I Found My Ultimate Commodore 64

[@JamesPotts]

One nitpick: you can't "recap" the power supply. Commodore, in their wisdom, poured epoxy into the power brick, encasing the voltage regulator. It's that regulator that fails, and dumps up to 10V onto the 5V line.

[@JamesPotts]

If you manage to get the inner "brick" of epoxy out of the outer "brick", you can chip the regulator out and replace it, but it's a serious pain. The regulator dissipates around 8W, so it could really use a heat sink and airflow.

[@waluigi3666]

Wouldn't putting a potentiometer on there be a rudimentary but working fix ?

[@robertsissco2439]

It is not the caps in the original power supplies that cause the failure, it is the 5 volt regulator, they fail and can put upwards of 9 volts through the 5 volt line. The problem is that Commodore encases all the parts of the power supplies in an epoxy brick, so you cannot get to them easily. It is not a matter of recapping. It is ALWAYS better to get a modern PSU for anything Commodore.

[@steveg5122]

I grew up in a family that didn't get a non-6502 computer until 1997. We had a commodore 64 until 95 and then we were given an apple iic. And I'm only 34 years old and I didn't use Windows or dos until 1997

[@lag0matic]

Somewhere Perifractic woke up in a cold sweat hearing that song

[@JohnSmith-xq1pz]

🤣🤣🤣 probably

[@keithmichael112]

in a world of everchanging views and computer terminology? those are some lyrics

[@mar4kl]

"Together we're keeping vintage computers out of landfills, one by one, whether they like it or not!" - Best tagline ever!

[@Thatonefuckinguy]

I love seeing a bunch of old computers coming to life like this. Getting to see how they once functioned, I never got to grow up with this stuff, so it's always a new and exciting experience for me. One men's trash is another man's treasure.

[@TheUtuber999]

When he said that I had to look again to make sure rubbish and filth wasn't strewn about the breadbin he had in his hands.

[@joshpayne4015]

At 5:48, everyone has told you something somewhat incorrectly. Most of the C64 PSU's are encased in epoxy so there's no getting to the internals of them to re-cap them. Yes, there are in some markets "hollow" PSUs but that's not the norm.

[@robwebnoid5763]

I still have all my C-64 stuff, which unfortunately stopped using by the mid 1990's so that I could focus on PC's for school & work. However, I did use my C-64 setup at my university dorm for college homework, mainly for typing up & printing out papers. Everything is in boxes for now. That includes 3 computers, peripherals, disks, printouts, books, mags, etc. Two of my C64 machines are broken so I will have to figure those out. I also have a CPU booster which runs my C-64 at 4 times the speed, so that makes some games fly, as well as made my GEOS64 fly. I also even made my own computer power supply back then, around 1989-90, which I still have & still works. But if you still have the original black bricks, those could be safely used a little bit more by placing a PC CPU fan on top of it, facing down. Heat is the primary culprit of destroying these C64 bricks, so moving wind towards it removes that heat much faster than just through normal thermal radiation. You could even add some metal fins on it too, along with a fan. Think how todays PC CPU's (since the 80486) are cooled with heatsink+fan.

[@VeronicaExplains]

This was a great video, as always! And thank you SO MUCH for the shout-out! :)

[@Moremjd]

I just loved the fact he was wearing one of your T-Shirts, ¨Linux is awesome, and so are you¨

[@DrTofu83]

