Commander X16 is HERE! The Modern Retro PC's Design Secrets Revealed

⌨️ Win X16: bit.ly/winX16 | 🚔 Win KITTesla: bit.ly/winkittesla | 🎟️ Follow our raffles: raffall.com/retrorecipes
Exclusive first look at the full final X16 retail version with the final cartridge ported case, latest PCB & firmware, what’s changed since I headed up the design, artwork reveal, & more! 🧑‍🏭 Thanks to PCBWay.com for supplying the X16's great PCBs! 📺 7-day free trial: Ad-free early access to our videos + double the content 👉 / perifractic 🚀 Your support helps us keep the channel & nostalgia alive 📼
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ℹ️ Contests not affiliated with KZbin. Contests and prizes organised and offered solely by Raffall Ltd UK. More info: retrorecip.es/faq
RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
May include affiliate links for which the channel might be compensated, but all opinions are unbiased
• More about the X16, specs, downloads: commanderx16.com
• Get the Commander X16: texelec.com/product/cx16-preo...
• Get the the officially recommended 3rd party case: lazer3d.com/product/commander...
• Thanks Lazer3D for donating the case for the raffle!: bit.ly/winX16
• Get X16 Merch: bit.ly/x16merch
• Get my SD Card disk labels: drive.google.com/open?id=10wV...
• Get the Monitor Stand: amzn.to/3PWBNdV
• Get Chickenlips 16 Merch: perifractics-retro-recipes.cr...
• Get the Chickenlips PETSCIIBOARD: retrorecip.es/petsciiboard
🪛 Get all the gear we use: 🇺🇸 amzn.to/3LkYSF9 | 🇬🇧amzn.to/30y05lg
MUSIC CRUDITES:
• Knight Rider music by Stu Phillips & Don Peake remixed under Fair Use by: / @enzomusic_de
• Quarx OST used at 27:44 by @nicco1690 and Andrew Sega
• X16 themes by Suno AI and included in all Supporter tiers: retrorecip.es/support
• Other music by Perifractic: retrorecip.es/music
OTHER SAUCES & CHEERS:
• David Murray, Kevin Williams, and the rest of the team
• Adrian Black: / @adriansdigitalbasement
• Voidstar: / @voidstar1337
• Assistant Editor: Sami Häyrynen
• All other credits shown on screen
• Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
• The Internet Archive
• Gardenside Prods., Clue Detectives & Paradise Radio
• Special thanks to Ladyfractic & Junifractic!
• All other media featured is marked as public domain on Google Images or used with written permission or shown under fair use law.
MENU:
0:00 Teaser & Intro
1:25 Why I joined the team
2:41 What I designed
5:53 Why I left the team
6:33 Keyboard Unboxing
8:03 Chickenlips PETSCIIBOARD
10:23 Manual & Artwork/Merch Reveal
12:45 Final Motherboard Unboxing & Tour
18:59 VERA Module & FPGA Discussion
21:05 Motherboard Assembly
21:39 Case Unboxing & Assembly
27:06 Power Up & Playtest
28:50 Conclusion & Supporter Cred
THANK YOU MODERATORS:
• Conrad Vogel
• / @cubiclenate
• James Langridge
• Lee Volante
• Mauricio Tonnera
SOME INGREDIENTS BY:
• MattGrandis.net - designer of perifractic.com site
• / _gazmarshall - some graphics
• PaulKitching3d.com - some 3D models
© All original music & content Copyright & TM Retro Recipes™ LLC 1988-2024.
#retro #nostalgia #80s

[@RetroRecipes]

Thanks for watching! You could win the X16 or KITTesla at raffall.com/retrorecipes ... or even both! Just don't get them mixed up. 🖥💨 🚓

[@carledwards9477]

I always wanted a C64, but it was beyond our means back in the day. I entered the raffle - if there is a chance that I could relive my youth AND get to enjoy a project this amazing, it's well worth it. Thank you Perifractic - you are one of the top YT creators. Definitely one of the most human!

