Editing Amstrad PC1512 (section)

==Features==
Whereas [[IBM Personal Computer|IBM's PC]] (and almost all PC compatibles) had a [[Power supply unit (computer)|power supply]] in a corner of the main case, the PC1512's power supply was integrated with that of its [[Computer monitor|monitor]]. The monitor had sufficient venting to cool itself by [[convection]], instead of needing a fan. The PC1512 was therefore quieter than other PCs. Rumours circulated that an Amstrad PC would overheat, and while existing owners would note that this did not happen, new buyers were discouraged.<ref name=":0" /> As a result, later models had a cooling fan integrated into the main case.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://members.hellug.gr/vyruss/computing/FUD_essay.html |author=Dimitrios Angelakos |title=FUD – A Marketing Strategy in the Computer Industry|date=16 October 2005 }}</ref>  Another example of rumour was the suggestion that there were issues with the 'unshielded' power supply in the monitor affecting an optional hard drive that could be installed at the back of the base unit and further that this would be solved by taping tin foil or aluminum foil over the back of the base unit or the bottom of the monitor to shield the hard drive. 

The PC1512 shipped with one or two 360KB 5¼-inch [[Floppy disk|floppy drives]], and optionally a [[Hard disk drive|hard drive]] (10 or 20&nbsp;MB). The 5¼-inch floppy drive(s) could be replaced with 1.2 MB capacity versions. The machine was also marketed as the '''Sinclair PC500'''.<ref name=":2" />

Amstrad licensed both [[MS-DOS]] 3.2 and [[Digital Research]] [[DOS Plus]], which was largely compatible with MS-DOS and included some features from [[CP/M]] and the ability to read CP/M disks. Only one of these operating systems could be used at a time. They also licensed the [[GEM (desktop environment)|GEM]] [[windowing system]], which supported the customized [[Color Graphics Adapter|CGA]] hardware of the 1512.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PC-1512 and the Fall of Amstrad |url=https://www.i-programmer.info/history/machines/1364-alan-sugar-and-the-fall-of-amstrad.html?start=1 |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=www.i-programmer.info}}</ref>

In 1987 the PC1512 was followed by the '''PC1640,''' which had 640&nbsp;KB of RAM and an [[Enhanced Graphics Adapter|EGA]]-compatible graphics chipset, acquired from [[Paradise Systems]], integrated into the main board of the machine,<ref name="practicalcomputing198709_pc1640">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/practical-computing/PracticalComputing-1987-09/page/36/mode/2up | title=Amstrad PC-1640 Making Amends | magazine=Practical Computing | last1=Moody | first1=Glyn | date=September 1987 | access-date=16 July 2024 | pages=36–37 }}</ref><ref name=":2" /> although only the ECD model could display all EGA modes. The PC1640 also allowed replacing the internal graphics adapter with a [[Industry Standard Architecture|8-bit ISA]] [[Video Graphics Array|VGA]] graphics expansion board, which made it more versatile than the PC1512.{{citation needed | date=July 2024}}

Both the PC1512 and the PC1640 could be upgraded with a [[NEC V30]] CPU, that increased and added [[Intel 80186|80186 instruction set]] compatibility, and by adding an [[Intel]] [[8087]] [[floating-point unit|mathematical coprocessor]] (FPU). Upgraded with the FPU, the PC1512 and PC1640 did outperform later PC architectures (i.e. [[Intel 80286|80286]] w/o FPU) in numerical operations, which was highly useful for [[Computer-aided design|CAD]] and numerical calculations. [[Lotus 1-2-3]] and [[Matlab]] supported the 8087. A performance benchmarks as conducted with Checkit compares the different models and configurations of the PC1512 and PC1640, with that of a fast 80286. 

Amstrad also attempted to expand its market share by selling computers in the United States. In the US the PC1640 was marketed as the '''PC6400''' and included a 20 MB hard drive.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />