Commodore News Page - News: Hardware

New C64c cases

The new Commodore C64 cases are now available. The package consists of a C64c case, logo, set of screws, rubber feet and a Commodore cardboard box. The available colours are breadbin grey, classic beige, SX-64 style and retro black.

2017-09-08 - 13:12:00 - Week: 36 - Item number: 5694 - Category: C64, Hardware

Bart Venneker - C64 cartridge (Dutch)

Bart Venneker has made a video about building a cartridge for the Commodore C64. This time he shows how make the case and put a program inside the cartridge.

2017-09-08 - 13:02:00 - Week: 36 - Item number: 5684 - Category: C64, Hardware

FlashFloppy v0.6a - Gotek

Keir Fraser developed new firmware for the Gotek hardware. This firmware is open source and is an alternative for the HcX firmware. With a Gotek you can replace your floppy disk drive in your Amiga with an USB drive. Changes in this version: Improvements for PC Floppy Interface and the OLED screen.

2017-09-01 - 13:13:00 - Week: 35 - Item number: 5681 - Category: Amiga, Hardware

ADF-Copy

ADF-Copy is a small device with a Teensy 3.2. This device connects to USB and a 3,5" PC floppy drive. This device makes it possible to read and write ADF's from or to a real Amiga diskette.

2017-08-25 - 13:12:00 - Week: 34 - Item number: 5666 - Category: Amiga, Hardware

FM-YAM - C64

FM-YAM is a new Sound Expander compatible cartridge for the Commodore C64. Features: YM3812 (or YM3526), Audio-in (mini-jack, FM / Audio-in mix-out (mini-jack) and a 3D printed black case.

2017-08-25 - 13:11:00 - Week: 34 - Item number: 5665 - Category: C64, Hardware

Bart Venneker - C64 cartridge (Dutch)

Bart Venneker has made a video about building a cartridge for the Commodore C64. He shows how to design the circuit board and adds an extra connector for an Arduino.

2017-08-25 - 13:09:00 - Week: 34 - Item number: 5663 - Category: C64, Hardware

MNT VA2000 - Firmware v1.7

Lukas F. Hartmann is developing a graphics card for the Amiga 2000. He build an adaptor card with a FPGA that fits into a Zorro II slot. Changes in this version: It is now possible to boot from the SD card.

2017-08-25 - 13:06:00 - Week: 34 - Item number: 5660 - Category: Amiga, Hardware

C64Net Wi-Fi Card

With the C64Net Wi-Fi Card you can connect your Commodore C64, VIC20 or C128 to Wi-Fi. Features: Wi-Fi 802.11bgn, 300 - 9600 Baud, User port, AT-Hayes, support for FTP, IRC, WGET, TELNET, CBMTERM, CONFIGURE, TELNETD64, WEATHER64 and Q-Link!

2017-08-25 - 13:03:00 - Week: 34 - Item number: 5657 - Category: C64, Hardware

Bart Venneker - EEPROM programmer (Dutch)

Bart Venneker has made a video about building an EEPROM programmer with an Arduino Mega. With this programmer he makes cartridges for the Commodore C64.

2017-08-18 - 13:16:00 - Week: 33 - Item number: 5652 - Category: Commodore, Hardware

Amiga Scene is a Dutch webpage for Amiga users with news, a forum, picture gallery, technical articles, magazines, events-calendar and music.

Mega65

Paul Gardner-Stephen is working on a FPGA version of the Commodore C65. His goal is to make an 8-bit computer for the 21st century. Most recent updates: On-screen keyboard display, Fast boot kickstart and ROMs, 1080p 50Hz, Hypervisor boot display and utility menu.

2017-08-18 - 13:12:00 - Week: 33 - Item number: 5648 - Category: Commodore, Hardware

C16 & Plus 4 - 8501 to 6510 CPU conversion

Andy has replaced the 8501 processor in the Commodore 16 and Plus/4 computers to a 6510 CPU, as fitted to the Commodore 64. The conversion is made possible with a small circuit board and a modified Kernal ROM. Conversion kits will be soon available.

