The most common cause of a black screen on the old Commodore 64 long boards (link) is a broken Programmed Logic Array (PLA) chip located at position U17. Based on different input signals, the PLA creates chip select signals and controls which chip is to … Read more
A year has passed since Mod of the Year 2015 was presented on these pages (link). That mod was based on a very discolored breadbox case which was spray-painted. It also had heaps of holes to accommodate potentiometers and plugs for the audio signals. As this years mod, Mod … Read more
Primarily for nostalgic reasons, I still keep a few 5.25″ floopies in my collection. However, there are so many other ways to handle Commodore 64 programs and games than having to fiddle around with old diskettes. One of these devices is the SD2IEC which I have described … Read more
The idea of gutting an original Commodore 64 and replacing the motherboard with a Raspberry Pi is far from new. In fact, I have already done it using an old breadbox case (link). However, during the modding process of that machine the case was completely … Read more
The semi analog SID chip (Sound Interface Device) is an electronic music synthesizer and its distinctive sounds are easily recognized by any Commodore 64 owner. Back in the days, most SID tunes ended up in games or demos to basically support the graphics on the … Read more
Removing the internals of an original Commodore 64 and replacing it with more modern hardware is not new. I have previously done it using an old breadbox style case and a Raspberry Pi. However, as evident from the mod (link), the entire backside of the case was molested, making it impossible … Read more
The video signals coming from the Commodore 64 may be challenged by numerous factors including the version of VIC-II graphics chip being used and the applied display technology (e.g. LCD, LED, Plasma or CRT). The problems are easily recognized in the form of vertical lines (banding … Read more
During the light hours of the day, the machine looks just like any other Commodore 64 in a transparent Kickstarter case…. However, when entering the dark hours of the night, the case is transformed into an inferno of light – a dashing flashing Commodore 64!!! … Read more