A nice series of tidbits: 1. The LCA standard is actually a less fortunate relative of S-Video. The inherent mechanism is the same: while S-Video carries Chrominance and Luminance, LCA carries Luma, Chroma and Mono Audio, but instead in a single din it uses three CVBS connectors. It's hence better and worse than S-Video proper at the same time: better because S-Video could never carry audio, worse because you had to make do with three connectors. A Commodore 64 can also output Composite video, but not Component or RGB, and the earlier units could do just composite. You can turn LCA into S-Video Proper adding a resistor on Chroma, because of different values 2. The 1702 is actually a rebranded, rebadged JVC unit, and the back is made with the same mold of the Japanese TV-set of the era, hence the LCA cubhole resembling an antenna recess 3. You're right, the original PSU weren't made to last. They carry 5VDC and 9VAC, and the 5V rail has a cheap regulator that after a decade, give or take, gives up the ghost and starts flooding the 5V rail with up to 12V, frying everything. However, you were kind of wrong about recapping and fixing it. Kind of. The early PSU could be opened up, and you could reach the voltage regulator, or even take the 5V part away and put a fresh one. The one you had was potted in epoxy to appease the FCC wanting something sturdy and unable to catch fire. The only reasonable thing to do then is a complete "rebrick", that means smashing the brick over and over until the epoxied innars get out and use the hollow shell to turn a decent PSU into a "sleeper" with the same looks of the original. However, I'm using the earlier version of your Poland PSU, without any soul-swapping shenigans 4. There's a cartdrige, the Ultimate II+, giving complete Ethernet, tape, cart and disk emu. However, it wasn't available for a long time and soon it will be again 5. Commodore 64 joystick have *usually* just a single button, often mirrored for southpaws and people who liked more different button arrangement. Later in the C64 era, along with the very unfortunate 64GS (a keyboardless unit sold as a competitor with the Master System II and the Toploader NES) came the Cheetah, a joystick using the paddle lines to add a second fire button. Only a bunch of games, and mostly modern ones use both buttons though, and the Cheetah were known to break just by looking at them. A modern built joystick, the ArcadeR, has the Cheetah button arrangement in the shell of the Competition Pro, one of the sturdiest sticks of old

[@BasicBitesCA]

I loved the enthusiasm with which you dived into the Commodore 64 in this video! If I may... One thing I was wanting to suggest throughout is that you consider getting a Pi1541 next. The 1541 Disk Drive is *THE* peripheral to have for the authentic C64 experience, and the Pi1541 is cycle-exact emulation of the same... it will therefore interact with any/all speeder cartridges written for the original drive, and run G64 disk images with copy-protected retail software and/or custom software fast-loading solutions that rely on interacting with the drive's internal computer. You can download a massive collection of original retail disk images in the C64 Preservation Project's 10th Anniversary Collection on the Internet Archive. Your Kung Fu Flash would then be used to emulate your speeder/freezer cartridge of choice to significantly accelerate the drive (such as the ubiquitous Epyx Fastload, or The Final Cartridge III). On that note... 21:30 - THE SD2IEC IS *NOT* A FLOPPY DRIVE EMULATOR, as prominently stated on the official homepage for its firmware, in spite of what some merchants are still (unscrupulously, in my opinion) confusingly claiming in their product listings! The SD2IEC is a mass storage device that can mount D64/D71/D81 virtual disk images. It does not emulate a 1541 disk drive, which is a full-fledged computer in its own right. It works only with those fast-loader cartridges that it has been specifically programmed to detect and support. I appreciate my SD2IEC as a secondary mass-storage device (like the CMD hard drive we all wanted back in the day), but my primary device for disk images is a Pi1541 -- because they all just work. Since the Kung Fu Flash can also now load D64s and such, I would strongly recommend doing a deep investigation into what extra desired functionality an SD2IEC would actually bring you before investing in one. Either way, have loads of fun exploring the best computer EVER! 😎 -- JC

[@epremeaux]

from what I remember, the SD2IEC can only write to disk using standard disk routines because as you say, its not a total emulator. So, that makes game saves difficult on many games (have to make a save disk yourself, and do some clunky disk swapping at just the right moment) and on games that use copy protection, may not be possible at all. Another reason for the Pi1541.

[@thedungeondelver]

Man...that takes me back. Born in '70, was a Commodore user from '82 to '93. VIC20, C64, C128, Amiga 500, Amiga 1200...wish I had 'em all still.

[@CastleKnight7]

Same generation. Atari VCS 2600, Sinclair ZX81, Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48k, Atari 520ST. Good times indeed.

[@easyerthanyouthink]

Yep c64,apple 2,ibm compat 8088, a500 then 486 then all in the bin books mags disks hardware etc good times.