2017-08-18 - 13:10:00 - Week: 33 - Item number: 5646 - Category: C16, C116, Plus/4, Hardware

Jan Beta - C64 power supply

Jan Beta made a video about building a power supply for the Commodore C64. He uses a transformer for the 9 VAC and a standard power block for the 5 VDC.

2017-08-11 - 13:11:00 - Week: 32 - Item number: 5631 - Category: C64, Hardware

Jakadapter - Firmware v1.3

With the Jakadapter you can connect two Atari-style joysticks to USB. The changes in the new firmware are: An update for the paddle readout algorithm, now with more filtering and accuracy. It works very stable also with worn paddles.

2017-08-11 - 13:09:00 - Week: 32 - Item number: 5629 - Category: Commodore, Hardware

Vampire V4

The Apollo Team has announced the Vampire V4. The features are: Amiga 1000, 500, 2000, CDTV, 600 and 1200, Standalone system, 68080 CPU core, SAGA, 512MB DDR3, FastIDE, Digital Video 720p@60Hz, Dual Kickstart-Flashrom and MicroSD storage.

2017-08-04 - 13:14:00 - Week: 31 - Item number: 5619 - Category: Amiga, Hardware

PET 2001 clone

Glen Kleinschmidt is working on a clone of a CBM PET-2001. The specifications are: 32 KiB RAM, BASIC#2, WDC65C02N (CPU), WDC65C21N (PIA) and a WDC65C22N (VIA).

2017-07-28 - 13:18:00 - Week: 30 - Item number: 5603 - Category: KIM-1, PET, CBM, Hardware

Arduino Amiga diskette reader

Robert Smith wanted to read his old diskettes from his Amiga 500+. His Amiga did not work anymore so he decided to find another solution. He made a system with an PC disk drive and a Arduino to read his old Amiga diskettes.

2017-07-28 - 13:14:00 - Week: 30 - Item number: 5599 - Category: Amiga, Hardware

FlashFloppy - Gotek

Keir Fraser developed new firmware for the Gotek hardware. This firmware is open source and an alternative for the HcX firmware. With a Gotek you can replace your floppy disk drive in your Amiga with an USB drive.

2017-07-28 - 13:12:00 - Week: 30 - Item number: 5597 - Category: Amiga, Hardware

Jan Beta - NOS C64 PCB

Jan Beta made a video about a unused (NOS) printed circuit board for the Commodore C64.

2017-07-28 - 13:11:00 - Week: 30 - Item number: 5596 - Category: C64, Hardware

On this site you will find software for the AROS - Amiga Research Operating System. Feel free to post your application on The AROS Archives or browse the site for a specific application.

Versa64Cart

Bwack is testing his new Versa64Cart. The Versa64cart is a printed circuit board for a 27512 EPROM with many configuration options.

2017-07-28 - 13:04:00 - Week: 30 - Item number: 5589 - Category: C64, Hardware

Retrohax - RGB2S/C

On the Retrohax web page you can see how to build an RGB to S-video / Composite converter for your Amiga, Atari ST or Amstrad computer. The converter is based on the AD724 chip. You can also buy the finished product from Retrohax.

2017-07-28 - 13:03:00 - Week: 30 - Item number: 5588 - Category: Commodore, Hardware

A600/1200 USB keyboard

Tynemouth Software has made an adapter to connect an Amiga 600/1200 keyboard to USB. The set also includes a cable for the LEDs and an USB cable.

2017-07-28 - 13:02:00 - Week: 30 - Item number: 5587 - Category: Amiga, Hardware

The Ultimate-64

Gideon Zweijtzer announced the Ultimate-64. This circuit board will replace the original circuit board in the Commodore C64. Features: FPGA SID / real SID, HDMI PAL/NTSC, cartridge, tape, user, serial, video and joystick ports. The price will be around 200 Euro.

2017-07-21 - 13:09:00 - Week: 29 - Item number: 5584 - Category: C64, Hardware

Multi-EditorROM - CBM/PET

Steve Gray started a new project for the CBM/PET computers. The Multi-EditorROM is a adapter board that allow you to select any one of 16 different 4K Editor ROMs on a Commodore PET/CBM machine. The Editor ROM is responsible for all screen, keyboard, clock and IRQ processing on BASIC4 PET/CBM computers.

