Getting a C64 up and running?

[runequester]

so tempted to hunt down a C64 to mess with.

The biggest question I have is... what options are there for getting a downloaded C64 disk image unto an actual disk or otherwise playing on the 64 ?

How much should I expect to pay for a PAL model these days ?

Ditto for disk drives

Anything to watch out for, or be concerned about?

[tone007]

Jim Brain's uIEC is probably the best bang for your buck, plenty of games can be run directly from D64 and there are utilities to get D64s of the tougher games back onto floppy. http://www.jbrain.net/products/uIEC%7B47%7DSD.html.  There is also the 1541 Ultimate available (hard to get but is something like 100% 1541 compatible) and the Chameleon is supposed to be out soon, but both of those options are quite a bit pricier than the uIEC.

Biggest cost of getting a PAL C64 will most likely be the shipping, there aren't too many up for grabs in the US so you'll probably end up having to import one yourself. The differences in compatibility on the C64 PAL and NTSC versions aren't nearly as much of an issue as they are on Amigas, the only thing I've run into issues with on NTSC units are demos to work only on PAL machines.  Games are much more forgiving.

Either way, 8 bit stuff is way cheaper to get than Amiga stuff, if you stay domestic you can definitely get a whole setup for less than $100.  The biggest thing you'll want to look out for is if you're buying on eBay, make sure everything is tested and working.  There are a lot of dead C64s and drives around.

edit: Regarding importing a PAL C64, you could probably save some shipping if you find someone just selling the board and swap it into a locally-sourced case.

[Darrin]

I'm waiting on the Chameleon.  It seems to be a stand alone expanded C64 in an FPGA and I'm hoping that by plugging it into a "real" C64 or C128 it means that you can use the keyboard and ports.

[save2600]

Only thing I'd add is that the first thing you'll want to do with your C64 (go for it, the C64 rocks!) is to purchase a JiffyDOS chip to go along with the uIEC or a real disk drive. It speeds up the disk loading process big time and makes use of the function buttons as DOS hotkeys. IF you get a real 1541 drive, you might want to get the JiffyDOS chips for that too, but inside the CPU is a must IMO!

[recidivist]

C64 should be very reasonable;the shipping is likely to be more than the 64 set.

I would suggest getting a 64C just because the case is nicer and a 1541-II disk drive ,JiffyDos chips are a big plus if installed.Jim Brain's uIEC  board and or the xe1541 device that allows  direct cable connection to a PC for file transfer would be good add-ons.

[recidivist]

In order to get the disk speedup JiffyDos must be installed in both the C64 and the disk drive.

I have JiffyDos in  a couple C= computers  here including a SX-64.Now that was half a day of careful work but the installation of JiffyDos and  also drive number select switches made the SX-64 even better than original.

I only commodore had made a deal with CMD and incorporated Jiffydos into production units 8-bit C=  would have persisted longer and in larger numbers.The slow disk drive was(is) the biggest problem with the C64 in its day.

[runequester]

Thats good advice. Was not familiar with the jiffydos chip.

So the uIEC that was linked, how does that work exactly?

I load disk images unto an SD card and....then what happens?


Thanks guys and sorry for the stupid questions

[TheGoose]

I recently got a C64 and Jim Brain's uIEC, works very well. I do need to get that Jiffy DOS now I have gone this far ...

[save2600]

Thats good advice. Was not familiar with the jiffydos chip.

So the uIEC that was linked, how does that work exactly?

I load disk images unto an SD card and....then what happens?

You load an SD Card up with some disk images or files, insert card into the uIEC and learn how to use JiffyDOS or C= DOS commands and that's it!

[redrumloa]

C64 should be very reasonable;the shipping is likely to be more than the 64 set.

I would suggest getting a 64C just because the case is nicer and a 1541-II disk drive ,JiffyDos chips are a big plus if installed.Jim Brain's uIEC  board and or the xe1541 device that allows  direct cable connection to a PC for file transfer would be good add-ons.

Only problem with the 64c is has 8580 SID chip instead of 6581. Small differences between the 2 sound chips, but the 8580 is lacking in some areas...

[redrumloa]

Thats good advice. Was not familiar with the jiffydos chip.

So the uIEC that was linked, how does that work exactly?

I load disk images unto an SD card and....then what happens?


Thanks guys and sorry for the stupid questions

From the C64 the uIEC looks like a floppy drive with a ton of storage. You load PRG files normally through LOAD or JiffDOS commands. To use a disk image, it is a bit more complicated without JIffyDOS having to use OPEN command. With JiffyDOS you just use @CD:GAME.D64 to switch to that disk image. It sees disk images as a directory. Once you switch into the disk image, load like you normally would.

[redrumloa]

Speaking of C64 and uIEC, a bounty to add Geos support to the uIEC(sd2iec firmware) has been assigned and is currently beind developed.

http://commodorebounty.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=53

The uIEC is an absolutely amazing device and dirt cheap by retro standards. You plug it in, learn a couple simple concepts and you are off and using it with no headaches.

[runequester]

very cool stuff

Thanks!

[TjLaZer]

very cool stuff

Thanks!

I have a mint boxed c64 for sale.  Just up north a bit. $50

[Jope]

The 1541 Ultimate II is the best your money can buy. None of the others come close in compatibility. Think trackloaders and disk turbos. Not all games / demos are single file.

When the Chameleon is released, it will be as compatible.