[@RetroRecipes]

@@carledwards9477 Thank you for your kind words! ...apart from when I'm AI ;)

[@user-vq1js6lm4f]

can you enter in canada?

[@kellerkind6169]

I REALLY like that earlier case design as shown at 3:41.....soooo sexy!

[@LordOrwell]

so if it's 8 bit, why isn't it the commander x8?

[@hnmcclain]

Bro, I'm and EE and CS schooled engineer and have worked in what can only be called "I.T." for 30+ years. I'll be 50 soon and you name it, I've done it. But you really got my attention when you mentioned your late mom. I too lost my mom, back in 2020, and I swear, I had to put all my projects on hold. Good to see you stayed strong, did what needed to be done and got back at it. She'd be proud. Can't wait to dig into this system of yours.

[@RetroRecipes]

Thank you for your kind words and I'm sorry for your loss 🙏

[@DiestroCorleone]

So proud of the team for the results. I can remember David commenting years ago, in several videos, about 'if I designed my own retro computer'. And now it's here :)

[@jstro-hobbytech]

And obscenely expensive. I lived through those old days and hated the hours spent waiting that ill never get back. I gave away a new in box c64 last year because I had no interest in it other than recapping it first. I like my 4090 haha

[@SproutyPottedPlant]

The FM chip and PSG combo is the best part of the design for me ❤ very Mega Drive like sound and with the extra channels there is plenty of space for big chords and epic percussion 👍

[@esvinyard]

Thanks for sharing your artwork for the X16 manual. It's great! I've been enjoying my Commander X16 for a couple months now, and really appreciate all the work y'all put into it.

[@RetroRecipes]

Thank you!! Glad the collective effort is appreciated!

[@chmarr]

i am so sorry for the loss of your mum, i hope your ok

[@jparky1972]

I have to agree with some of the other comments about the case. The Perifractic case looks so much better than the one shipped. It looks like a 'Good Enough' solution instead of doing it 'right'. Especially when you showed the faults of the rear of thr case as well as the power / reset buttons being so close to eachother. I appreciate they are trying to keep the costs down. Especially as the costs have spiraled away from Davids initial cost goal.

[@AutoAndChill]

Still hopeful for a version 2.0

[@davidmoore5925]

Thanks for spoiling the end of the very hungry caterpillar, I'm only half way through.

[@RetroRecipes]

I apologise very munch

[@MarcWeertsMusic]

It’s not that great. There’s a big hole in the plot…

[@Robbnlinzi]

@@MarcWeertsMusicoh get out of here!!! lol

[@paszTube]

I bet all you guys are dads

[@John.B.Jenkins]

@@MarcWeertsMusic LOLZ! YES! Best Dad joke I've heard today. Definitely gonna file that in the ole Brain Rolodex

[@LambdaHalbe]

My X16 is just mounted with some standoff screws on a nicely looking wooden board. Sticked some rubber feet underneath and made a strain reflief for the power cord.

[@RetroResurrectionAI]

I got my X16 two months ago and it's still sitting in the back. Thanks to this video I will break it out this weekend and finally get to try it out.

[@RealActorRob]

I helped populate chips and test several of the boards at David’s house about a month ago. So I literally had a hand in a few. Lol.

[@juniorxranger]

I grew up in K********e. You have no idea how proud this makes me.

[@ShR33k]

That concept X16 manual art is stunning! If that doesn't see light of day, then something is wrong! That machine is a thing of beauty. I'm currently trying to learn 6502 assembly programming... hopefully from there, I'll learn Z80 (as I had an Amstrad CPC 464 & later a 6128 as a kid). David and the team have done a fantastic job bringing this machine to life! Well done everyone!!! 👏

[@radman999]

I am always floored by the production value of your videos. Some of the best on KZbin.

[@sellophanesun]

Nicely done man, a perfect example of how to highlight your achievements without diminishing those of others. Thanks!

