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Archive for the ‘C64 Modding’ Category

Customize the keyboard of the Commodore 64

September 30th, 2012 No comments

I have customized the keyboard of my C64 with my alias. I have used some keys of a broken C16.

Retro Innovations ROM-el Atmel 49F001AN Adapter

May 7th, 2011 5 comments

Retro Innovations ROM-el:

To program the ROM-el chip by Retro Innovations you need a Adapter. The ROM-el chip uses a Atmel flashrom AT49F001AN (128K x 8) and we must build an adapter that converts the pins of the 2364 PROM Commodore 64 Kernel, which is used in ROM-el chip, to the original state of the chip AT49F001.

After this work, you can use the Willem programmer to program the FlashROM with one or more C64 kernel.

Nano SwinSID Prototype: Unboxing and first Impressions

April 5th, 2011 2 comments
Nano SwinSID prototype (component side)

Nano SwinSID Prototype by x1541:

This project is based on the microcontroller ATMEGA88PU from Atmel and the emulation code is written by Swinkels.

The prototype of Nano SwindSID is a scaled down version of the Micro SwinSID, so far so good, and here’s my initial impression.

x1541, a user of the forum64.de has made a very nice work, the pcb has the same size of the original SID chip (6581/8580), the components are arranged very well and the entire space of the pcb was used. I can just say to buy it when the Nano SwinSID kit will be available, your money will be spent well.

Nano SwinSID Features:

  • ISP Connector.
  • Same size as the original SID.
  • 6581/8580 Jumper.
  • Smd ATmega.

source: forum64.de

Commodore 64 IRQ Bicolor LED

March 4th, 2011 4 comments

This is a very old project published in a Dutch magazine to capture the state of the IRQ for Commodore 64 (vic-20) with a LED. After many years i have decided to make it.

On the photo you can see the project and the right connections on the cartridge port.

Components:

  • 1 x IC 74LS04.
  • 1 x Bicolor LED.
  • 2 x 330 ohm resistors.
  • Tiny wires.

How it work?

When the CPU generates an IRQ the green LED lights up, otherwise is red, if the irq is turned on and off quickly the led is orange.

 

Commodore 64 The Final Enhancement

December 16th, 2010 5 comments

Finally i had time to finish the enhancements of my Commodore 64, below a brief description of what you see in the photos.

Enhancements description:

  • 1541-III bulk version.
  • Reset Switch.
  • Multi Kernel with Atmel flash rom.
  • Multi Kernel Switch.
  • Eprom homebrew PLA.
  • Cartridge ON/OFF Switch.
  • DualSID with separate output (6581 / 8580)
  • 2 x Fan Cooling.
  • Fan Cooling Switch.
  • Bright Blu Power LED.
  • 1541 Ultimate REV1 with v2.0 Firmware.

DualSID by Tomi Malinen Assembling and Testing

November 28th, 2010 3 comments

DualSID Assembling and Testing

DualSID KIT by Tomi Malinen:

DualSID is a device which allows you to plug in two different SID models to your Commodore 64.

You can set the second SID‘s address to five different memory locations. For more information and price visit the Tomi Malinen homepage

Download: DualSID V3 PCB Scan (458)

Sound comparison: Micro SwinSID vs SID 8580

November 9th, 2010 No comments

These are some Sid examples which i have recorded from a Commodore 64 with the SwinSID installed. You can Download the original Sid track in .sid file format and the SwinSID in .ogg file format (High Quality), so you can compare the musics.

  • The Alibi by Thomas E. Petersen (Laxity) 1989 Maniacs of Noise- SID (6581)
  • The Alibi by Thomas E. Petersen (Laxity) 1989 Maniacs of Noise- SWINSID
  • Albino Human by Alexander Rotzsch (Fanta) 2006 Fanta – SID (8580)
  • Albino Human by Alexander Rotzsch (Fanta) 2006 Fanta – SWINSID

Some Sid tracks play perfectly others need some emulation fixes.

