Let's build a new Commodore VIC-20 so we can diagnose and fix another one!(contains flashing images)

We've been sent a VIC-20 but it doesn't work - sounds like an excuse to build a new one to me!
This episode has been sponsored by our good friends at PCBWay.com - Check out their website for all your PCB fabrication needs. pcbway.com - PCBs for as little as $5!
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Check out our website at: theretroshack.uk
References
Vicky-Twenty Board
www.tindie.com/products/bobsb...
The History Of Commodore KERNEL's
www.pagetable.com/?p=926
VIC-20 Diagnostics
portcommodore.com/rcarlsen/cb...
The VIC Chip
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOS_Tec...
VIC-20 Firmware
www.zimmers.net/anonftp/pub/cb...

[@TheRetroShack]

Please be aware that this video contains flashing images at around the 3:40 mark for approximately 5 seconds.

[@giulianomarco]

Don't forget your towel. 😁👍

[@OffGridAussiePrepper]

THIS warning should have been added to the title of the vid, cos no one sees the first comment b4 they play the vid.

[@dj_paultuk7052]

The Vic was my first computer. I remember my late mum actually got a 2nd job to save up enough money to get it for me. Will never forget that. It was an awesome machine. Some of the games were surprisingly good given there was only 3.5k to use.

[@AndronicusKomnenos]

God bless her. My mom got a job working at a pool concession stand all summer to buy me my Vic 20 (first computer) for Christmas.

[@jimcabezola3051]

Good heavens! What makes these VIC-20s such excellent Christmas computers? I seem to also be one of a large number of users who received his VIC-20 from his parents! Still have that 40-year-old machine; I’ll be buried with it!❤

[@erwindewit4073]

@@jimcabezola3051Funny. My parents wouldn’t even have remotely considered giving me a computer. My mother thought I might only play on it, and not with friends. And she was probably right..

[@merman1974]

Loving the Hitch-hiker's reference. It's a nicely designed board and seemed to go together well. My cousin had a VIC-20 for a while, but I didn't get to play on it much. I've been so impressed by the homebrew and modern demos for it though.

[@Monhamd1000]

I'm happy that the Commodore VIC-20 getting the same love as the Commodore 64!

[@joneggelton]

My first computer! I was given a VIC-20 in 1983, just as the UK micro craze was kicking off, and just months before I started secondary school. Of course as it turns out, I was the only one at school with a VIC. It would've gained much more traction in the UK, if it weren't for Sir Clive.

[@richy69ify]

The UK had a lot of choice with a wide price range. People with money would upgrade their Atari VCS with the Atari 400/800 from 1979 on. Apple IIs for rich parents who worked in IT. Dragon 32, Acorn Electron, then BBC A/B were probably more popular than the Vic up until the C64 took over.

[@andrewsimard9753]

That was great! A VIC-20 was the first computer I ever had and I remember those 3,583 bytes very well. It is always fun to see the VIC-20 make a cameo appearance in all of the John Wick movies. Perhaps someone in the art department is also a fan?!

[@erwindewit4073]

My father bought a very early VIC-20 that later spontaneously disappeared.. This was one with a different power connector and PET style flatter keys. I’ve never seen one since.. I was 11 when this entered the house. I loved a bunch of games on it… Jelly Monsters, Apple Panic, Gorf, Sargon II chess, Amok and more. We even had an impossible to comprehend memory expansion. Especially since everything was in English and my native language is Dutch. My comprehension of the English language was fairly limited I suppose.. I didn’t like it’s vanishing act, but the Commodore 64 that replaced it turned out to be pretty cool too😂

[@jkmac625]

My first computer in the early 80's was a VIC-20. I had a few cartridge games for it, the one I remember was called Radar Rat Race. Don't think I had it for long as it was sold to upgrade to a BBC Micro.

[@stevemcknelly5036]

Loved the video and the shoutout to Mr. Adams! Based on the stated purpose, I'm surprised you didn't go with ZIF sockets, like Adrian Black's ZIF64.

