website/content/museum/commodore-max-machine-ultimax-vc-10.md

title, categories, types, origins, years, cpus, params

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Commodore MAX Machine / Ultimax / VC-10	Computers	Home Computer	U.S.A.	1982	MOS 6510	name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos hardware screenshots links oc_id source MAX Machine / Ultimax / VC-10 /media/museum/photos/commodore_max_front_2.jpg /companies/commodore Commodore label value NAME MAX Machine / Ultimax / VC-10 label value MANUFACTURER Commodore label value TYPE Home Computer label value ORIGIN U.S.A. label value YEAR 1982 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE MAX BASIC on cartridge label value KEYBOARD Flat membrane keyboard, 4 function keys, 2 arrow keys\ <-, CONTROL, RUN/STOP, SHIFT LOCK, C=, SHIFT (x2), CLR HOME, INST/DEL, RESTORE, RETURN label value CPU MOS 6510 (6502 compatible) label value SPEED 1 Mhz label value CO-PROCESSOR SID (Sound chip), 6566 VIC-II (Video chip) label value RAM 2.5 kb label value ROM 2kb label value TEXT MODES 40 x 25 label value GRAPHIC MODES 320 x 200 label value COLORS 16 label value SOUND SID (Sound Interface Device) : 3 voices, 9 octaves label value I/O PORTS Power in (DIN7), Audio output (minijack), Cartridge port, RF TV out, Cassette interface (bus), 2 x joystick connectors label value POWER SUPPLY External PSU : AC100v, 50/60Hz, 25VA / DC 5v 1.2A / AC 9v 0.45A photos hardware software links 59 title subtitle text image MAX /media/museum/photos/commodore_max_front_2.jpg title subtitle text image MAX MACHINE /media/museum/photos/commodore_max_front_1.jpg title subtitle text image RIGHT SIDE /media/museum/photos/commodore_max_r-side_1.jpg title subtitle text image LEFT SIDE /media/museum/photos/commodore_max_back_2.jpg title subtitle text image BACK From left-to-right: • On/off switch.\ • Power-in (DIN7).\ • Audio-out (mini-jack).\ • Cartidge Slot.\ • Channel Select Switch (Ch. 1/Ch. 2).\ • TV RF-Out.\ • Cassette Port. /media/museum/photos/commodore_max_back_1.jpg title subtitle text image REAR #2 /media/museum/photos/commodore_max_rear_2.jpg title subtitle text image MAX AND GAMES /media/museum/photos/commodore_max-and-games.jpg title subtitle text image BOX #1 /media/museum/photos/commodore_max-box_1.jpg title subtitle text image BOX #2 /media/museum/photos/commodore_max-box_2.jpg title subtitle text image POWER SUPPLY The diagram above depicts the female DIN7 connector at the rear of the Commodore MAX. **(1)** 0V\ **(2)** 0V\ **(3)** NC\ **(4)** +5V\ **(5)** +5V\ **(6)** AC 9V\ **(7)** AC 9V /media/museum/hardware/din7.gif title subtitle text image MOLE ATTACK cartridge /media/museum/software/commodore_max_cartmole.jpg title subtitle text image ROAD RACE Cartridge /media/museum/software/commodore_max_softroadrace_1.jpg title subtitle text image GORF CARTRIDGE /media/museum/software/commodore_max_gorf_cart_1.jpg title subtitle text image KICKMAN Screenshot /media/museum/software/commodore_max_kickman_ss.jpg title subtitle text image CLOWNS Screenshot /media/museum/software/commodore_max_clowns_ss.jpg title url text Commodore MAX http://go.to/cbmmax Well-designed website dedicated to the Commodore MAX. title url text The Commodore Gallery http://www.zimmers.net/cbmpics/cmax.html Interesting Commodore MAX website with schematics, technical information, and pictures. title url text The secret weapons of Commodore http://www.floodgap.com/retrobits/ckb/secret/ultimax.html Comprehensive website detailing the Commodore MAX. 40 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230417024942/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=40 2023-04-17

The Commodore MAX was released after the VIC 20 and at the same time as the C64. It was intended to be Commodore’s low-end offering ($150-180), whereas the C64 was envisioned as a high-end product ($595).

The system was very inexpensive and lacked even basic features such a user expansion port. In reality, the MAX was a severely limited C64. Several MAX software titles could actually be run on the C64.

Some production models used the same video chip as the C64, while others used a 6566 (the NTSC C64 uses the 6567; the PAL C64 uses a 6569). Regardless of video chip, both variants offered only a single graphics resolution of 320x200 and could not utilize the ‘multi-color’ functions available on the C64 (unless you set bit 4 in $D016 in MAX BASIC). The SID sound chip is identical to the one found in its C64 cousin. BASIC was stored on cartridge rather than in ROM.

Though initially planned for world-wide release, the Commodore MAX was sold primarily in Japan. It was advertised in North America under the name ULTIMAX, as well as in Germany under the name VC-10.

Thanks to Dr IDO for some information.