Amstrad Mega PC

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Amstrad Mega PC
SVGA
Graphics with 256KB RAM
Power≈50W
Dimensions325 mm(w) x 78 mm(h) x 292 mm(d)

The Mega PC is a

Sega Mega Drive hardware bundled inside; the system was wired to share the dual-sync monitor and speakers with the Mega Drive on a separate circuit board.[1]

Initially released in PAL areas such as

CPU that was outdated by the time of its release. It was slightly easier to acquire an Amstrad Mega PC than the Sega TeraDrive system due to higher manufacturing volumes. Both systems have become collector's items
.

Technical specifications

advert promoting the Amstrad Mega PC

The Mega PC was as a more robust unit than Sega's TeraDrive and had more efficient air circulation.[3] The Mega PC was IBM-compatible and had a Mega Drive ISA card, a Mega Drive Controller, Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor, Joystick and Internal Speakers.

Mega PC motherboard, code VSC386SXD

The machine shipped with 1MB of

RAM, provided by 4× 256KB 30-pin SIMM sticks. This was expandable to 16MB by using 4× 4MB memory modules.[4]

Although it boasted a higher specification than the Sega TeraDrive (having more RAM and a faster processor), the specification of the Mega PC's CPU was a generation old. The newer

Software Development Kit due to its inability to simultaneously use the PC and the Mega Drive hardware. A cover on the front of the unit prevented the insertion of a Mega Drive game cartridge while using the PC hardware.[5]

Input/Output

Close up of the rear of the unit, showing ports and their positions

The machine's rear houses multiple I/O ports. These include two

VGA port with combined signals for a standard VGA monitor and sound (Amstrad monitor only), a speaker/headphone jack, and a 15 pin game port
for a joystick.

View of the ISA card inside the Mega PC, showing the free ISA slot

The

Network Interface Card).[4]

The Sega TeraDrive includes stereo

VGA monitor can be used, as the unit outputs video at 31 kHz.[1]

Compatibility

The system shipped with an Amstrad branded controller that is internally identical to Sega's, allowing the controllers to be used on either system.

Peripherals

Amstrad bundled several peripherals with its Mega PC, including:

Sales

The machine launched in 1993, selling in Australia with a retail price in February of AU$1999 (equivalent to $4,200 in 2022), although small discounts were offered[6] and had fallen to AU$1499 (equivalent to $3,100 in 2022) by June.[7] In the United Kingdom, the unit was selling for between £550[8] and £600 (equivalent to £900 in 2019), with variable pricing depending upon what came bundled.[9]

Mega Plus

Amstrad advertised, but never released, a successor to the Mega PC named the Amstrad Mega Plus. It boasted slightly higher specifications, with the processor upgraded to a Cyrix Cx486SLC running at 33 MHz and a RAM upgrade of 4× 1MB SIMM modules (4MB).[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Amstrad MegaPC @". Everything2.com. 29 October 2000. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  2. ^ "Sega Retro: Amstrad Mega PC". SegaRetro.org. Archived from the original on 2 August 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  3. ^ "Assembler: Page 3 (via Archive.org)". Web.archive.org. 23 May 2008. Archived from the original on 23 May 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Amstrad Mega PC Service manual" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 September 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Assembler: Page 1 (via Archive.org)". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 14 June 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  6. ^ "Amstrad Mega PC Computer". The Age. 4 February 1993. p. 16.
  7. ^ "Amstrad Mega PC: Australia June 93 Retail Price". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 June 1993. p. 55.
  8. ^ "Amstrad Mega PC". The Observer. 10 October 1993. p. 33.
  9. ^ "Amstrad Mega PC+". The Guardian. 23 October 1993. p. 113.
  10. ^ "1000 BiT +- Computer's description". 1000bit.net. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 30 May 2010.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Amstrad Mega PC.
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