The KC compact was the last 8-bit small computer (home computer) larva in GDR with 4 MHz and 64 KB RAM. The computer is a reproduction of the Amstrad cutter CPC and originates from the VEB microelectronics (not of Robotron). The KC was compact only with the end of the GDR (ironically as gift to 40. Republic birthday) series-ripely, therefore only few devices were produced and sold.

Buildings of computer oh in the Eastern Bloc

In times of the cold war and the trade restrictions exerted by it it was quite usual in the Eastern Bloc to procure and to analyze by means of the procedure of the Reverse engineering microelectronics and also whole computers on any ways in the west. Subsequently, the devices - often even improved - were after-produced. Need gaps could be so relatively simply closed, in addition one trained specialists. A good and well-known example are the numerous spectrum clones of the Eastern Bloc, in addition, IBM-compatible Mainframes, above all the uniform system of electronic computing technology, appeared beyond the iron curtain.

Hardware

The computer consists of a basic equipment with external power pack. The same housing was used as with the BIC, electronics is however not not exchangeable. The following connections are present at the KC:

1. Current supply of the power pack
2. SCART socket for the connection to the television (good picture and clay/tone quality)
3. Antenna exit for the connection to the television (bad picture and clay/tone quality)
4. Diode socket to the tape recorder (external mass storage)
5. Diode socket as additional clay/tone exit
6. Expansion haven for additional devices like a floppy disk drive
7. Printer haven

Because of additionally inserted voltage supply for external devices caution is appropriate when connecting CPC Orginalteilen.

In the computer works a UA 880-CPU, which is based on the U880. From the 64 KB RAM 16 according to standard KB serve as image refresh storages. Thus 16 colors can be represented with 320x200 points 4, with 640x200 points 2 and with 160x200 points. The screen control is realized as with the CPC over unorthodox attached 6845; therefore size and situation of the picture and image refresh storage are very to a large extent programmable. The sound (AY-Soundchip) could be classified at the beginning of the 90's still as good and went clearly beyond the beep noises of the KC85-Serie. There is both envelopes and noise generatably. A CIO circuit fulfills the functions of PIO and CTC.Einige of special circuits of the western model by logic gates was replaced, a method usual in the GDR.

As accessory equipment also a floppy disk drive was developed. Thus the KC is compact CP/M suited in principle.

Software

After switching on on the BASIC interpreter is started and one can begin immediately to write programs. The BASIC is very comfortable (there simply that one was copied by the CPC). Because of the software compatibility to the western CPCs one can fall back to a large offer at plays and applications. From the manufacturer some plays as well as applications came such as text processing, diagram programs and Pascal as programming language.

The KC compact and its technology

From the VEB work microelectronics "“William Pieck"” originates the computer KC compact. With 64 KB RAM and basic 1,1 one could arrange this "“CPC computer"” between CPC 6128 and CPC 664. Instead of CP/M as operating system a eingedeutschter CP/M-2.6-Clone was used named MicroDOS, which before already was on different GDR computers in use. Software was thus probably available.

Outwardly in the angular-flat, bright housing without drive assembly more similarly than the CPCs, a reproduction of the well-known computer technology with other means was to the C64 under the keyboard. One used among other things:

• as CCU a U880 (and/or UA 880D), a Z80 clone
• a programmable "“Zilog 8546"” - I/O component type U82536 instead of the special Amstrad components. Theoretically thereby 64 colors were possible and/or further assembler I/O optimizations.
• further standard modules from manufacturing of the GDR, USSR and/or other
• the changed hardware adapted Rome contents

External is to be determined:

• standardized interfaces (DIN, Centronics interface, etc.)
• an external power pack with further tension reduction onBoard
• as storage medium an external serves 5,25 " floppy disk drive or a cartridge drive assembly, to stick on in each case over external, as CONTROLLERs put on with the CPC 464 as "“backpack"”. In this additional 64 KB RAM were contained.
• an extended voltage supply for the external periphery over the standard interfaces. Therefore: Caution when connecting devices (...).
• (direct) a connection type for a screen or a television

The reproduction succeeded in such a manner that the compatibility nevertheless of the something other computer even within (!) the series of the CPC computers to estimate is. The hardware interfaces are however only partly identical, also particulars of calls differ, it were another periphery attached. Whether the I/O increases in output possibly possible with the changed chip set hardware were ever used, is questionable.

With two computers connected by means of cables existed, singularly within the CPC series to clonen the possibility memory contents on that in each case different computer. This might have been center-of-gravity-like for the program development and thereby necessary test runs meant.

The production time is unconfirmed between 7 October 1989 (GDR anniversary) and 1990 (reunification). Over the spreading, numbers of items and/or use of the computer within the GDR unfortunately (still) nothing is well-known.

Related links

• The KC compakt web page
• Robotron net.de

to reading in: CPC computer sides and/or Robotron. to reading on:

• http://andercheran.aiind.upv.es/~amstrad/docs/kcc/kcsysman.html the hardware and assembler system manual (side in develop)
• http://andercheran.aiind.upv.es/~amstrad/docs/kcc/kccdif.html Review to KC-Compact
• http://www.computermuseum-muenchen.de/computer/robotron/ computer museum Munich to GDR computers and KC-compact
• http://www.8bit-museum.de/docs/veb1.htm 8-bit museum to GDR computers
• http://www.heise.de/tp/r4/artikel/8/8841/1.html for the history of the GDR computers
• http://www.zock.com/8-Bit/D_CPCguide12.HTML#03 small note too KC-compact
• http://www.wacci.org.uk/magazine/139/139.pdf CPC Fanzine with report to the KC-Compact (pdf)
• http://www.wacci.org.uk/magazine/139/139_04.html dito in HTML form
• http://waste.informatik.hu-berlin.de/robotron/diplom/texte/u880/u880.html to the U880-CPU
• http://andercheran.aiind.upv.es/~amstrad/docs/kcc/kccdif.html a good Review to the differences between CPC and KC-Compact

Articles in category "KC compact"

We found here 2 articles.

Related Websites

We found here 6 related websites.

• External Signals of the CPC/CPC+ and KC Compact
  A description of the external signals of the CPC/CPC+ and KC Compact.


• KC 85 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  The colors were not paletted in any KC before the KC compact. There was no "text mode", everything had to be painted; this and the awkward video RAM layout ...


• KC Compact
  El KC Compact es una caso particular entre los CPC : no se trata de un licenciatario como Schneider, sino una copia de VEB Mikroelektronik, fabricante de la ...


• KC Compact Advert Translation
  A English translation of the German advert for the KC Compact.


• KC compact operating system rom dissassembly
  Commented dissassembly of the KC compact operating system rom which shows the differences between the KC compact operating system and the CPC6128 operating ...


• RFT KC Compact
  The KC Compact was an clone of the Amstrad/Schneider CPC 464. The processor is also a GDR-own ... Anounced was the KC Compact to the 40. Jubilee of the GDR.