Discovering the Mega65

[@ASHdemoREEL]

absolutely wonderful play by play on the 'feelz' you received from opening up a computer product 4 decades later with the same amount of gidee anticipation we used to have in our youth GREAT content & Channel. THANKS so MUCH! :)

[@8BitResurgence]

Thanks for your comment, very much appreciated!

[@heathgallimore4845]

It's a great machine! I've had mine for awhile now and I'm still playing with it almost every day. Well worth the cost in my opinion as well.

[@8BitResurgence]

The machine is certainly addictive. I think a part of it has to do with (for me) the feelings it evoked when I unboxed it, reading through the manual, and starting to play around with it...

[@taygerwoods2320]

Very nice and clear presentation of the MEGA65!

[@8BitResurgence]

Thanks very much for your comment!

[@iRDaBrit]

I want one of these so badly. It would reignite my love of old assembly language programming that I never fully understood in the 80s as a teenager.

[@sandcat-maurice]

Exactly what I’m doing with my MEGA65 (I was lucky enough to be in batch1 release). The available C64 core is currently in an amazing state, you can even use cartridges. I bought 2nd hand C64 Machine Language and Programmer Reference Guide and am teaching myself some ML. Something I never understood in the 80’s. With all these online guides available you have a great resource too. Really nice!

[@NNokia-jz6jb]

Would like that also.

[@ASHdemoREEL]

100% can relate to this, as back then resources for learning were quite thin in my circumstances, but LOVED the machine, and tried to learn everything i could about it from my Ahoy! & RUN magz. what a fun time that was back in the day.

[@MisterMsk]

Great job! Very nice video of going over the Mega65.

[@8BitResurgence]

Thanks very much. Was a fun video to make!

[@terryraymond7984]

Im impressed too I waited quite awhile but its amazing

[@BehindTheCode_wGerry]

Nice! Very cool to see.

[@8BitResurgence]

Thanks for the comment! Glad you liked it.

[@fliplefrog8843]

I've got one! The Handbook is insane good! My night lecture... SFC/OXY

[@commodorecave5581]

A good video and an even better computer. I got my Mega in the first batch but still picked up a few new tips here. Subscribed!

[@8BitResurgence]

Great, glad that you found it helpful!

[@alucart1984]

Awesome video! I am thinking about getting one.

[@8BitResurgence]

I know it's a lot of bread, but I certainly don't regret it in the least. It's awesome (if you didn't get that from my video) 😀

[@alucart1984]

@8BitResurgence I wonder if an Amiga core is going to be made. That would be a huge selling point for me. Maybe even Atari 8Bit computers cores as well.

[@8BitResurgence]

@@alucart1984 As I understand it, the Gameboy color and the ZX Spectrum cores that exist already for the Mega65 were ported from the MiSTer. Knowing that, it's just a matter of time before more cores move across to the Mega65. I would imagine the pressure from the Amiga community would be great enough to see that happen. 8-Bit Atari cores would be fun as well! Being FPGA, the possibilities are really endless.

[@sesa2984]

Hi, as a hobby I would like to try to use a Commodore for practical purposes like we would have back in the day. I feel there wasn't enough time before technology changed for me to learn everything it could do (and some programming) rather than just play games. I feel like this Mega 65 is the BEST possible candidate for such an endeavor. And a little bit faster I imagine. Do you know of any youtube channels or videos where people show word peocessing on the commodore 64/5 or running a bookkeeping program etc.? I just think it would be fun to do. thanks.

[@GameInterest]

Thanks for this. I might pick one up!

[@8BitResurgence]

Hope you enjoy it if you decide to grab one for yourself.

[@dennispetersen9360]

First i will say that i think the mega65 is cool, but how do you connect joystick or mouse with a usb-cable with a computer with old de-9 controller ports?

[@8BitResurgence]

I'd have to say that you'd be best off picking up an old vintage joystick or mouse (for the most authentic experience). BUT, there are devices that will convert modern devices to the old pinout... Have a poke around the internet, and you'll likely find something on Github or Gitlab!