[@bundesautobahn7]

I was born in '82, and we actually had one C64 in my elementary school. We used it to play games like Hangman, and Battleship. Fun times.

[@DoubleSupercool]

Was it on a special table and did it have a fabric cover made by one of the mums? "On Tuesday, we will use The Computer". That kind of thing :)

[@TheUtuber999]

@@DoubleSupercool I had completely forgotten that I had a vinyl cover for my breadbin back in the day.

[@evertonshorts9376]

You've got a 1541 so just copy contiki on to a floppy and run it from there.

[@davedavenport8673]

To me the best add on for the C64 is the Ultimate II+ cartridge. Full Disk Drive emulation, USB storage, ethernet, fast load/freeze cartridges run from within, and more. One issue here in NTSC land is a lot of software was made for PAL machines and some of the titles were not fixed for NTSC. Also, many old demos rely on PAL speed timing so they don't look right or even crash on NTSC machines. This is why I also purchased an Ultimate 64 which is an FPGA implementation of Commodore 64 and has the same form factor as the commodore motherboard, so you can swap it out and use your existing keyboard. It also has all the Ultimate II+ features along with HDMI out and a wifi chip on board which will be implemented in the future.

[@sanjyuu7616]

Fixing games for NTSC is not always easy or feasible, PAL C64 required less computing power to generate 50 frames than NTSC with 60 frames. Sam's Journey requires REU on NTSC machine because CPU alone is no longer fast enough to move all data in RAM. Region standards... Luckily we no longer have to worry about them that much.

[@edittext]

I feel like an SD2IEC is the better option. It was such a surprise to see you with a Commodore! I have so many great memories with the C64, I hope you love it.

[@CommodoreFan64]

If you just want to play some games, or access some old data you made in GeoWrite then the Kung Fu flash is a good way to go, but I setup my childhood C128 up a while back after a recap(thankfully I did not have to replace any chips)with a new PSU, and SD2IEC on my 27in Panasonic CRT, and I've had no issues with it just playing old games from time to time, but having the cart port free more stuff If I ever want to do it, is nice, so agree the SD2IEC is the way to go.

[@maxxdahl6062]

pi1541 is supposed to be better, and more accurate from what I hear.

[@WyMustIGo]

I was lucky enough to be born in the early 1960s, so I had computers since the late 70s. It was the C64 though and eventually the Amiga that got me into software development for a living. You may remember "Imagine 3D" ray tracer on the Amiga, other than some shareware I developed in the 80s, that was the first commercial software I worked on. It is all in assembly and C, then eventually when we ported it to the PC we used C++. The 80s and 90s was where it all began, and the Amiga was 8+ years ahead of the PC (and the Mac). Great times, and back then there was no outsourcing. We made really good money, more than they make today to be honest (due to cheap outsourced labor).

[@dennisp.2147]

The fact you have the front panel on that 1702 is a little bit amazing... That being said, if you REALLY want to get the 8 bit experience, you need to load some software off of that 1541, or even worse, the datasette, and experience the wait times.

[@charliekahn4205]

Or get a cart which runs the 1541 more quickly, because they made a few of those.

[@kingtom]

yep there is nothing quite like recording the WAV files of your favorite C64 games to a tape on your HiFi and then attempting to get the Datasette to run it after five attempts BUT ONCE THE GAME IS LOADED it really is something else

[@userperson5259]

Yes and the Commodore "Datasette" drives are still working mostly. Atari cassette drives - 410s and 1010s are almost universally dead these days (or badly in need of repair anyway).

[@BG101UK]

I agree 100%. It isn't a true C64 experience without loading stuff from disk (or back in the early days, from the Dataseete for many of us on the Eastern side of the Pond. I was certainly glad of the 1541 when I bought it .. and the Action Replay).

[@coryhammer9566]

This is only the European true C64 experience. Most of us in the US never had a datacassette, only disk drives. But those were plenty slow enough. Use the Fast Load cart on the Kung Fu Flash in combo with the 1541 if you want the drive experience but get some of your life back from the wait times.

