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GX4000

GX4000 icon GX4000 logo

Overview

Amstrad launched the GX4000 in 1990 at around GBP 99.99. Built atop the CPC Plus hardware, it shipped without a keyboard while maintaining compatibility with many Amstrad CPC titles that could be controlled with the console's joystick. REG-Linux places each GX4000 entry under the gx4000 system group so metadata sets stay consistent across themes.

Technical specifications

  • Manufacturer: Amstrad
  • Release year: 1990
  • Hardware type: home console (cartridge)
  • CPU: Zilog Z80A at 3.58 MHz, matching the CPC series
  • Memory: 64 KB RAM + 16 KB video RAM (TMS9918A-based VDP)
  • Display: 256x192 with 32 colors per tile and hardware sprites
  • Sound: AY-3-8912 PSG with three square waves and noise channel

Supported ROM extensions

dsk, m3u, cpr, zip, 7z

Quick reference

  • ROM folder: /userdata/roms/gx4000
  • Accepted ROM formats: .dsk, .m3u, .cpr, .zip, .7z
  • Emulator/Core: RetroArch → libretro: cap32
  • System group: gx4000

BIOS

No BIOS file is required for GX4000 emulation in REG-Linux.

ROMs

Store your Amstrad GX4000 cartridges/roms inside /userdata/roms/gx4000.

Emulators

RetroArch

RetroArch runs the libretro port of Caprice32 (cap32) to emulate GX4000 hardware. The frontend supplies shaders, hotkeys, overlays, rewind, netplay and latency options across every core.

RetroArch configuration

While a core is running, press [HOTKEY] + the south face button (see controller configuration) to open the Quick Menu. Use it to edit core-specific values, controller mappings and shaders; REG-Linux mirrors most of those options through the EmulationStation menus.

Standardized settings available to every GX4000 session include gx4000.videomode, gx4000.ratio, gx4000.smooth, gx4000.shaders, gx4000.pixel_perfect, gx4000.decoration and gx4000.game_translation.

ES setting name REG-Linux.conf_key Description & values
GRAPHICS API gx4000.gfxbackend Choose OpenGL (opengl) or Vulkan (vulkan).
AUDIO LATENCY gx4000.audio_latency Buffer size in milliseconds (256, 192, 128, 64, 32, 16, 8). Raise the value to address crackling.
THREADED VIDEO gx4000.video_threaded Offload video rendering to a second thread for better performance (true On, false Off).

libretro: cap32

Caprice32 accurately reproduces the Amstrad CPC/GX4000 line. The libretro port (libretro: cap32) mimics CPC464, CPC664, CPC6128, CPC6128+ and GX4000 timing.

libretro: cap32 configuration

ES setting name REG-Linux.conf_key Description & values
CPC MODEL global.cap32_model Pick the emulator target (464, 6128, 6128+).
EMULATED RAM SIZE global.cap32_ram Select memory size for the machine (64, 128, 192, 512, 576+ KB).

Controls

The default GX4000 layout maps to the REG-Linux Retropad. You can reference the RetroPad-to-Amstrad joystick table inside the controller configuration documentation to replicate FIRE1/FIRE2, SPACE, SHIFT and other commands.

Troubleshooting

If you hit issues, consult Caprice32's documentation.