[@lupedarksnout]

I would so buy Puppyfractic's spiral-bound MAPPING the X16. Show me how to get the most out of this new machine! Locations I can affect, the new BASIC commands, the built-in programs, dealing with VERA, getting sounds to play, the new opcodes, reading mouse and controllers, raster and timer interrupts! Woof!

[@RoyEltham]

I love my Commander X16! I got the Black Lazer3D case. It really is a beautiful board.

[@coffeecuparcade]

I've been watching this project since the start and I gotta say I love your case much more than the official one. Yours had style and accommodated everything in the original design. The official one seems to lack planning and feels like a "good enough for now" approach. Bummer. Might be a cool project once the pricing and design reaches maturity. Love your X logo and artworks! As always great video and thank you for sharing with all of us.

[@RetroRecipes]

Thank you for your kind words sir

[@RyanMartinez]

I've been following this lightly (not exactly paying attention, but watching random videos of it when I catch them), but conceivably you can still make your own based on the needs of the board, yes? Kind of like other projects that have come up recently?

[@fyreantz2555]

Imagine how far we've come since the Vic-20. We can design and mail order circuit boards. Print our own cases. Write our own operating systems. We are in the golden age of personal technology.

[@Wythaneye]

I'm looking forward to the spiral bound manual(s). Thanks for the update, I'm glad they're still in the works.

[@GeorgesChannel]

Wonderful review Perifractic! Really love your artwork on this machine and now i understand the Logo and the name (X16). This project is a really gift to the whole retrocommunity.

[@buidelrat132]

The "9-pin guy's dream computer" 😂

[@thomasfx3190]

I was 12 when my brother and I got our C64. We had two 1541 disk drives and typed in hundreds of lines of basic out of commodore magazines, it was really fun and our IBM 370 programming Dad was very proud.

[@hanleyforhire]

Really wonderful work. Hoping to acquire one of these someday, and I already grabbed some raffle tickets. The bridge being created by this project really hits home. I remember playing games like Double Dare and The Railroad Works on my grandfather’s C64, and at that age it felt like it was powered by magic. He would load up his saved railroad, and I would be amazed at the whole process. I know you must hear this all the time, but thanks to you and your family for making these videos. They are truly meaningful, and your viewers will always remember how you made them feel.

[@kitt28]

I think it was 1992 when I was a kid and got my first desktop, oh what we all accomplished years later, Thanks for sharing this

[@RyanMercer]

Woo comments are back!

[@GAMECLOSET]

Yes. I’m happy for that too.

[@tehLilaQ]

Why were they gone anyway?

[@RyanMercer]

@@tehLilaQ trolls apparently

[@guystevens162]

wow thats some great work guys. Love the sound so 80"s with a modern touch.

[@ScavengerFX]

I loved this video! Such good work! I entered the Raffle! Good luck everyone!

[@drtaverner]

I can't believe this made me cry. Actually cry. This is an amazing achievement guys. I'm just in awe.

[@TheducksOrg]

Congratulations on babyfractic! I know this is old news and the chances of you seeing it are also low - I've been watching your videos for several years, but have had to cut down on the youtube since my wife and I had our daughter back in 2022 - I'm only just getting back to it now and I'm super happy for you all :)

[@RetroRecipes]

Thank you for your kind words! Means a lot 👍🕹

[@PassifloraCerulea]

First off: artists are amazing! Second: as an occasional dabbler in electronics, it's sad to see thru-hole components getting rarer because modern surface-mount stuff seems so much harder to work with. This looks like it was a bunch of work, so good job guys.

[@CallousCoder]

But with the exception of the missing slots in the case, it’s absolutely stunning 🤩Incredible work by all involved 😊

[@ReedsRedactions]

I was a bit skeptical of this product at first, but I'm actually really happy to see this thing released. You can tell that a lot of thought was put into it because the design is top notch! To be honest, I would prefer a strictly FPGA based system (for the sake of a future proofing), but you can never have enough of these products on the market. What I would really love to see is a brand new system that has the capability of replicating the HD2D pixel art style of modern day, but done so using 16-32 bit hardware.

