464 was a popular home computer produced by the British company Amstrad in the 1980s. The CPC 464 was first released in 1984 and was part of a series of computers designed to appeal to different market segments.
​
1. Specifications:
Processor: Zilog Z80A with a clock speed of 4 MHz
Memory: 64KB RAM
Operating system: AMSDOS (Amstrad Disk Operating System)
Graphics: 27 colors and a resolution of 160x200 pixels, as well as 16 colors and 320x200 pixels in graphics mode 1
Sound: 3-channel sound chip, the AY-3-8912 sound chip
Mass storage: Cassette drive (floppy drives were added later)
​
2. Design and Appearance:
The CPC 464 had a striking design, personally designed by its creator, Sir Alan Sugar. The case was made of cream-colored plastic and was complemented by a rubberized keyboard. The built-in cassette drive was located on the right side of the computer, while ports for peripherals such as printers and floppy disk drives were located on the back.
​
3. Software and Games:
The CPC 464 came with a number of pre-installed applications and games. These included word processors, spreadsheets and a BASIC interpreter for programming. In addition, the CPC 464 provided access to a wide range of games available on cartridges or floppy disks. Some of the most famous games for the CPC 464 were "Chuckie Egg", "Jet Set Willy" and "Manic Miner".
​
4. Popularity and Success:
The Amstrad CPC 464 enjoyed great popularity, particularly in the UK and other European countries. Its affordable price, combined with its solid performance features and wide range of games available, made it an attractive choice for home users, schools and small businesses.
​
5. Heritage and Legacy:
Although the CPC 464 is now over three decades old, it still has a loyal fan base and is valued by enthusiasts and collectors worldwide. Its legacy is also evident in the retro computing scene, where it continues to be used as a platform for development and fun. The simplicity of its architecture and the wide availability of documentation make it a popular destination for retro computing hobbyists even today.
​
Overall, the Amstrad CPC 464 was a significant contribution to the home computing era of the 1980s and firmly established its place in the history of computer technology.
Nice To Know
The striking design of the CPC 464 was personally designed by Sir Alan Sugar, the founder of Amstrad. His goal was to create an affordable, yet attractive home computer.
​
In addition to games, the CPC 464 offered a variety of applications, including word processors and spreadsheets, making it a versatile tool.
​
The CPC 464 was sold in German-speaking countries through Schneider Computer Division as Amstrad had no sales structures outside of Great Britain. The device was therefore sold here as the Schneider CPC 464.