[@TheRetroShack]

Good point! Might do that for the MOS chips :)

[@edgeeffect]

Adding sockets to the build bumps the prices up a little bit - but not enough to concern you if you're not making thousands of them.... But putting ZIF sockets all over the board? That would make you wallet cry like a baby. ;)

[@zedlesshorseman]

I thoroughly enjoyed the reference to The Hitchhiker's Guide. Made me smile. Every time I watch one of your build episodes, or an episode of Adrian's Digital Basement, I get this desire to build or get myself an old 8-bit computer like a C-64, but I have two major problems. 1) I have never assembled one of these machines before, so I'm freaked out by the prospect of having to do all that soldering myself; and 2) Other than the nostalga value, I have no real function or purpose for one of those older 8-bit machines. I probably would obtain/build one, and then it would sit in the corner and collect dust because I wouldn't know the first thing about where to get software for it to make it useful for me. So, instead, I shall live vicariously through your channel. I really enjoyed today's build!

[@djwilduk]

Excellent video as usual. Learnt a lot about the VIC.

[@robertbrown3121]

Very clear & concise as always. I used to spend hours playing Cosmiads on the Vic 20 😊 I so miss those days 😢

[@robertbruce7686]

Next up....we build the DEEP THOUGHT computer FROM SCRATCH 😂. Just a gentle dig...excellent video! I have a guilty secret. Somewhere in my electronic vault have a VIC20 in need of TLC ....

[@keyboard_g]

The Penultimate cart for the Vic is a must. It has configurable memory expansion up to 32Kb and loads of games and test software built in.

[@Savagetechie]

A bit of a luxury but useful for some builds: you can get electronics mounting pliers which are designed to put a little wave in the component legs, they are used a lot for components with higher heat dissipation but I can also give you a bit of wiggle room (it does lift to component off the PCB which is very useful for resisters running close to their limit. )

[@TheRetroShack]

Good to know - thanks!

[@matthewsmith4574]

I recently built my Vicky Twenty after having it all sitting there for well over a year! Like you I was very "neat" with my alignments 😁 I have a spare very yellow case which I'm going to paint electric blue ahla Noel's Retro Lab very soon. The Vic was also my first machine so great memories for me. I'd recommend the Penultimate cart from the TFW8B for additional ram and built-in games 👍

[@twentysixhundred7813]

What a surprise but not really a surprise seeing you here lol. Used to seeing that avatar on the forums. Would love to build one myself but in c64 form. Anyway happy tinkering mate 😀

[@ImaginationToForm]

Haha, Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy reference.

[@lmello009]

9:10 EMI shielding plate.

[@TheRetroShack]

Will be fitted :) Along with the metal shroud around the cartridge port :)

[@BarnokRetro]

Very nice video! I actually built one of these. I used the basement kit like you did, and initially I used a non-working vic for the custom chips. In the end I sourced modern CIAs, a modern 65c02 adapter and chip, and used rom boards to put in newer rom chips. Finally, I had enough parts around to build it a Mechboard64. The only original Commodore parts are the actual vic, the case and the keycaps. I have since reapaired the donor board, and maybe one day there will be a vic replacement out there to make it complete.

[@AndronicusKomnenos]

That board looks amazing.

[@stephenwalters9891]

I am surprised that you didn't install ZIF sockets in all the chip sockets that you might want replace.

[@TheRetroShack]

Not as surprised as I was when it was first mentioned :) D'oh! Rectified for the next video! :)

[@stephenwalters9891]

@@TheRetroShack You might want to find some low profile zif sockets, especially if you are going to add heatsinks. Apparently, someone did a replacement BASIC and Kernal roms that make the VIC a very different machine, and I don't mean jiffydos, either.

[@lorensims4846]

I considered the VIC-20 back in the day when I was first looking for a 'real' computer, mostly because of its low price. But I found it to be far too limited for my purposes and plans. I finally settled on the Atari 800 and have never looked back.

[@maltronik]

Nice build..👍🏻

[@Colin_Ames]

Great video, as always.

[@richretrotech9426]

Cracking build.

[@thegreatjonzini]

Excellent stuff! What was the total build cost?

[@paulstubbs7678]

I had a VIC-20 in the day, but kind of hated it as 22 characters per line was such a drop from a proper 80 char line on pro gear I had at work. I also has a TRS-80 that had 64 chars by 16 lines, so the VIC-20 was kind of a back step for me. Yes it had colour, but the amount of crud and noise that permeated through the picture, even after I went to a direct composite video link, rather than RF, really irked me.