[@FrazerSmithsChannel]

Perfect use of Vic and Bob. Chapeaux

[@RetroRecipes]

I have an incredible Vic Reeves first hand story. Might have to share it on the channel some day... though it's a little risqué, and long.

[@FrazerSmithsChannel]

@@RetroRecipes Oh please do. As a huge Jim and Bob fan I would love to hear it.

[@EmperorKonstantine01]

I love the sentiment and humour in your videos, and how you mix the old with the new. Mr.Perifractict are you able to do a video on the history of the facsimile machine maybe some time in the future, this was a fascinating invention and technology way back before the internet and sending email began. I was really hooked on this technology and it was also a new dimension that opened up so many windows of opportunity for us back in the 80’s. It was a cool part of our history. Even sending resumes to employers and friends. Sharing information and even sending pictures in black and white was quite amazing. Only you could feel and share how awesome this old technology was for us.😊

[@apollolux]

A C64-like with a retro Yamaha FM audio chip. What a time to be alive. :)

[@eskey691]

This looks out of this world and i love how everything has a name on the board, as for the keyboard i like it and the soft feel for the keys wouldn't bother me one bit if anything it would give me a more retro feel to it. As for the artwork HELL YEAH how cool is that pure 80s to 90s vibe an yes am thinking of getting a mug with it on. The sound it pumps out is pure class as well so all in all one cool bit of kit that said i'd add maybe a few more LED to it but how you had it setup was great. As always a super great video and am looking forward to seeing the next one so until then you all take care and have a great weekeend.

[@RetroRecipes]

Glad you like the machine and the vid!

[@chrissawyer1484]

It's here! Can't wait!

[@michaelcarey]

Amazing! This is certainly on a want list for me! I think I'd re-do the switch wires... no need for them to be soooo long 🙂

[@MarcKloos]

When you thought that the school yard fights between Speccies and Commies were behind us for the past 40 years, it's starting all over again with the ZX Spectrum Next and the Commander X16 🤣

[@TheJeremyHolloway]

You’re leaving the Atari 8-Bits out of that brawl when we have the official Atari 400 Mini for sale, not to mention homebrew hardware like the Mini ITX “NUC” motherboards and 3D printed cases, 65816 CPU upgrades, the PokeyMAX sound chip upgrades, the SOFIA and other RGB video upgrade boards, and now the external repro 1090 Expansion PCB with hopefully the chassis on the way soon. Even SpartaDOS is still being actively developed.

[@oldhedders]

I read this comment, thought "nonsense, we're all adults now", and then realised that I'm a Spectrum Next owner who is actually annoyed by how much better the X16's sound is.

[@another3997]

​@@TheJeremyHollowayTo be fair, the Atari 400 mini is "just" an ARM based emulator in a particularly nice case, replicating original hardware... so not quite the same as the Next or the X16. Neither of which really appeal to me, even though the Next isa stunning looking machine. But as an Atari 8 bit fan, POKEY will always be the best, especially considering they were released a whole 3 years before the "Commode C64". 😉

[@sarreqteryx]

15:50 hope you've put that last ¼MB RAM in correctly before turning the system on. 27:35 …well, at least it didn't short out

[@W3DRK]

Very cool. I went the Foenix F256K route, and should hopefully be receiving mine next sometime next month. I preferred the all-in-one slab design, MMU banking scheme, stereo SIDs, and Tiny Vicky graphics solution...

[@more.power.]

Outstanding work Perifractic the team has built a gem of an 8 bit system. Cheers

[@RetroRecipes]

Thank you!!

[@SoulPoetryandOtherWorks]

What a great sound experience from this machine. A very impressive project which has been brought to life by you all. Just add a mechanical keyboard and that would be a seriously amazing 8-bit esque computing experience. So the Commander X16 has been conceptualized as an X-Wing destroyer craft in your illustration. That should make Darth Sidious weep in terror. Nice video Perifractic and a fantastic machine that you have all brought into being using retro midichlorians no doubt. Just remember to set the parity bit.