[@dennispetersen9360]

@@8BitResurgence thanks

[@terryraymond7984]

I noticed with some old C64 software some of the text is different is that because of the VicIII video chip?

[@elnebuloso9391]

After about 2 years of waiting, I should finally receive my own next week 🤩. Looking forward to explore how to program the machine using Basic and Assembly. A problem of the project might be the limited number of units that can be produced. Hopefully the community will grow in the future.

[@8BitResurgence]

Fingers crossed that the community will grow over the coming years.

[@TechTimeTraveller]

This was exactly the sort of review I was looking for. I don't normally collect 'retro' gear, preferring vintage, and this is rather expensive, although thanks to your video we can see why. I recently bought the X16 - it was cheaper but of course not nearly as complete and polished since I guess it's still technically at the developmenr stage. I bought it mostly as a thank you to Dave Murray for all his great videos -- honestly I hardly use it. So I was a bit skeptical about spending twice as much on the Mega65. But I think I may just save up for a Mega65, if they don't go out of production by then. That level of quality makes the price more bearable. Thanks for this excellent review!

[@8BitResurgence]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Thank-you for your comment!

[@RasVoja]

MEGA experience! We want that new GEOS in ROM/SD firmware!

[@terryraymond7984]

I have a small Flatscreen TV that supports Pal so now I can even play C64 pal games and some demos.

[@jsmythib]

That was a great description of an FPGA- and actually changed my mind....although I love giant ttl logic :)

[@ChadDoebelin]

Still hasn’t changed my mind.

[@jsmythib]

@@ChadDoebelin Your mind is unique. I cant remember why I said that after only 30 days.

[@gpizanok]

Looks like it could be a cool investment!

[@scality4309]

I think i was the one that inspired Stephan to make it.

[@stephenwhite506]

Porting MiSTer cores to the Mega65 is interesting but I wonder if porting the Mega65 core itself to MiSTer will ever happen. This will increase the user base by over a hundred times. This may attract more software developers to the machine.

[@8BitResurgence]

Good point. Increasing the userbase is never a bad thing. Would certainly expose a lot more developers to the platform.

[@little_fluffy_clouds]

MiSTer already has excellent C64, C128 and Amiga cores. Porting Mega65 would have little value as there's precious few C65 software titles made and very few Mega65-specific titles out there. If ever the Mega65 takes off as a platform in itself, maybe a port would happen, but I don't see that happening at the high price point. For €666+VAT, you can easily buy a fully-loaded MiSTer and a keyboard, joystick and mouse, which gives you dozens of cores.

[@IMANAYAMUSIC]

Liked and suscribed!! Nice video

[@viralcoffee]

I own a C64 with thousands of games on Cassette tape and on Disk 5 1/4. Can I connect my 1571 disk drive and cassette tape to the Mega65?

[@8BitResurgence]

Yes to the 1571, but currently no to the cassette drive. However, they are working on an expansion board that will have a tape drive connector on it.

[@3dhYT]

How many thousand euros does it cost?

[@NNokia-jz6jb]

€750

[@earthsteward70]

Absolutely wonderful video! Do you have any plans to do a video of the Commander X16 once its physical board comes out?

[@8BitResurgence]

If I can somehow get my hands on an Commander X16, I certainly will do a video about it!

[@marchechter5047]

I think its a really great project. I remember myself when the C65 was teased by Commodore (well, way too late) in various magazines and I believe it would have been an amazing piece of hardware to start with (like the C64 before) when released early 90s or better end of 80s for a reasonable price. Today, Im sure it will find its audience among fans and especially from my generation. However I didnt manage to become rich since i was a teenager, and the price is something I cant pay for the machine. I think the price is a big issue for this to become successful longterm and something thats not mentioned very often. Other than that, great stuff, love to see the Commodore alive and kicking.

[@terryraymond7984]

I never bought a NEW Commodore but I had the same thought as bu ying new and not used.

[@NNokia-jz6jb]

Same

[@tenminutetokyo2643]

ZX-UNO can do the same thing - load multiple cores to run as different machines.

[@gabor222]

If I remember properly the ZX UNO has a smaller FPGA so the Mega could work with more complex cores.

