badmojo wrote on 2021-03-03, 02:19:
brostenen wrote on 2021-03-03, 00:43:
It is a clone of the Commodore64. 😀
Looks pretty sweet - I'm being lazy and not googling it but does this motherboard add anything that the original doesn't? Like allow you to use a modern PSU, better video output, etc? Or is it just a 1:1 replacement that you'd use if your existing board died?
It is a near 1:1 clone of the original revision that it is based on. That means everything that works on the 1986 board, will work on this one. Basically as real a Commodore64 as you can get, just not build by Commodore. There are just one minor issue with early 250466 SixtyClones, and that is one of the cartridge pins are grounded by mistake. It results in some cartridges not working at all. The fix is easy, as I just have to cut one trace somewere on the backside.
Regarding modern PSU's, then I can just use the one that I have. It is a modern switching PSU, made for original C64's.
Better video, well.... The plan is to use an RF modulator replacement. It is a modern tiny board, that just passes S-Video and Composit through. The original modulators are a major signal degrader. I can however buy two different solutions. One being an Component mod and the other being an HDMI mod. Though with the signal quality that my original Breadbin 250407 (YouTube), with original RF modulator and quality S-Video cable gives, then they are kind of waste of money. Especially when I use my RetroTink and the VIC-II is Revision-5.
Basically, it is just a replacement that can be used to build a brand new C64 with as well. There are tons of replacement chips, made with modern tech, and new ones are in the making as well. There are mighty fine and decent SID replacements, 1:1 PLA replacements, and so on. A few people are working on doing a VIC-II in FPGA, and have a working prototype ready. It will work just as the original, in regards to video signal, however it add's VGA and HDMI out as well. Then there are someone working on doing the CIA chip in FPGA as well. For the Ram part and the scroller bug, then there are S-Ram raplacements in a dropin solution.
I will say that the state of the C64 these days, are wonderfull and awesomme. Most issues are being eliminated, and when they are, then it will be the worlds best vintage 8bit platform. I know that The8bit guy is working with people on an ultimate 8bit machine. However that is a modern platform and not a vintage platform. Imagine what the state of the Atari 8bit line would be today, if all that work was put into those machines.
Sorry for my long post. I am just psyched by the thought that I might actually have build a working computer by hand in the old school way.
Tests will my multimeter will reveal if I have done any serious mistakes.
Don't eat stuff off a 15 year old never cleaned cpu cooler.
Those cakes make you sick....
My blog: http://to9xct.blogspot.dk
My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/brostenen
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