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 company company_name specs tabs photos hardware screenshots links comments oc_id source MAX Machine / Ultimax / VC-10 /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 title subtitle text image MAX null title subtitle text image MAX MACHINE null title subtitle text image RIGHT SIDE null title subtitle text image LEFT SIDE null 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. null title subtitle text image REAR #2 null title subtitle text image MAX AND GAMES null title subtitle text image BOX #1 null title subtitle text image BOX #2 null 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 null title subtitle text image MOLE ATTACK cartridge null title subtitle text image ROAD RACE Cartridge null title subtitle text image GORF CARTRIDGE null title subtitle text image KICKMAN Screenshot null title subtitle text image CLOWNS Screenshot null 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. author date text ThunderBlade (Germany) Friday 8th October 2021 The statement that the MAX Machine can not do multi color is incorrect. I own a MAX Machine so I tried MAX BASIC and set bit 4 in $D016 to switch on multi color mode. It behaves exactly like on a C64, multi color mode goes on. author date text WEMEDIA (Italy) Saturday 6th May 2017 Ira Velinsky designed MAX Machine, C116 and CBM-II line.\ Then he moved to Atari where he made Portfolio and Stacy case.\ I play Avenger for the MAX: best Space Invaders conversion ever, better than C64 version author date text RetroRoby (Luxemburg) Thursday 28th July 2011 I''m searching also a Commodore Max not to expensif. But i don''t know where i can search for.\ Can you help me please? Thank you and best regard RetroRoby author date text R.T.Dickinson (London) Sunday 28th August 2005 I've just added a Japanese version of the Max to my Commodore computer collection. The P.S. is 110v and the display is NTSC. All the instructions are in Japanese. The unit came with all its original packaging and is in pristine condition and full working order. 4 games cartridges and a commodore basic cartridge was also included in the sale. 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.