2017-07-14 - 13:10:00 - Week: 27 - Item number: 5574 - Category: KIM-1, PET, CBM, Hardware

A-EON Amiga X5000

Jeremy Reimer wrote a blog about the Amiga X5000 from A-EON. The Amiga X5000 is powered by a custom PowerPC motherboard with a dual-core Freescale CPU @ 2.5GHz. The system can run AmigaOS, MorphOS or Linux.

2017-07-14 - 13:08:00 - Week: 27 - Item number: 5572 - Category: Amiga, Hardware

Ultimate1541 Sid Remote v1.1

With Ultimate1541 Sid Remote you can send SID music to the Commodore C64 from a PC. The program is developed by L.A.Style and tested by hedning.

2017-07-14 - 13:07:00 - Week: 27 - Item number: 5571 - Category: C64, Hardware

Amiga 1012

S Gust designed a new front for the Commodore Amiga A1011 floppy drive. It allows you to mount 2 slim line floppy drives like the NEC FD 3238T or TEAC FD005 inside a A1011 case.

More information about the necessary electronics.

2017-07-14 - 13:06:00 - Week: 27 - Item number: 5570 - Category: Amiga, Hardware

SuperCPU - VIC20

Kakemoms is working on a SuperCPU for the Commodore VIC20. The features are: 22MHz, 65C02 core, 1MByte RAM, USB, SD-card and VGA. At the moment the PCB layout is almost finished.

2017-07-14 - 13:03:00 - Week: 27 - Item number: 5567 - Category: VIC-20, Hardware

On this page you can find news items that are related to Commodore. Every week there are new news items. The items can also be viewed by category and there is a search function available.

Jan Beta - Retrobright A1200

Jan Beta has made a video about using Retrobright on an Amiga 1200.

2017-07-14 - 13:01:00 - Week: 27 - Item number: 5565 - Category: Amiga, Hardware

SD-BOX v1.19

The SD-BOX is a cartridge with an SD card interface for the Commodore C64. The cartridge has many functions for the disk drive and the Datassette. Recent updates: Improvements for the SD2IEC (fast read during disk copy), auto-swap, disk drive, manual and the SID Player.

2017-07-07 - 13:09:00 - Week: 27 - Item number: 5563 - Category: C64, Hardware

Clockport Expander Rev. C

Matthias Münch released the Clockport Expander Rev. C for the Amiga 1200. This version makes it possible to use the Clockport Expander with the Indivision AGA Mk 2cr.

2017-06-30 - 13:11:00 - Week: 26 - Item number: 5552 - Category: Amiga, Hardware

The 8-Bit Guy - VIC-20 cartridges

The 8-Bit Guy made a video about using a Penultimate, Pentagorat and a Planet X1 cartridge with the Commodore VIC-20.

2017-06-23 - 13:08:00 - Week: 25 - Item number: 5539 - Category: VIC-20, Hardware

Wicher 500i

The Wicher 500i turbo card has been designed for installation inside Amiga the A500 / A500+ computer. Features: 68000/68010 CPU, 50 MHz, 8 MB Fast RAM (SIMM72), IDE controller and SPI controller.

Another new project is a CD32 Expansion Slot.

2017-06-16 - 13:14:00 - Week: 24 - Item number: 5530 - Category: Amiga, Hardware

C128 WiFi modem

Pyrofer made a WiFi modem for the Commodore C128. The WiFi modem is installed on the motherboard and it works together with the Desterm software.

2017-06-16 - 13:11:00 - Week: 24 - Item number: 5527 - Category: C128(D), Hardware

SmallyMouse2

SmallyMouse2 is a universal USB to quadrature mouse adapter for many 8-bit and 16-bit retro computers and allows the use of modern USB mice on machines such as the Acorn BBC Micro, Acorn Master, Acorn Archimedes, Commodore Amiga, Atari ST and many more.

2017-06-16 - 13:08:00 - Week: 24 - Item number: 5524 - Category: Commodore, Hardware

Super Kernel 24 in 1

RetroJeck, Tommi_NRW and KiWi developed a Kernel replacement for the Commodore C64. With a menu you can choose between 24 different Kernels.

