---
title: Commodore C65
categories:
- Computers
params:
  name: C65
  image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_c65_2s.jpg
  company: /companies/commodore
  company_name: Commodore
  tabs:
  - photos
  - software
  - emulators
  - links
  - docs
  - videos
  forum_thread: 283
  photos:
  - title: COMMODORE 65
    subtitle: ''
    text: '[Thomas Conté](http://www.pas.net)'
    image: /media/museum/photos/c65_oldcomp_1.jpg
  - title: COMMODORE 65
    subtitle: ''
    text: '[Thomas Conté](http://www.pas.net)'
    image: /media/museum/photos/c65_oldcomp_2.jpg
  - title: C65
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_c65_2b.jpg
  - title: FRONT VIEW
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_c65_front.jpg
  - title: BOTTOM
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_c65_bottom.jpg
  - title: 'BOTTOM #2'
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_c65_bottom_2.jpg
  - title: REAR
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_c65_rear.jpg
  - title: INSIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_c65_inside.jpg
  - title: MOTHER BOARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_c65_mobo.jpg
  screenshots:
  - title: BOOT SCREEN
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/commodore_c65_ss_boot.jpg
  - title: SCREENSHOT 1
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to [Toxic Waste's C65 Information Page](http://www.toxic-waste.de/c65/gallery.htm) for this picture.
    image: /media/museum/software/commodore_c65_ss1.jpg
  - title: SCREENSHOT 2
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to [Toxic Waste's C65 Information Page](http://www.toxic-waste.de/c65/gallery.htm) for this picture.
    image: /media/museum/software/commodore_c65_ss2.jpg
  - title: SCREENSHOT 3
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to [Toxic Waste's C65 Information Page](http://www.toxic-waste.de/c65/gallery.htm) for this picture.
    image: /media/museum/software/commodore_c65_ss3.jpg
  - title: SCREENSHOT 4
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to [Commodore C65 Prototype page](http://www.heimcomputer.de/english/comp/c65.html) for this picture.
    image: /media/museum/software/commodore_c65_ss4.jpg
  emulators:
  - title: M.E.S.S. (Multi Emulator Super System)
    url: HTTP://WWW.MESS.ORG
    platform: Windows
    text: MESS emulates C65 disc and prg files.
  links:
  - title: Commodore C65 prototype
    url: http://www.heimcomputer.de/english/comp/c65.html
    text: Nice detailed German page with a list of C65 owners...
  - title: Secret Weapons of Commodore - Commodore 65
    url: http://www.floodgap.com/retrobits/ckb/secret/65.html
    text: Détailed information about the C65
  - title: Toxic Waste's Commodore C65 Information Page
    url: http://www.toxic-waste.de/c65/
    text: News, docs, dowloads, pictures, screenshots, links and more
  - title: www.c65.org
    url: http://www.onlinekunst.de/c65/
    text: Online documentation and more
  - title: Web Wiz CAPTCHA
    url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com
    text: c65 file archive
  docs:
  - title: C65 SYSTEM SPECIFICATION (AKA C65 MANUAL)
    url: http://www.onlinekunst.de/c65/documentation/index.html
    cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/vide.gif
    text: |-
      [**C65 SYSTEM SPECIFICATION (AKA C65 MANUAL)**](http://www.onlinekunst.de/c65/documentation/index.html)written by Commodore

       compiled/archived by Frank Koutros and Marko Mäkelä\
       type of document : TXT\
       size : 184 KB\
       source : [www.c65.org](http://www.onlinekunst.de/c65/)
  videos:
  - title: Commodore C65 64DX Prototype
    url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16iq88QZQb4
    text: 'Length: 2min 35s'
  oc_id: 273
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230321004130/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=273
    date: '2023-03-21'
---

Another case of vaporware ! In the end of 1990, Commodore decided to create a successor for the famous [C64](/museum/commodore-c64/).They worked on a prototype called C64 DX then C65.

The C65 had new great features : a very special version of the 7510 with lot of new opcodes, great graphic modes (better than the [Atari ST](/museum/atari-520-st-st-stm/) or the [Amiga](/museum/commodore-amiga-1000/) !) and a great new processor : the DMA / Blitter. This chip can be programmed with a list of instructions to copy or set blocks of memory.

The machine was meant to be fully compatible with the C64, but wasn't. A special key was added on the keyboard to switch between the two modes (C64 / C65).

The development of this machine was stopped (apparently because of problems with the VIC III controller and because of the cost of this computer), and because of the success of the Amiga (Notice that the C65 case looks like the Amiga one !).

Commodore produced about 50 C65's, the first ones display C64DX at boot, the latest display C65.

<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this pong ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>