[@NocturnalMissSo]

Thats really cool, man. Nice job.

[@jeffreyplum5259]

The banking design is similar to the way the PDP-11 took a 64 K byte minicomputer to eventually 4 Megabytes of memory. Of course things must be much simpler starting from a 6502 base, but some amazing stuff was done on the '11, dating back to the 8 bit era. There was even a time-sharing system, without memory protection, which ran a version of basic. Amazing stuff can be done from such a very simple tech base. Good luck friends.

[@merman1974]

The case looks great, nice to see the vision become a reality.

[@LambdaHalbe]

Great work. I (aka "edrive" on the cx16 forum) just subbed.

[@Badutspringer]

Good job. Well done, mate. Really appreciate the work you and the team have done. My thoughts to you and the family - losing a parent is very hard to describe - thanks for sharing Very inspiring video (BTW you and Cukoo - synth guy on here somewhere (spellling?) talk very much alike, even though he's a Greek Swedish Greek Swede youtuber/gearhead). God bless.

[@ericwallace4985]

I've been watching for years. Not a single disappointment .

[@RetroBerner]

Dope, I can't believe y'all overlooked the expansion card case compatibility 😂

[@GAMECLOSET]

That was a “D’oh!” moment. I couldn’t believe that.

[@giovannip.1433]

Looks great. The custom keyboard is an interesting concept - could you manufacture LCD keys for custom key positions? You could use specific LCDs to change to show emulation modes. Then you could get say a micro PC using a reasonable AMD Apu and emulate a c64, Amiga, Spectrum etc- all at the press of a button.

[@Eminem200183]

Oh wow! This is wonderful. The old Commodore was amazing back in the day and seeing the CommanderX16 is perfect. Btw gotta love PCBWay. Lol

[@Capt.Marco-Hawk-L.L.A.P]

Christian another awesome episode. your case design was far better, love the scifi pic you did for it, very awesome design

[@RetroRecipes]

Thank you for your kind words! Means a lot 👍🕹

[@jamesdecross1035]

The clear case lid is a little reminiscent of the 9-pin guy's brother's case for his Apple-1 replica.

[@TheGeekPub]

You mean me? Thanks for the nice comment!

[@youtubasoarus]

Congrats! It looks awesome!

[@thelaughingmanofficial]

Lovely use of Suno at the end for the song. 27:09

[@SelfIndulgentGamer]

Feels like it's been ages for this to come into existence :)

[@jose-miguelcolon6619]

Great work & video!

[@therealdebater]

26:40 There is a strut, which I think will be provided with the case, that goes underneath the (beautiful) top cover, to give it a little more strength. Heavy monitors or the like sitting on top might be a bit too heavy, otherwise.

[@szabolcscsengoi4231]

I love the mobo! Clean and stylish! ❤️

[@MyChannel-vm6dw]

I LOVE that you've made preservation of this older but incredibly influential tech a FAMILY affair. Wife and Baby fractic are all in on it. So are the pooches LOL! love love love

[@TheSulross]

the low profile case is nice looking, but darn, makes most of the slots impractical to use, so yeah, need that taller profile case

[@scatalabad]

Is that Trev Storey that worked for Acclaim? Newcastle lad. I worked with him there and also at Atomic Planet. Very good artist.

[@RetroRecipes]

I believe so!

[@TamiSymonds]

@RetroRecipes I've loved this journey. Thank you What's your favourite Partridge series.. *Knowing me knowing you *I'm Alan Partridge 1 or 2 *Mid morning / the day today? Nice to see the X16 comes in a box. A bit like Tony Hayres x

[@RetroRecipes]

I'm Alan Partridge 1 & 2 equally. Ahaaa! Do you have a battery for an Ericsson?