[@ODX171]

Next you'll have to Mod the 64 and drive. C64>>>>>Reset...........1541>>>>Reset,>>>>Pin the drive,>>>>>drive ID # just to mention a few mods

[@trelard]

I was a kid in the early '80's and the Commodore 64 was my real start with computers and gaming as a hobby. Living through it was fun. The C64 did things not even the original creators of the hardware thought was possible. Things like graphics being used in clever ways to do things 'technically' not possible. Or the SID chip creating sounds with clever programming. The C64 Scene still exists, with regular new releases and demos. I got the C64 Maxi, and it actually holds up pretty well to the original, considering it's running under emulation, but it feels a similar enough experience to get my nostalgia trip on.

[@SirSmilie]

the editing in this video is awesome with the seemeless pop-in cuts, well done!

[@brokenelectronics3665]

Cool, You're a bass player. So am I! Of course, mine is about 8 times the size of yours, and I play in orchestras with a bow, but heck, low notes are low notes, right?

[@NickOfTime99]

Ha, awesome! Didn't expect to see my first post to Particles on Action Retro!

[@alerey4363]

I like your monitor stand; it's well built using old style dove-tail joints and cement, just like they used to build them, 40+ years ago, same age from C64.Good old carpentry

[@userperson5259]

I was an Atari guy but I loved this. There is something so wonderful, nostalgic, and strangely comforting about 8 bit computers, 40 column displays, and BBSes. This inspired me to finally go get the Fujinet for my Atari 8-bits and spend some time with them.

[@James_T_Quirk]

The Trackball was good for Missile Command ..

[@TheUtuber999]

And Crystal Castles and Tempest.

[@geekwithsocialskills]

My first computer experiences were the Apple II in the late 1970s during elementary school and my first personally owned computer was the Commodore 64 I received Christmas 1983. I'm happy to see you join the world of Commodore 🙂

[@JamesPotts]

I had the same elementary school apple experience, but wound up an Apple II snob, finally getting a IIe in 7th grade. It wasn't until I was an adult that I realized how good the C64 was. Except for the lack of 80 columns, I still get snobby about that. ;) I picked up a C64c for my son to play with, and he loves it.

[@geekwithsocialskills]

@@JamesPotts Nice! BITD Apple II computers were super expensive, which is how I ened up with a C64. As Jack Tramiel said in the 1980's "We need to build computers (C64) for the masses, not the classes (Apple II)" 🙂

[@JamesPotts]

@@geekwithsocialskills agreed! My grandparents had given the grandkids some "college money" to invest. I lobbied my parents that a computer would be a better college investment, and with a teacher discount, I was able to get the IIe. Never could have otherwise. (Going on 30 years now as a software engineer, I think that "investment" paid off.)

[@geekwithsocialskills]

@@JamesPotts I received my C64 as a Christmas present from my grandparents. They were awesome! Like you, my early computer experience got me into my life long field of work in IT, also 30+ years. We have a very similar path.

[@davidburns8113]

you're 80's straight to video schlock horror bit was genuinely amazing 10/10

[@PixelPipes]

Fantastic video! I love the extra touches like with the C64 ad

[@HeliZero]

It took me 50 years to get online with the C64. I got an Ultimate 2+L cartridge and that changed EVERYTHING ! Holy shit, that is a cool piece of hardware - highly recommended !!

[@James_T_Quirk]

Fantastic Video !!, As a former Commodore Dealer, & User it warms my Heart ... To see I am not the only one still fiddling with this ancient Equipment, As was always said most Hardware never sees it limits, before its made "redundant" ..

[@ran2wild370]

Adrian Black is already behind that tree watching and waiting to add another few items to his collection, while Jan Beta is on European shores and can't reach you...🤣🤣🤣

[@jeffsims7386]

My cousin and I used to dial in to each other’s PC just to play StarCraft without having to deal with server lag etc. it was so much better with direct connection than going through Gamespy, just with the downside of only two human players.