[@topfivepopular]

3 quick questions: 1) can I connect Datassette C64 with my original games in Mega65? 2) Can I use my original Amiga 500,600,1200 floppy disks in Mega65 directly? 3) Can I connect Monitor 1084 and Drive 1571? Thanks for the 3 answers

[@8BitResurgence]

1. No you cannot connect a datasette to the Mega65. 2. Yes, you can use the Amiga floppies. No you cannot use the 1084 monitor but yes you can use the 1571. For a monitor, ATM you're stuck with HDMI.

[@gabor222]

There is an expansion board being designed which allows to connect a Datasette: c65gs.blogspot.com/2024/02/expansion-board-revd-and-new-connector.html

[@talideon]

14:10 - is that really a thing in North America? Over in Europe, it's almost universally port 2 because port 1 interferes with the keyboard matrix. I can probably count on one hand the games I had that used port 1.

[@8BitResurgence]

Yes, it really was a thing here in Canada/US. You would inevitably choose the wrong port to plug the joystick in anytime you loaded a game.

[@dougjohnson4266]

Mine finally arrived after 15.5 months and I am very happy with it. (SN 1076) I would like to see a 68000 core using the VERA core for video (like the CommanderX16) and a Amiga 500/600/1000 core.

[@8BitResurgence]

That's great! I'm sure you'll have a ton of fun with it.

[@joseaugusto-vd9vg]

Its its possivel buy games for the Commodore 65?

[@8BitResurgence]

The only commercial game that I'm aware of for the 65 is Hibernated, a text adventure. However, there are quite a number of games already developed and available for no charge through the Mega65 repository. Also heard that there are a number of game projects currently in development. It really is an evolving product with more people getting and coding for this machine!

[@joseaugusto-vd9vg]

@@8BitResurgence ok its a nostalgia🙂

[@joseaugusto-vd9vg]

@@8BitResurgence i remenber in Portugal play it the zx septrum but in Portugal.tbe Commodore its not very very famous .até the time is expensive.and at the same time Philips have a .games console it a lot of games.but and i remenber the grafics is mora avance that the zx septrum but is very expensive.🙂

[@gabor222]

It seems that despite the capabilities of the hardware at the moment it is hard to find games for it that reach the level of some newer C64 games. The good news is that C64 and Gameboy color games can be played on it.

[@terryraymond7984]

Does anyone know of an Apple II core?

[@scality4309]

Are they hard to get?

[@8BitResurgence]

They are not hard to get, you just have to order it... however, there is a long wait before yours would ship primarily attributed to the global chip shortage as I've read.

[@JosipRetroBits]

Very nice review of Mega65, thank You :) Is it possible to run in C64 mode with a 40Mhz CPU?

[@8BitResurgence]

You know, I have yet to try that. I will try it out and report back!

[@8BitResurgence]

Now THAT was a fun exercise! In 64 mode, on the Mega65, you can switch from 1 to 2 to 3.5 to 40MHz!!!

[@JosipRetroBits]

@@8BitResurgence That is awesome :) That is like having SuperCPU! Thanks :)

[@8BitResurgence]

@@JosipRetroBits yes, with the exception that the Mega65 is twice as fast! Think I'll do a speed comparison video between stock, stock with a SuperCPU, then the Mega65/64 mode at 40MHz.

[@_6581_]

LukHash music!!!

[@8BitResurgence]

It's awesome eh!

[@tigheklory]

FPGA's are hardware emulation. As you said FPGA cores are as good at the person who designed the core. Also, even if the FPGA core is a perfect core the output is not exactly the same (on a scope) because the switching time of those old transistors, especially if you try and simulate discrete transistors from the 70s and 80s you are going to have a hard time.

[@dailykoder7788]

Your first sentence is just plain wrong. FPGAs are no emulation at all. You design and describe actual logic gates with those chips. As you mentioned, yes, the timings can differ from the original hardware. That's just because it's different hardware, but that still doesn't make it an emulation. FPGAs can exactly describe the logical circuit of that old hardware, the timings can still differ a tiny bit (because those are on the actual physical level, where as the logical circuit is still (kind of) an abstraction).