[@RacerX-]

Nice! I would love to see the modem and wavetable card working. Also how to update the various firmware bits would be cool too. I have a DEV board from the first run last year of a 100 or so. Your board looks a bit different. Is there a list of changes anywhere between the earlier 2023 revs and the late 2023 version? Nice video as all Starfractic.

[@rickmellor]

Looks like it's about time to get another. I have the first release of the developer board and the first release of the case along with the upgraded keyboard. I haven't had time to pull them out of the boxes yet, but I still want to collect them all.

[@giovannip.1433]

A USB 3+ connector to a PCB with all 'old' connectors could be an alternative too. Then you could have Atari, Sega, Sony cartridges, dial up , 9pin dins, scarf, etc.

[@Applecompuser]

Looks awesome! I also like the one that is black and red. PS Prayers and much condolences on your loss. 🙏🙏

[@MeitsMSX]

You say this might become the ultimate 8-bit chip tune creating 8 bit computer. You might want to check out the huge list of music extensions made for the MSX standard. It's not impossible for the X16 scene to do the same as the MSX scene did. But there's a job to be done then.

[@another3997]

I'm not a fan of what the X16 turned into after the 8 bit guy first mentioned the idea, it's a victim of too many competing compromises. I also know that the core of the original MSX machines were mainly off the shelf parts, cobbled together with a huge set of compromises, meaning individual manufacturers struggled to sell them in any great numbers. Just like the X16. 😁 If you happen to have a nice, working, 40 year old MSX lying around with enough mod cons to make it usable in 2024, by all means use it. But all these '80s and '90 retro computers are getting rarer by the day, and consequently more expensive. The results you get aren't unique to MSX. The custom sound hardware of Atari 8 bits and the Commodore 64 are far more appealing than any common, off the shelf chips.

[@MeitsMSX]

@@another3997 My reply is more about how many soundchips are available. Off the shelve and MSX1 and MSX2 just had a PSG. Later machines already had an YM2413 onboard. The list of audio addons in the shape of cartridges is larger than I can summarize without peeking in some list. The list does cover a great majority of chips used in 80s/90s consoles and homecomputers. VGM files can almost always be played on the original chip on an MSX. Because MSX is often forgotten (mostly unintentionally), I thought it was worth mentioning. :)

[@voidstar1337]

24:44 Reset Butt, yep Kevin labeled that on purpose :) 25:15 to be a little more tidy, you can run the PSU power cable under the VERA board. On the other side of that picoPSU is some 5V and 12V pins, to you can "self power" a small flat panel screen, or connect a USB (phone) charger. I'd suggest in a follow up video to showcase BASLOAD, it really deserves a proper introduction to the world (no line numbers + symbolic branching). LowerDecks wasn't in your top 3? Dang :P

[@fancybot7819]

Hey Perifractic! I am not sure, but it seams to me, that the last RAM chip you inserted does not sit well in its socket. ;-) The left hand side needs a bit more push, I suppose. Am I right?

[@curiousmind4870]

Excellent work! Congratulations to the team! Really nice computer. Although I'm an Apple //c owner since 1984 (with my heart more on the side of the 6502), and after seeing the graphic capabilities of this machine, is - not without certain pain - that I'm inclined for the Agon, with the Z80 (in its modern version the eZ80). Ok, they are different, I know. But it's cheap, with no FPGA and so simple, it's mind-blowing. If I could I would have both...

[@TheJeremyHolloway]

I’d really like to see a breakdown of all the Motorola/MOS/Rockwell/WDC family of support chips someday. Like CIA vs PIA vs RIOT vs VIA, not to mention between the MOS 6551 ACIA - and 2nd source variants - and the Motorola MC6850 ACIA. It was like the support chip Wild Wild West in the 8-Bit and 16-Bit eras throughout the Apple, Atari, and Commodore platforms.