[@CommodoreFan64]

I was born in july 81, but by late 83 my family got a Vic-20 as our first computer then by late 85 my dad traded in the VIC-20 for a C64 at local computer shop opting to keep the disk drive which was compatible, and I used a C64, and later C128 I got from my uncle who ran a Commodore users group(got lots of software back in the day that way as well), well into the very early 90's along side my Apple IIe I got from another one of my uncles, so I got a very early start in the 8-bit micro computer, and I still have my recapped C128(new PSU of course), and an SD2IEC I use to play games on from time to time on 27in Panasonic CRT in composite, and it still looks really good to me. So it's really good to see you keeping this C64 alive, and giving it a new home 👍

[@thecrow3461]

I grew up with the C64 and have used it till last year when it died. Its so cool to see new software still being made and released for it almost 40 years later. The C64 will live forever!

[@Somelucky]

I was 9yrs old when we got our C64 in 1986. After adding a modem the following year, I was spending quite a bit of time on BBSs and other early online services. Downloading compressed C64 disk images using the x/y/zmodem protocol was creating software out of thin air. Since you have that sweet s-video monitor for it, you probably won't need the component video upgrade card. SD2IEC works fine for most software, but it isn't 100% compatible. It won't run most demos or games with copy protection or custom loaders. Building a Pi1541 is a more compatible alternative. The C64 was such a capable computer, I never needed a 16bit system. I went straight from it to my first PC, a 486SX in 1992.

[@the_holy_forestfairy]

RetroRecipes said "HELLO!" to the ISS with the Commodore64 😏

[@SnipE_mS]

Love getting new videos from you every week. Always look forward to see what new thing you’ve come across.

[@wpipka]

9:44 That's a druaga1 reference :D

[@perplxxd]

the commodore is keeping up with us all. don't say anything bad about commodore, it will find you

[@CookieJar6502]

most of those Commodore supplies are filled with epoxy so you can't even easily repair them

[@AirknightTails]

At this point. The urge to re-download Amiga Forever and C64 Forever is strong thanks to this Video (I own the license for Version 7 of both and have the ISOs backed up to my Google Drive and SkyDrive)

[@RudysRetroIntel]

Nice setup! Enjoy the ton of games for it. Thanks for sharing. Now all you need is a Commodore PET

[@goqwertygo]

I love the Commodore theme song😂 My dad had/has a Commodor64 I remember playing Atari games on it😆 The monitor brings back the most memories. When I was around 12 around 2001/2 when I was just starting to tinker around with my own pc parts I would get from garage/yard sales. I wasn't allowed to have a TV in my room, but that didn't stop me from finding a VCR with a TV tuner at a garage sale and using my dad's old Commodore monitor as the screen using the yellow/white AV inputs. 😂

[@FadkinsDiet]

My recommendation is for a carteidge port extender to allow you to plug in multiple cartridges and switch between them with much less risk of blowing a fuse. And less wear and tear on your carteidge port.

[@thecorruptedbit5585]

I find it easier to collect 8-bit microcomputers than 80s and 90s PC compatibles! There's a few listings for c64s in my area but almost no 486es and the like. Maybe because people just throw those in the trash instead of selling them...

[@dmacpher]

Lots of them are being scooped up for DOS gaming boxes as it was a bit of a “golden era” and the Millenials that want them are of the right age.

[@trelard]

LOL. I blew that fuse multiple times as a kid using a paperclip in the cart slot on 2 pins that activated a freeze state in games, like the old Action Replay carts. Hit the wrong 2 though, and you got a small zap, but you were saved because that fuse blew. Easy to replace too, even as a kid.

[@tenminutetokyo2643]

Yes the 80’s computing era was awesome. Computers had personality and were fun. Now everything is a commodity. I just recapped my retro VICMODEM. You missed the age of BBS’es too.

[@matrixreactivation]

Commodore 64 - my first Computer:) ehhh...nostalgic:)

[@FuJhen]

A little bit late but you can use a raspberry pi as a eeprom programmer if you have one with the software called flashrom

[@kroberts1964]

Your not right dude, That's what makes your channel one of the best on the internet. I still use my commodore 64 and my 128, I paid a lot of Money for those computers, getting my moneys worth out of them, My very first computer was a Vector Graphics cp/m machine from 1978, Great channel, keep up the good work

[@ybergik]

Back in the mid 80s, I worked a paper route two days a week at age 12 to be able to buy a C64 after about 12 months of "hard labour"... Totally worth it though. Set the direction for the rest of my life and represents a love that has stayed with me even since.

