How the Commodore 64 Hardware Changed Over the Years.

[@meneerjansen00]

If I'm not mistaken the later SID chip couldn't play samples. Like "Ghostbusters, ha ha ha!". That was because the little bug in the SID chip that enables samples is gone in the later revision.

[@ryanjones1938]

it did play it, it was just not as loud as the 6581, same with impossible mission and bmx kidz, those samples played really badly... Rob Hubbard was def ahead of his time.

[@retronoby]

There is a fix for that called the digifix. You basically connect the audio in pin to ground through a resistor.

[@TRX303]

@@retronoby That one should only be considered being done to machines which the owner uses to play older games and demos because the newer ones that are written for the newer SID can sound very distorted and overdriven when played on an 8580 with that "fix" applied. Probably that's only affecting sample playback but I'm not quie sure on that.

[@gblackhead]

Man... You've totally missed the C64G - light beige breadbin - made in large amount in the total end of its era... Also, regarding the long-/short-board recognition, one should look through the vent holes on the bottom of the case, to see if there is a long board installed, or not. The keyboard differences are not telling us anything, as with the later production, all the "rest of the stock" went to the customers, so they picked what ever they've had in storage and tried to fit it together no matter what, to be able to sell every piece of old stock. So you can find mixed box versions, mixed boards, mixed keyboards. And there's more: servicing. As you've talked about the socketed chips, some of those may be the result of a service event. Just very little chips were originaly factory socketed on any board version. And same goes with mixing the keyboard / main board / case pieces. Sometimes it happens, that service man had to swap parts... But anyway, thanks for a nice video! ;-)

[@mvl71]

I gave this video a like, but the counter now says 65. Sorry...

[@Oli1974]

In Germany, there also has been the so-called "Aldi C64", a C64 breadbin, but with the short C board and a C keyboard.

[@blackterminal]

You removed rf shields but did not add heatsinks for the chips that previously had cooling tabs from the shield.

[@wimwiddershins]

I still have my C64c from 87. If you'd told me people would be making games and upgrades for it in 2024, I'd have said you were nuts.

[@8BitNaptime]

Well, we are

[@kjmullinz]

ok so the key question is.... was the older 1983 C64 the FAT model or SLIM model? ...if you have two of them from 1983 and 1985, then on e should be slimmer than the other. let me know cuz its important for me to match the manuals. i mixed them up by accident lol

[@jonathont5570]

Always wanted a C, but I used my OG breadbin for 8 years and I wish I still had it, but lost it in many moves over the decades.

[@mattnik]

Great video! The 64c may be more ergonomic and no one can dispute the power of the 128, but there's just something great about the earlier breadbins that is beautiful and nostalgic both!

[@Cap610]

Commodore 128 could be run in 64 mode.

[@brainspatula]

Splendid

[@MaxQ10001]

Regarding the two different SID chips: which one is best is not easy to decide, but which one is most correct for a tune, is of course the version the composer had, because that will give you the sound the composer was making. Note that 6581 and 8580 uses different voltages, so be careful to use the right model for the board. Regarding sockets: i have a hypothesis about the inconsistency. Might it be due to chip availability? If one chip is missing, time is lost if the production line is stopped. Instead, the insertion machines could place sockets if s chip was missing, keeping the production line at full utilization, and the chip inserted at a later assembly stage.

[@RacerX-]

Great overview of the various models! This is a great reference video for people new to the C64 for sure. The Silver label and early Rainbow label variants used the first revision board with 5-pin video port. I have a Rainbow badge C64 that came with the first board. It is not my favorite for actually using the C64 because it has some quirks, bugs and limitations that were fixed on the 1983 boards on. I think my serial number is 100,000 something. My favorite revision is probably the C64C with short board because it is so reliable. The SID is different but so much more reliable that I can deal with the sound differences. The thing I like about the 8580 is that they are not only reliable but consistent sound wise. Apparently they were closer to the original design. The thing I don't like is the Digi volume is too low so many games that used samples don't sound loud enough unless it was made after the 64C was released and taken into account when developing. Many demos did this. It can be fixed with some mods though.

[@duanewebber1514]

was I the only one who turned the sound OFF and listen to cassettes and the record player in the background while i played games from 1982 - 99 and still fully enjoyed my C-64 and later my C-128

[@MaxQ10001]

Probably 😅 I did the opposite: loaded games and demos to listen to the music while doing my homework.

[@yucelbilik]

Thank you very much for this nice information.

[@stephenwhite506]

There is also the paper label that was between the silver and rainbow labels.