2017-06-16 - 13:07:00 - Week: 24 - Item number: 5523 - Category: C64, Hardware

IECHost

Luigi Di Fraia has added more functionality to his IECHost device. With this device you can connect a Commodore IEC disk drive via USB to a PC. This time he writes a d64 image to a diskette. The time it takes is about 33 seconds.

2017-06-09 - 13:09:00 - Week: 23 - Item number: 5514 - Category: Commodore, Hardware

Amiga-News is a news webpage for the Amiga user.

Mega65

Paul Gardner-Stephen is working on a FPGA version of the Commodore C65. His goal is to make an 8-bit computer for the 21st century. Most recent updates: Building the lab-prototype of the MEGA65.

2017-06-09 - 13:03:00 - Week: 23 - Item number: 5508 - Category: Commodore, Hardware

KA71 - Amiga

The KA71 is a headphone amplifier designed for the Amiga. Its main feature is adjustable stereo channel separation. An Amiga has 100% separation, so listening to it via headphones is uncomfortable. With the KA71 channels can be cross mixed at any amount from full stereo to full mono.

2017-06-02 - 13:15:00 - Week: 22 - Item number: 5504 - Category: Amiga, Hardware

326298 Rev A board

Bo Herrmannsen is working on a replica of the 326298 Rev A motherboard. This motherboard is the first motherboard for the Commodore C64. He has now made the PCB layout in Sprint-Layout and wants to produce the new motherboards.

2017-05-26 - 13:14:00 - Week: 21 - Item number: 5488 - Category: C64, Hardware

The Final Cartridge III - replica

Greisi made a new version of the Final Cartridge III. The new version also has improvements such as a FLASH chip instead of an EPROM a fuse and more decoupling capacitors.

2017-05-26 - 13:11:00 - Week: 21 - Item number: 5485 - Category: C64, Hardware

WiFi232 Modem

The AmigaLove web page made a review about the WiFi232 Modem from Paul Rickards. The modem can be plugged into any standard RS-232C DB25 serial port. The features are: 300 - 115200 baud, Hayes compatible, firmware updates possible, built-in web server, MDNS support and WiFi access point.

2017-05-19 - 13:15:00 - Week: 20 - Item number: 5473 - Category: Amiga, Hardware

SuperCPU - VIC20

Kakemoms is working on a SuperCPU for the Commodore VIC20. The features are: 22MHz, 65C02 core, 16 KByte RAM expansion and plugs into the expansion port.

2017-05-19 - 13:13:00 - Week: 20 - Item number: 5471 - Category: VIC-20, Hardware

LCD character screen - user-port

"The 8-Bit Guy" has posted an inspiring video. How to connect a character LCD to the user-port. Many things go wrong but in the end the project succeeds.

2017-05-12 - 13:16:00 - Week: 19 - Item number: 5457 - Category: Commodore, Hardware

IECHost

Luigi Di Fraia is now working on a directory / file system for his IECHost device. With this device you can connect a Commodore IEC disk drive via USB to a PC.

2017-05-12 - 13:14:00 - Week: 19 - Item number: 5455 - Category: Commodore, Hardware

Mega65

Paul Gardner-Stephen is working on a FPGA version of the Commodore C65. His goal is to make an 8-bit computer for the 21st century. Most recent updates: Matrix mode, cartridge support and updated video mode.

2017-05-12 - 13:05:00 - Week: 19 - Item number: 5446 - Category: Commodore, Hardware

The Denial forum is a forum for the Commodore VIC20 computer.

C64c Raspberry Pi conversion frame

COREi64 started a Kickstarter campaign for a framework that mounts in an original C64c case. The end result is possibility to place a Raspberry Pi 2 or 3 in a C64c case.

2017-05-12 - 13:02:00 - Week: 19 - Item number: 5443 - Category: C64, Hardware

D520 - Amiga

Thorsten Schubert is developing a RGB/audio to HDMI converter for the Amiga. With this converter it is possible to connect an Amiga to a modern monitor. Features: 50/60Hz, PAL, power from the Amiga, firmware update via the Amiga and scanlines. The price will be around 80 Euro.

More information (German language).

2017-05-05 - 13:15:00 - Week: 18 - Item number: 5440 - Category: Amiga, Hardware