[@Wobble2007]

This is an amazing bit of kit, beautiful just to look at, it's perfect for porting all the decompiled 8-Bit games to for reference quality preserved playable versions of all the best legacy games, and maybe even powerful enough to have run ports of all the decompiled 16-Bit games, all with perfect OPL and MIDI music, talking of which It's amazing for too, that is playing and making authentic synth music, I bet someone has already made a tracker player for it too.

[@cerberus50caldawg]

100% best use case! LOL Makes me dream I was ambitious enough to create a full on keyboard/sequencer style interface rig for this hardware and make it all modular and easily transportable. Also I'd either have to find a nice already created synth software solution or create my own homebrew Basic music synth software suite which would allow me to record and save as well as loop synth tracks in live performances using this retro gear! I miss those OG C64 saw tooth and wave filter effect bass synth vibes. Probably won't get that with this. Probably might get much better with this? Right??? This has so much more options and implementations for awesome sounds then what the OG C64 sound chip could do. Does sound different. Sounds really awesome actually. Needs a really well developed Synthesizer suite for it now!

[@Wobble2007]

@@cerberus50caldawg It does have a lot of potential, I'll be honest though, what I really want is and all-in-one bit of kit dedicated to chiptune/tracker/MIDI/MIDI-2.0, on an FPGA with nuked MT32/SC-55/SC-88/OPN/OPL/SID, and a modern high-end DSP to add in some more modern hardware accelerated synth, along with all the EQ & filters, add in some hyper low latency audio RAM for soundbanks and soundfonts, changeable OP-AMPS, a decent pre-AMP based on a Marantz-8 circuit, some nice DAC's dedicated to both input and output and one for each channel, that can be aggregated through a mixer pre-amp, a bit-crusher built in, as well as a vintage AMP simulator mode (they can be pretty damn good and vintage amps are not cheap now), all that in one module would be a pipe dream, maybe add in a CFexpress slot and playback controls, so you can just use it for pure enjoyment and listen to legit hardware-synth music without firing up your main system, could even give it streaming capabilities so you can have legit synth audio through wireless, obviously the choice of equipment you hook it up to from there would be dealers choice, but a synth module like would allow you to get rid of so much bulk and save you a small fortune, not to mention sound better if done right, it would be perfect for both production and just using for enjoyment of music, video games, whatever uses synth equipment you would have it in this module.

[@techraan2160]

You are livin' the dream!

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

When you unboxed the mouse, it made me wonder what it would’ve been like if there had been one attached to the different C64 models we owned when I was growing up. We only had the 2 joysticks. They did what they were meant to. Wonder what playing UpNDown, JumpMan, Ghostbusters, Donkey Kong or any of the other games we played would’ve been like with a mouse. Even without being able to install that expansion board, will the X16 still be able to connect to a modem?

[@misterretrowolf1464]

Indeed a really great X blaster picture!!

[@thefumigator]

Amazing. And while I'm not too fan of retro based computers, the sound and music is outstanding.

[@legacycz]

Pretty Commodore Box

[@j-fharbec379]

That ram chip wasn’t pushed all the way in and this really bothered me hahaha. I love what you did with the X16 design

[@donaldwiller9238]

Great job man. 👍

[@angieandretti]

The new case is okay but I'm really sad to see the deletion of the original case. I'd pay extra for the original case if given the option. Even if I could just get the old clear top panel with the cut-out logo. And a case where none of the card slots can be used... that's disappointing too. The initial release should include the 90 degree riser and a matching back panel right up front.

[@yopachi]

I like that early concept yellow case render 🦋🧈

[@stumblepuppy606]

The speed jumpers, could they not be wired to a Turbo button type thing on a case so you don't have to open it up every time you need to change speed?

[@Robbnlinzi]

Agreed. But why would you want to mess with it? There are no wrong answers here I’m not even challenging you just curious. :)

[@JoeBurks_1]

@@Robbnlinzias the guy who designed the clock stretching circuit for the X16: I have no idea. I got rid of the clock selection jumpers on my own OtterX hardware and replaced it with a socket for the oscillator. If one *really* wants other frequencies, then they can swap the oscillator. My primary use for the socket is bumping the clock to 10MHz. I rarely go below 8MHz except for debugging timing problems.

