The KC85/4 was the last one of the KC85/x series. Although it doesn’t look quite different, some internals changed. The whole design changed a bit, and software which used to access hardware directly, sometimes didn’t work any longer, as some addresses changed.
Also, memory was expanded to 64 KB, and the whole memory could be used by software. The ROM increased to 20 KB. The CAOS system offered printer support for most of the available GDR printer models.
There are two expansion slots, which could be extended to four through an expansion set-top.
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Information kindly provided by Stefan Goehler.
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The last Computer of the KC series was the KC-Compact in 1990.
This mashine is 100$ Amstrad CPC compatible, with the optional floppy disk controler, the RAM was expanded from 64kb to 128kb for using CP/M+
For detailed KC85 informations and documentations look at:
www.mpm-kc85.de (german and english language) www.upka.de (lots of documentations in PDF, german) http://susowa.homeftp.net (one of the maincoders for KC85/4, german only)
QWERTZ-Layout, Function keys (F1-F6), Cursor keys pretty small keys, not easy to type with; 64 keys; connected through mono DIN-jack
CPU
U880 D (Z80 clone)
SPEED
1,77 Mhz
CO-PROCESSOR
none; CPU even managed video processing
RAM
64 KB, expandable to max. 4 MB
ROM
20 KB
TEXT MODES
40 x 32 characters
GRAPHIC MODES
320 x 256
COLORS
16 colors/foreground, 8 colors/background
SOUND
2 tone generators, 2x5 Octaves; Stereo when connected to a stereo hifi system (constant volume), mono over TV if connected through FBAS/RGB (32 volume levels)
SIZE / WEIGHT
380x250x70 mm; Keyboard 296x152x29 mm / 4,8 Kg (including keyboard)
I/O PORTS
Color TV output through PAL HF-modulator, TV output via FBAS/RGB, DIN connector for cassette drive (including TTL motor switch voltage) or to connect to a stereo, 2 expansion slots, expansion interface for set-top expansion
MEDIA
none; external cassette player required (connected via DIN connector)
NUMBER OF GAMES
CAOS 4.2 (for cassette operation), MicroDOS (if working with Diskdrive expansion, CP/M compatible)
POWER SUPPLY
ca. 25 W
PERIPHERALS
V24 interface, memory cards (16/64 KB), EPROM-module, several user ports, 5 Ľ'' diskdrive set-top (included own U880 system with 64K RAM!!)