Micro SwinSID KIT – Assembling and Testing

November 8th, 2010 No comments
Testing Micro SwinSID

Micro SwinSID KIT by Peter Sieg:

Certainly you can’t expect perfect emulation, but we are very close, the audio is much more clean than the original SID chip, if the project continues on this road we will arrive very soon on the perfect emulation.

Micro SwinSID (SwinSID88) is a hardware replacement for legendary SID sound chip which was placed in every Commodore C64 computer.

This project is based on the microcontroller ATMEGA88PU from Atmel and the emulation code is written by Swinkels. The first version of the pcb (prototype) was made by Crisp.

For more information and price visit the forum64.de.

Aoyue 474A+ Desolder and Test – C64 Motherboard

October 20th, 2010 2 comments

I wanted to try my new desoldering station Aoyue 474A+ with the motherboard of the Commodore 64, i have unsoldered all chip and i have added a socket. It works so good and is so fast.

New Dual Sid project by Tomi Malinen *updated*

September 30th, 2010 2 comments

from C64scene homepage:

Tomi Malinen is currently developing a dual SID board, although there are other solutions available for your C64 this one is interesting because of the ability to use either 6581 or 8580 as SID #2 no matter the board revision.

This means that you can play games with 6581 sound from the first channel and 8580 sound from the second.

Other features of the dual SID board are:

  • Small board, only about 40mm x 50mm.
  • SID #2 address jumper selectable between D400, D420, D500, DE00, DF00.
  • MSSIAH-compatibility at DE00.
  • Full game compatibility with double mono setting at D400.

Installation requires soldering, two wires attach to the cartridge port and two have to be soldered to the Kernal IC. When the SID #2 is mapped to D400, D420, D500 the wires to the cartridge port are not used.

Photo of both protypes installed:

source: c64scene.com lemon64.com

Xad’s 6581<>8580 Switcher. PCB and HOT Swap made by Arkanoid

December 3rd, 2009 No comments

I’m the creator of the SID 6581<>8580 Switcher (here the original project).

I’m Very happy to see my project on the net. Arkanoid (a user of Lemon64 Forum) has done a very nice PCB with some fixes. Very nice job.

This is not a SId2Sid Clone.

source: lemon64.com

Xilinx CPLD XC9536 replacement PLA for Commodore 64

November 18th, 2009 17 comments
Replacement PLA for Commodore 64

Autopsy:

The PLA chip (906114-01) used in the Commodore C64 is a generic 82S100 gate array with custom programming.

Its logic functions were dumped and reverse engineered by the community and are available from a variety of sources. This PLA uses the Xilinx CPLD XC9536 to emulate perfectly the PLA of the Commodore 64.

Download: Xilinx CPLD XC9536 JED C64 PLA + Eagle (2148)

source: zonadepruebas.com

Commodore SX 64 with some Fix/Enhancement

February 15th, 2009 29 comments
SX64

Autopsy:

Description:

  • Country: USA
  • Most Common: USA/Europe
  • Rarity: Very rare
  • Year: 1983
  • Price: $995

Fix/Enhancement:

  • Added a Fan.
  • ASSY fix from Commodore.
  • I/O Fastloader fix.
  • Userport GND  fix.
  • Jiffy Kernel (C64/1541).

from Wikipedia:

The Commodore SX-64, also known as the Executive 64, or VIP-64 in Europe, was a portable, briefcase/suitcase-size “luggable” version of the popular Commodore 64 home computer and holds the distinction of being the first full-color portable computer.

The SX-64 featured a built-in five-inch composite monitor and a built-in 1541 floppy drive. It weighed 23 lb (10.5 kg). The machine was carried by its sturdy handle, which doubled as an adjustable stand. It was announced in January 1983 and released a year later, at $995.

source: Wikipedia Oldcomputers

Sid Switcher (6581 <-> 8580)

November 15th, 2008 No comments

This is a project for switch from SID 6581 to SID 8580 and vice versa. This is not a SId2Sid Clone. This is a Switcher ;-D

source: 6581-Wiki

xAD’s Commodore 64 Modding

September 23rd, 2008 2 comments

This is my latest Commodore 64 Modding

Stay on Photo for a short description.