[@MaxRomantschuk]

This reminds me, I haven’t watched war games in a long time.

[@nickcabrera3982]

Awesome project. I haven’t kept up with the development so I don’t really understand all the riser board/adapter/IO plate stuff. Seems like bandaid solution and a confusing number of sku(s) to keep up with. Maybe CX16 v2 will have it all ironed out.

[@robotwo]

3:45 No way! You guys got Arne on board? You've got my attention

[@ericwallace4985]

Comment #2... A flexible ribbon out the cartridge port gap or out the back and into a 3d box for your card that doesn't fit that would a help like a side docking type thing? Its just optional options.

[@Jammet]

I guess my dream version of this would be home computer sized, with networking built-in.

[@RayR]

A great video from you. As far as the graphics chip purist, they don't have to use the advanced capabilities or they can fund/design a retro video expansion board for the X16 three expansions slots and use that instead. Also 256 colors existed on 8bit micros in 1985 and 1986. So when they say it's not historically accurate for the era they are definitely wrong. That being said I wouldn't mind using a Yamaha VDP or National Semiconductor graphics IC for mine when I buy one as an era accurate retro graphics solution.

[@samp3413]

The colour palette isn't the issue, it was getting all 256 on the screen simultaneously on the same scanline like in the arcades. Atari 8 bits could get all 256 colours down the screen via DLIs but it was limited to only a handful of colours horizontally, more using some tricks like PMG and PAL blending but nowhere near 256. The c64 could display all 16 colours horizontally in high res without any tricks despite the small palette. Computer manufacturers of the day had to compromise colours for resolution and so forth.. that means saving as many transistors as they could whilst choosing the best features they could think of. You couldn't have both without increasing costs significantly.

[@madnar9]

The spaceship graphic reminds me of the old Maplin catalogue art (Chris Foss)

[@RetroRecipes]

Oh yeah!

[@kenh6096]

Real shame they did not go with your cover yet as it's brilliant =D

[@albert_vds]

It's such great logo! Also I'd like to mention that it's unfortunate that you have to use a credit card to enter raffal auctions, some more options would be awesome as I don't have(or need) a credit card.

[@pk3776]

Looks so cool 👍💯

[@PatrioticGestalt]

Thanks!

[@RetroRecipes]

Hi, I just wanted to write you a quick real message to say that I'm incredibly grateful you have chosen to support us in this way. It really does help the content continue. Cheers! Your friend in retro, Perifractic

[@rlk54]

Hopefully it will be available in the UK soon so I can buy it at the start of September.

[@stevenclark2188]

An STM32F4 is fast enough to do multi-note 2-op FM synthesis with 1-sample latency so someone could probably build an MCU-based substitute for the Yamaha 2164 hardware if needed.

[@Blurns]

I think Terry A Davis would have loved this.

[@l3lue7hunder12]

I still have issues with the components chosen, because if you use an FPGA for the VID you might as well go 14MHz with a W65C816S that is improved and includes a 24bit Address bus that would have allowed a lot more freedom for extensions ( & cards with a ROM ). Even sound shouldn't be an issue if you simply clock the Yamaha chip with every seconds clock tick instead, something you also could have used to simulate a dual core processor with two cores running at 7 MHz each - there are projects and examples how this works, and it could even have rendered the Vera redundant. Not that the X16 is bad as it is, and it actually feels bad for me to make a comment like this on a project that involved so much love and dedication, but as I programmer who absolutely loves both the C64 and the 8bit hardware it works on, I can't help but feel weird to do half measures there. I really like your presentation though. ;-)

[@arlo.infinity]

Perifractic is such an 8-but guy!

[@Robbnlinzi]

He has to be. We have a 9-bit guy on KZbin already. And the 10 bit guy took a large 1.25 byte out of me.