[@joshpayne4015]

At 7:56, "that's a little tedious" (using the 1541 disk drive). That in essence is at the core of what using a C=64 back in the day was all about.

[@martinnyberg9295]

My first computer was a Texas Instruments TI99/4A, the one you could daisy-chain lots of peripherals on the right. I never had any, but dreamt of them. And the tape-machine I kept my BASIC programs on was the one I listened to educational tapes and music on. So when you find a TI99 at the flea-market with all its peripherals…😃⌨️📺

[@neonvoid]

Great video :) I have two C64 in my live stream setup, one is rendering chat (its connected to the internet) the other one is connected to the music system and plays music as a synth through midi. :)

[@KaitenKenbu]

Just a wonderful channel. Your cadence works as well at 2x as it does 1x. Great intro, I enjoy all the extra humor and effort.

[@2dfx]

**The 8-Bit Guy would like to know your location**

[@finkelmana]

Put a drop of water under each suction cup. That will make force the air out from under them and make them stick to the table.

[@StrangelyIronic]

I'm from a similar era of growing up, but my first computers I got and used to learn programming with were a past its prime Apple IIGS fully loaded and a Mac IIci fully loaded also past its prime. I also built my own 386 and 486 machines using working parts from storage/old machines at my dad's business; but I still preferred Assembly/C programming with the IIGS and IIci. Eventually I moved on, but I still use both of them to do fun projects from time to time.

[@Maxtraxv3]

@18:47 as its your wifi LOCAL name, no one on the internet can find out you connection becuase thats only showen to your INTRANET (yes intranet not internet) witch can only be seen by anyone in range of your wifi and those who have connected it, no one on the internet will be able to tell what your modem name is since it doesnt need to tell any one, and no machine will ever require it (from the internet)

[@75slaine]

Nice one Sean, I’ve been looking forward to this video. Great job.

[@MisterMsk]

As a Commodore 64 person from back in the day. Respect that you didn't use the brick of death but upgraded to a really nice modern power supply.

[@EvilTurkeySlices]

Wonder how long it’ll be until he gives it a G4 upgrade.

[@be236]

I grew up on Commodore VIC-20 and Commodore 64 with tape drive and then disk drive... ah, so fun... the memories... still have it in storage..

[@KlingonCaptain]

It's funny. The first computer my family had when I was a kid was a... well, a Commodore. I never considered my childhood to be all that special, but every time someone geeks out about some retro gadget, I usually say, "Oh yeah, I had that."

[@livefreeprintguns]

AOL PROGGIES! FateX, Magenta and AOAcid were goated!

[@KabukiKid]

Wico Bat Handle joystick. Trust me... best joystick that exists. They also used to have ads showing how indestructible they were by dropping them off of the top of a ladder and having them bounce off the floor and still work. It offers an option to use the fire button on the top of the stick, but I never preferred that. I eventually bought two of these.. and they were EXPENSIVE back then. I remember spending $29.95 each back in the 80s for those suckers! I'm sure they are far cheaper than that today. lol

[@StargateMax]

I love this! C64 is my childhood computer, and I still have it, even though it was owned by other people in the late 1990s, and then I got it back when I wanted to buy a C64 again -- I was surprised to see that it was indeed my own original C64 that I got. :D Now I have been feeling nostalgic lately, I'm setting it up again, but I don't trust the PSU anymore, I just bought a new one thanks to this video. And I had no idea that C64 can go online and support a mouse! Wow! I bought a small 15" LCD 4:3 TV for this, it was not easy to find because they're like 20 years old and hard to come by. LCD is not as nostalgic, but it's a lot thinner and lighter physically. 16:9 (usually newer) displays are totally unsuitable for those retro gadgets, even though many of them support forced 4:3, but then the actual TV size is unappealing. Somehow the old vintage computers are more fun, the old games are fun if they're cracked+trained, otherwise they're usually incredibly hard to play/pass if you're not a hardcore gamer. New technology feels boring and sometimes even scary. The old stuff from 1980's and even 1990's feels really good to fiddle with.