[@tigheklory]

@@dailykoder7788 Not software emulation, hardware emulation. Merriam Webster definition: "Emulator (Noun) hardware or software that permits programs written for one computer to be run on another computer." FPGAs emulate the behavior of the original electrical design, but you are replacing the discreet and logic chips with gate arrays which behave similarly. We haven't even touched on if t he design is using the RAM in the FPGA which is very different timing wise. In the end it comes down the the skill of the person programming the VHDL or Verilog used in the core.

[@Promilus1984]

@@dailykoder7788 That's the problem with ppl trying to defend anything with programmable logic. Every system which tries to duplicate functionality of different system is emulation. Be it a computer with software or bunch of different ICs. You can make reimplementation using FPGA as well, yes, but that require you to either have original logic design file or actual circuitry of chips. In which case the only IC so far which does have that is ... 6502 itself. So you can easily reimplement 6502 because someone did found some documentation, made scans of silicon die itself and created logic design file consisting exact functionality of 6502. That's not the case with VIC III and so on. Guys responsible for Mega65 did implement similar functionality (externally) on way different hardware (and obviously with internal logic far from original). If that's not emulation then what is? Sure you can use FPGA to implement your own design which is made to be compatible. That way you don't emulate original hardware but implement own hardware in programmable logic. That's the accurate description of what Mega65 does. But if someone tells that it does reimplement Commodore65 it's BS. It either implements something compatible to original computer or emulates original computer in fpga. It DOES NOT reimplement C65 in FPGA.

[@little_fluffy_clouds]

@@dailykoder7788 It's not wrong at all, it is hardware emulation. Not every chip in the C65 is dissected and re-implemented in the FPGA in a cycle accurate manner, so the result is hardware emulation.

[@joseaugusto-vd9vg]

I like to buy one its possível sende me the adress ?

[@8BitResurgence]

shop.trenz-electronic.de/en/Products/MEGA65/

[@joseaugusto-vd9vg]

Ok i think trenz Make digital controler for model trains🚂

[@joseaugusto-vd9vg]

And En i find games?for Commodore?

[@8BitResurgence]

@@joseaugusto-vd9vg The Mega65 file repository is a great place to start to find all sorts of programs including games for the Mega65!

[@joseaugusto-vd9vg]

Hi again i go tho mega 65 but for me its a litle confuse😕

[@SirHackaL0t.]

Gotta love reading a script.

[@MrMaxeemum]

If it's FPGA then I'd rather invest in the Mister.

[@8BitResurgence]

That's certainly fair enough. The MiSTer project is awesome in it's own right Both represent amazing accomplishments by committed people! As far as I know however, there is no C65 core for the MiSTer.

[@3vi1J]

I'm not sure why people say FPGA is not emulation. It's emulating the hardware. Maybe you don't know every instruction and their timings, but you're emulating it via hardware emulation. The only difference is a few levels of abstraction.

[@8BitResurgence]

Thanks for your comment. The point I was trying to make, that you may not have gotten, was that FPGA isn't "emulation" because it's not by definition "emulating" the circuits... The circuits are recreated within the chip, assuming of course that the exact circuit is understood. Once created, it IS running the same circuits as in the original. It would be like saying a breadbin emulates a 64c. There is a definite distinction between the two words.

[@sidhartya]

FPGA implements the hardware (or better to say it is a newer generation of an old hardware). When speaking of emulation, always some kind of software is supposed to run in the background including its own issues (lag, latency or synchronization problems etc.) of which an FPGA implementation doesn't have any. If you still insist on hardware emulation, then you also have to say e.g. a C64-II or C64C from 1986-87 is only "emulating" the original 1982 breadbox machine (as having a smaller and more integrated chipset, called HMOS vs NMOS) or a C128 "emulating" a C64 etc.

[@DavidDrury90]

KZbin algorithm bringing me here.

[@8BitResurgence]

Nice to see you here!

[@f1lupo]

welcome to the club…it’s a beautiful system for sure and will only get better with time as the community grows👍💾❤️

[@8BitResurgence]

Thank-you. It is indeed a beautiful system, and am looking forward to seeing it evolve.