[@rafaelmmartinez9170]

What size is the scree that goes on those Voltage regulators?

[@skeezixcodejedi]

Omega Race cart for the Vic was top notch! Far better than the C64 port.

[@samcadwallader2899]

As soon as I hear the intro music I know I'm in for the best retro tech videos on KZbin. A class act as always. Entertaining, informative and buttery 120 fps+ style smooth. 😎

[@stephenpalmer9375]

Finally a project I have already done :) It's probably the easiest project like this you can do. The board is lovely, and mine worked first time :) I have one of Bob's CPC464 boards to try next

[@stephenpalmer9375]

also - just get yourself a Penultimate Cart from The Future Was 8 Bit.. it not only has all the good games from the past, but a couple of modern corkers. Oh and some atari paddles, as there are some games that use that - but they are addressed by the computer a little differently than normal joysticks

[@Rydbjerg]

1:14 How do I get hold of this fine print?

[@mustangj0hn]

Try playing "Hellgate" by the legend that is Jeff Minter. The sound was amazing got the time.

[@TrashfordKent]

very neat, perhaps try wunda walter :)

[@cdl0]

Only nut will bolt down the voltage regulator @6:50.

[@leeharveydarke]

Vic mich!

[@CheshireNoir]

Does this board have the Chroma / Luma lines routed to the video connector? It's a common mod on "real" VICs. By default they didn't.

[@tenminutetokyo2643]

I just finished building mine. Took over a year. I am about to throw the power switch but am afraid to. You can also get 2 brand new 6522 replacements made by WDC on Mouser for $10 each. WDC part #W65C22N6TPG-14

[@ChrisShadowens]

This is really cool! Costwise, how does this compare to a working original VIC 20? Also, was that a donor case or a repro?

[@matthewsmith4574]

These recreations tend to be on the more expensive side compared to buying one in most cases depending on whether you have some existing parts etc. I only built my Vicky as I was more interested in soldering/building one as it was an enjoyable experience. Saying that I have 2 originals as well 😁

[@chrisrobson8540]

lucky for me i now have the radar rat race tune rattling round my brain.......thanks nostalgia!!!🤣🤣.......apart from that - great build👍👍

[@adilsongoliveira]

Man, I would *love* to be able to build something like that just for the sheer fun of it but to do that on my country is almost impossible due to the cost and difficult to find the components as those computers were never sold here.

[@IanM1]

Nice build, slight point of order, the Apple Mac was 68000 based, not 6502, I think you are thinking of the apple I / II in your vid

[@dennisp.2147]

You weren't paying attention. He never said the Macintosh used the 6502. He said it used the 6522. Which it did indeed for the keyboard and clock on the 128 and 512K models.

[@IanM1]

@@dennisp.2147 yup, hands up on that one 😃

[@cchimozmin]

we spent hours on Blitz

[@bufordmaddogtannen]

My first computer, as according to a friend of my father, a C64 would have been too advanced and complicated for me. When I did finally get a C64 I was happily coding in assembly while my father's friend was still drawing hunting scenes in a cave... 🙄 Nice build. Are you going to add the beefy metal shield for the cartridge slot?

[@TheRetroShack]

Yep, just need to find one somewhere :)

[@bufordmaddogtannen]

@@TheRetroShack I have heard somewhere that PCB Way can do metal fabrications... 😂 🤣

[@talideon]

I wonder if anyone has worked on VIC replacements yet? Nice build!

[@dennisp.2147]

I've heard of several efforts by folks over the years to create an FPGA replacement. But to my knowledge there's nothing out there yet.

[@jinxterx]

The intro music is significantly louder than the rest of the audio in the video! 🙉😅

[@TheRetroShack]

Sorry about that - not sure how that slipped through :(

[@FatNorthernBigot]

All those resistors, caps and chips... I do not agree with Baldrick. "We are not at home to Mr Cock-up". We most definitely are.

[@1337Shockwav3]

No added S-Video output? That's harsh

[@tenminutetokyo2643]

Where did you find the brand new VIC-20 case?

[@TheRetroShack]

It’s not a new case unfortunately :( I grabbed it off EBay :)

[@matthewsmith4574]

EBay Germany often have VC-20 cases. I got one shipped to Australia a while ago.