[@Avelinovski]

That 1702 monitor looks as good as new! I'm flabbergasted (and a bit envious :D). Mine is missing the control door (the hinge was famously prone to succumb to wear & tear after a few years). Picture quality is outstanding, though, even after 38 years. And so is the surprisingly clear and full-bodied sound coming from that single loudspeaker at the top. Such a fantastic computer. Ah, memories...

[@Shipwright1918]

When you're ready to mow, 64's ready to go. Instant boot, and if you have a cart in, instant gaming.

[@DimNussens]

This is your best bit so far I love them. Never stop. White-board guy needs a character arc.

[@soknightsam]

I envision a Council of Ricks sort of scenario

[@DimNussens]

@@soknightsam Yes. Yes! This is what we need. The Action Retro Council of Clones!

[@minty_Joe]

Satanic white board guy. I like it! Make his eyes glow laser red, like something out of Stephen King's IT (1990).

[@paulmurgatroyd6372]

I'm glad I'm old enough to remember having a ZX Spectrum and a C64, but man, I wouldn't want to go back.

[@greatquux]

Very interesting to hear your perspective on being in the retro scene but missing 8-bit era. Loved this video and really interested to explore Contiki.

[@WildkatPhoto]

Dude that trackball was a ultra baller accessory back in the day. From memory it was $75 in the early 80s. If my memory is right that would make it $230 in todays money.

[@bramvandenbroeck5060]

When i was 5 or 6, i had "computer class" on friday afternoon, the last hour of the schoolday, i remember that the professor told us what to type on the commodore, to load from disc, how to program silly things like print and stuff, i don't remember a lot of it though, i only remember it because it was the loading from cassette i liked the most

[@TheParachutePeople]

If you do get an eprom programmer for your 64nic, please make a tutorial for how you do the programming. The info online is severely lacking.

[@bruce_just_]

so the horrific theme song was what we Aussies were subjected to on our commercial TV channels 😉

[@WarringPacifist]

The C-64 was my very first computer, as purchased by me in 1983 (HEY! I made a RHYME! I'm a POET, and DON'T EVEN KNOW it!). I used to have lots of fun with my computer, back in the day. And now, I have (at least...!) THREE computers in the house...and one of which, I can ACTUALLY carry in my pocket! What is it called? It's called a SMARTPHONE. All the power of a contemporary PC...but it comes in a MUCH SMALLER package! And, if I want to, I can download an app or two that actually EMULATES a Commodore 64! What a FANTASTIC time to be...ALIVE!!! 😎

[@Stryder_The_Nite_Owl]

Vintage Commodore 64 usage in modern day, step 1: Replace power supply immediately, without even using it. Modern new power supplies solve some issues that plague the original ones. Using an original C64 power supply will put you at extreme risk of short circuiting your chips, as the PSUs often bridge different voltages on the pins, resulting in too much going to some chips, killing them. Never use an original C64 PSU, and instead immediately throw it away and purchase a new modern one.

[@lovemadeinjapan]

I use them all the time, various C64's, never an issue. If a C64 dies, I hunt down another for 30€, but so far this was never needed. Today I add a zener on the logic board so the 5V is protected on the C64 side, as I can't tell kids in the classroom which brick to use on what machine. If it fits, they stick it in.

[@InfiniteLoop]

I didn't want to damage my Commodores so I removed their boards mounted them on plaques that hang above my desk, printed some parts, and installed Raspberry Pi 4's (when they were affordable) in my VIC and C64, and I made a portable C64 that fits in the pocket of a pair of cargo pants to continue using it as it was (albeit with a USB memory stick instead of a 1541)

[@KylonMiles]

I’ve never seen anything like this!That mac looks cool tho

[@dionelr]

I remember having an Apple 2e when a friend got a C64. That was an impressive machine at the time. And so much software for it. Good times.

