Amstrad GX4000 Hardware Question & Discussion

[cheesystick]

Hello,

I am now the proud owner of an Amstrad GX4000. I had it shipped all the way from France. Other people were right; it does look like a snow speeder from Star Wars. The look of the system is just too cool. The system may have been a flop, but the system shell design has to be one of the coolest system designs next to the incredibly elusive, rarer-than-gold Zemmix Turbo. The thing looks awesome. You can see the exact Amstrad system I purchased here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150597897822

However, there is a curious problem. On the back of the system, (to the right of the SCART out), there is supposed to be an audio switch and and RF out. However, with my system, these are completely missing. You can see where these ports are supposed to be in minute 2:00 of this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6oG7DRdBgI

There are holes for said ports on my system, but the audio switch and the RF female end are nowhere to be found. I just got the system today and the seller assured me that everything works fine. I need to get a SCART to composite cable, (as well as a European power adapter), before I can test it. That being said:

- This system is from France, (where the system received the most success), so is it possible that the French releases weren't made with an RF out at all? In the video above, is it possible that the RF out ports were only featured on the English systems?
- Considering that I get a SCART to composite adapter and the power adapter, do you think I'll be able to get this to work?
- Does anyone have any clue as to why these two hardware components might be missing?
- If I get it to work, will these games be running fast due to the whole 50/60 htz thing? I know very little about that...

Everything else is in tip-top shape, so it would be a big bummer if I couldn't get this thing to work. This is by far the most obscure system that I own, beating out the Atari XE and the Microvision by a long shot. I'd love to get it to work.





Pending that, anyone have any recommendations or advice for a new owner of this system? I got a lot of great games with the lot, which is good considering that the games are very hard to find, especially in the USA. Any advice on "must haves" and where I might find additional games? Anywhere I can look aside from eBay? Any collector's tips or memories you'd like to share about the system?

That was long-winded, but thanks a bundle. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again,
Chris

[Steve W]

I thought that French televisions used the SECAM format, rather that Britain's PAL and the US's NTSC formats. The hardware might be a little different because of that, and it doesn't have audio and RF out. I hope some GX4000 experts can shed some light on this.

I've been interested in one of these consoles since I read a story about it in an early Retro Gamer Magazine. Too bad it didn't have a large cartridge library for it.

[Mayhem]

It's entirely possible still though that will need a TV (or other device) capable of handling PAL and 50Hz signals. Good luck there.

[vintagegamecrazy]

A pal GX4000 will absolutely not run on an NTSC TV. You will need a Multisystem TV which accepts pal and NTSC signals. You have a SECAM version of the game system. I don't think you'll get it to work on a NTSC TV at all. I have a GX4000 myself and can't get it to run either.

[tom]

Ah, Peritel (Scart).
Anyways, during the 90s, Tesco, a UK food and all-sorts chain, imported N64s with Peritel connection from Germany (PAL-B UHF/VHF), because they were able to sell those 20% cheaper in the UK than English models (PAL-I UHF).
Just using German RF wouldn't work because Germans video game signal runs on the VHF waveband, and UK does not feature VHF, hence the Peritel set-up. All imported N64s to the UK worked fine, as Scart goes directly to the monitor, 99% of UK TV sets feature Scart or AV.

Further Peritel to RF, no go, has to be Peritel - Peritel or Multi-AV.

So, you get yourself a full wired Scart (meaning all 21 connections) to multi-AV, or better, Peritel input on the TV/monitor (that'll be the best option), and you shouldn't have any display troubles (Peritel to Peritel disregards the TV display standard, so NTSC, PAL, Secam is irrelevant). You can even use a monitor, best with Scart input. An old Philips 8833 with Scart connection will work wonders (not 8833-II, Philips omitted the Scart input on those) .

Yes, RF (and Audio switch?) missing on French consoles, since Peritel is mandatory in France, you don't need those connections, Peritel provides all.
You might be able to get an EIA Multiport (Scart for USAers) in the USA.