[@ahmad-murery]

Nice video as usual, I think this machine would love to run some program so why not making it happy, My fun fact: if it worked the first time, most probably I did something wrong 😁 Thanks

[@MeinElektronikHobby]

... schöne Information zu dem "neuen" VIC20 -hier in Deutschland ist der Name aus bestimmten Gründen geändert in VC 20 - nice information about the "new" VIC20 - here in Germany the name has been changed to VC 20 for certain reasons

[@Zarkovision]

Other marketing departments made then from "VC" the "Volkscomputer", which sounded good, like Volkswagen, Volksempfänger...

[@MeinElektronikHobby]

@@Zarkovision Haha, that's the official explanation of the VC name. But if you read the name as V-I-C (Fick), it sounds like "Fuck" in German. I believe this explanation is closer to the truth.

[@Zarkovision]

@@MeinElektronikHobby Both. The name "VC 20" came from Commodore Frankfurt. But "Volkscomputer" came from Quelle, a big reseller in Germany.

[@MeinElektronikHobby]

@@Zarkovision I know "Quelle" and have been living in Germany for 75 (!) years, apart from a 20-year stay in Finland.

[@666Astrosmurf]

Check out the PWP stuff =)

[@baroncalamityplus]

Ah, my first computer. I keep thinking I want to build one like this but I know that isn't something I'm really good at.

[@3dhYT]

👍👌

[@Rob_III]

Maybe next time put up a warning / heads-up before subjecting viewers to flashing imagery like at @3:43.

[@TheRetroShack]

Good point - I’ll make sure to do that in future and I’ll pin a comment as well.

[@mryon314159]

Argh...I think my previous comment got deleted, anyway... The Penultiamte+ cart from The Future Was 8-Bit is a must have for a Vic-20.

[@terosaarela4555]

Seconding the Penultimate+ cart. That and an SD2IEC is all you need for the Vic-20.

[@1337Shockwav3]

The renaming in Germany was extremely unlucky tho. Exchange the potentially rude word for a semiterm made popular by Nazis (Volks... = the people's ..., first used with Volkswagen).

[@headpox5817]

"Contains flashing images" - I thought flashing ROM images.....

[@edgeeffect]

Just looked up the German rude words.... hur hur hur!

[@chrisdixon5241]

Interesting to see that the CPU of the PAL version of a VIC 20 ran slightly faster as compared to the C64 where the PAL CPU is clocked slower! I wonder why that would be the case since it's quite common for the PAL version of any machine to be slower due to the difference in voltage between Europe and America?

[@paulb4uk]

Nice build not a machine i have ever owned .

[@P5ychoFox]

Elon Musk’s first computer.

[@OffGridAussiePrepper]

How the hell is everyone going to get their hands on these chips??? once this gets popular then there will be no chips left and sellers will price gouge..... and how much are people stupid enough to pay $1000 bucks for a vic20?? lets be realistic... this hobby is way to expensive and even though i yern to own a C64 again, it will never happen cos of the rising cost cos of greedy sellers. In Au with less population means there is no abundance of stuff like the US and Europe.... so now add the extortion delivery price..... its too dam ridiculous.

[@dennisp.2147]

It's a little late to express concern about this... Retrocomputing hit the mainstream more than ten years ago. That being said, It's not really an issue with the VIC20. There are new versions currently being manufactured of both the 6522 and the 6502. The VIC doesn't have a PLA like the C64. The ROMS can be replaced by current units, appropriately modified. The only real tough chip to replace is the VIC, which several folks are currently working on replacing with a programmable solution.

[@BarnokRetro]

Yeah, I spent more than is practical. But the only original Commodore chip in my VickyTwenty is the Vic chip itself, and when there is a modern alternative that Vic chip will go back to the freshly repaired and recapped board. The only other oem parts are the keycaps and case. The case is going to be a modded new 64c case and I will likely change the keycaps out as well, once reasonable alternatives are available. In the end that oem Vic-20 will be on display above the net new VickyTwenty which sits next to the SixtyClone which only has the CIAs and keycaps as oem parts. So, when reasonable replacements are available for those no Commodore computers will have been harmed. 😁