[@lemagreengreen]

We had a Commodore 64 until 1994! even had it alongside a 386 PC for a while... and an Amiga. So a few of my younger years were playing on the C64, it was surprisingly long lived in Europe but the Amiga did start to really replace it in those early 90s days.

[@jasm817]

Omg. 😂 The commodore commercial! Love the guitar playing that you added 🤣

[@NiPPonD3nZ0]

Silly? That was EPIC!!!!!! Watch out people... the Commodore is keeping up with YOU!!!!!!

[@IanC14]

That mouse looks so much like the original Amiga mouse. Obviously reused parts.

[@thefakemaker]

i remember attempting a recap of a c64 supply. Hammer and chisel required.

[@Jonoth]

First thing I learned to type is load"*"',8,1 I was 5. Also that monitor is a good tv too!

[@Jonoth]

We also had the wico trackball and they also made regular joysticks! Big enough for the biggest of hands!

[@theandroids6796]

Also, thanks for the video. I am currently in the middle of building my own C64 from new/rescue chips and seeing all of this is only fueling my c64 fire. Thank you!

[@EriolGaurhoth]

I'd really love to see you get Quantum Link Reloaded running on this. It's fun to see things like modern news stories and such on an old teletext-like dialup service.

[@saganandroid4175]

Proper order is always Monitor on FIRST (monitors back than could cause dips and surges that could potentially screw up anything connected to the same AC circuit). When powering down, the monitor is last to be shut off. I forget if the next device on is the C64 or 1541-- but I seem to recall that the drive was turned on next, and the C64 was last to be turned on. The guidelines were in place for a reason, and those who followed those rules never had machines die. Never plug anything into the machine while it is on- not even audio cables- unless you want to risk killing a SID chip. Also, NEVER touch the joyports. EVER. Smart people always left something plugged into them, or put a bit of electrical tape over them. They were conveniently located but also directly exposed the CIA (and other) chips to the outside world-- build up a static charge in the winter and reach to hit the power button and your thumb glances a joyport pin and ZZZAP, static takes out a priceless chip. We have since learned to buffer everything, but back then, sh!t happened.

[@martinnyberg71]

My first computer was a TI-99/4A and how I dreamt of getting those daisy-chain-able peripherals and the external box for expansion cards and all that good stuff. Never even got a game cartridge though. But I did learn to program in BASIC, which of course led me to learn FORTRAN in college. Totally normal coputing! 😂

[@Felice_Enellen]

Dude, that word scramble took me ages. I actually got most of it early on but I'm embarrassed about how long it took for the remaining "mise" to click into the right order.

[@MaximNightFury]

I was born in the time of Pentium 4 and Athlon 64, came of age just before Ryzen 5000... and here I am obsessing over Commodore 64s and 486's as a 20 year old

[@Florin76]

If you want the Ultimate C64 then simply buy the Ultimate64!

[@rager1969]

RotT was my second favorite Doom-like game, my most favorite being Star Wars: Dark Forces.

[@dougjohnson4266]

Be weary of the original mouse with original motherboards, they can have what is called a 'jitter' which causes their input to be unstable. Also on original 64 motherboards, the SID needs to be in 100% working order for the mouse to work. Congrats that yours is doing very well.

[@retrotechinsanity]

Glad you finally joined the C64 club!

[@JackBealeGuitar]

I know your vibe is to modernise these machines, but I reckon a tape drive is a must for the authentic experience

[@delscoville]

The power supply can't be fixed by recapping. It's the regulator that goes out, usually letting up to 12V through instead of the regulated 5V.. Sadly, it's epoxy filled, so getting inside and fixing it isn't really an option. CBM figured the epoxy conducted heat to the outside plastic "heatsick" was enough, but those things always ran too hot on the isside.

[@noemedmedia]

Loved the way you described the wonder of "what came before". Sure, I played a few C64 games in cllassmastes' homes, but my own first computer came after I got a job and it was a P90. What came before has always interested me, - that's why i subscribe to your crazy channel :)