yann64andClaude Opus 5.5
b274874139
1,289 discussions, 9,527 archived comments; pages no longer carry the comments themselves. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com> Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
434 lines
18 KiB
Markdown
434 lines
18 KiB
Markdown
---
|
||
title: Commodore SX/DX 64 - Executive computer
|
||
categories:
|
||
- Computers
|
||
types:
|
||
- Transportable
|
||
origins:
|
||
- U.S.A.
|
||
years:
|
||
- '1983'
|
||
cpus:
|
||
- '6510'
|
||
params:
|
||
name: SX/DX 64 - Executive computer
|
||
image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_sx64_system_s1.jpg
|
||
company: /companies/commodore
|
||
company_name: Commodore
|
||
specs:
|
||
- label: NAME
|
||
value: SX/DX 64 - Executive computer
|
||
- label: MANUFACTURER
|
||
value: Commodore
|
||
- label: TYPE
|
||
value: Transportable
|
||
- label: ORIGIN
|
||
value: U.S.A.
|
||
- label: YEAR
|
||
value: '1983'
|
||
- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
|
||
value: SX-64 Basic v2.0
|
||
- label: KEYBOARD
|
||
value: Full-stroke detachable keyboard, 66 keys, 4 function keys
|
||
- label: CPU
|
||
value: '6510'
|
||
- label: SPEED
|
||
value: 1 Mhz
|
||
- label: CO-PROCESSOR
|
||
value: VIC II (Video), SID (Sound)
|
||
- label: RAM
|
||
value: 64k (38911 bytes free)
|
||
- label: ROM
|
||
value: 20k
|
||
- label: TEXT MODES
|
||
value: 40 chars. x 25 lines with 16 colors
|
||
- label: GRAPHIC MODES
|
||
value: 'several, most used : 320 x 200'
|
||
- label: COLORS
|
||
value: '16'
|
||
- label: SOUND
|
||
value: 3 voices, 9 octaves, 4 waveforms
|
||
- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
|
||
value: 36.8 (W) x 36.8 (D) x 12.7 (H) cm
|
||
- label: I/O PORTS
|
||
value: 2 joystick sockets (Atari standard), cartridge slot, expansion port, serial, RGB video output, keyboard
|
||
- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
|
||
value: |-
|
||
SX-64 : 1 x 5''1/4 FDD\
|
||
DX-64 : 2 x 5''1/4 FDD
|
||
- label: POWER SUPPLY
|
||
value: Built-in power supply unit
|
||
- label: PERIPHERALS
|
||
value: Z80 card
|
||
- label: PRICE
|
||
value: 'SX-64 : US$ 1000 (USA, may 1983) - £895 (U.K., 1984)'
|
||
tabs:
|
||
- photos
|
||
- adverts
|
||
- hardware
|
||
- emulators
|
||
- links
|
||
- docs
|
||
- videos
|
||
forum_thread: 518
|
||
photos:
|
||
- title: 'SX-64 #1'
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: Special thanks to **Marc Horchler** who donated us the pictured computer
|
||
image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_sx64_system_s3.jpg
|
||
- title: 'SX-64 #2'
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: ''
|
||
image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_sx64_system_s2.jpg
|
||
- title: 'SX-64 #3'
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: ''
|
||
image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_sx64_hr_1.jpg
|
||
- title: FRONT
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: ''
|
||
image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_sx64_front_hr_1.jpg
|
||
- title: RUNNING SYSTEM
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: Same well known boot-up screen as the Commodore 64.
|
||
image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_sx64_bootscreen_s1.jpg
|
||
- title: CARTRIDGE SLOT
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: ''
|
||
image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_sx64_cartridge_s1.jpg
|
||
- title: FRONT BUTTONS
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: These buttons, protected by a cover, allow video and sound adjustments, as well as the floppy drive reset.
|
||
image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_sx64_videobuttons.jpg
|
||
- title: FRONT
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: ''
|
||
image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_sx64_front_hr_2.jpg
|
||
- title: 'CLOSED #1'
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: The cable you see below the computer is used to connect the detachable keyboard to the central unit. If you find a SX-64, make sure you get this cable as it is often missing.
|
||
image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_sx64_closed_s1.jpg
|
||
- title: 'CLOSED #2'
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: ''
|
||
image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_sx64_closed_s2.jpg
|
||
- title: 'CLOSED #3'
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: ''
|
||
image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_sx64_closed_hr_1.jpg
|
||
- title: 'CLOSED #4'
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: ''
|
||
image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_sx64_closed_hr_2.jpg
|
||
- title: REAR PANEL
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: |-
|
||
From left to right :\
|
||
• 2 joystick DB9 sockets,\
|
||
• RGB video output DIN socket,\
|
||
• Serial DIN socket,\
|
||
• Expansion port,\
|
||
• Power in,\
|
||
• Fuse,\
|
||
• ON/OFF switch
|
||
image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_sx64_backside_s1.jpg
|
||
- title: 'REAR #2'
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: ''
|
||
image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_sx64_rear_hr_1.jpg
|
||
- title: KEYBOARD
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: ''
|
||
image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_sx64_keyboard_hr_1.jpg
|
||
- title: UNCOVERED
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: The upper plasic housing was replaced with a second floppy drive in the DX-64 version.
|
||
image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_sx64_uncovered_s1.jpg
|
||
- title: INSIDE
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: |-
|
||
**(1)** Main CPU card\
|
||
**(2)** I/O card. The cartridge slot is connected to this card\
|
||
**(3)** Floppy drive controller card\
|
||
**(4)** Power supply unit\
|
||
**(5)** Video CRT card
|
||
image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_sx64_inside_s1.jpg
|
||
- title: INSIDE CLOSE-UP
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: ''
|
||
image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_sx64_inside_s2.jpg
|
||
- title: COMMODORE LABEL
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: Where we can see that this model was manufactured in Japan, in December 1983
|
||
image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_sx64_label_s1.jpg
|
||
- title: SX500
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: |-
|
||
The SX500 was an Amiga 500 cased into a SX64 chassis.
|
||
|
||
Only a few prototypes were made, although the machines creator has 1 of them, often shown at Computer shows over in the states. It used the same case, as you can see where the top cartridge slot has been blocked off!
|
||
|
||
About the SX-500, **Bob Eller** adds:\
|
||
Your SX-500 picture is a one of a kind computer built by Dale Luck, who was with the Amiga Los Gatos engineering team. As I understand it, he wanted a portable Amiga and put the machine in a gutted SX-64 case.
|
||
|
||
Thanks to **Malcolm Ramage** - Picture from **www.retrobits.com**
|
||
image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_sx64_sx500_s1.jpg
|
||
- title: MIDI SYSTEM
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: |-
|
||
**John Tudder** sent us this amazing pictures along with the following comment:\
|
||
I made some great music and played live with this setup. All in a rack mount now.
|
||
image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_sx64_midisystem_s1.jpg
|
||
- title: GPIB VERSION
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: This special version held a GPIB interface controller. It was probably modified by a third company.
|
||
image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_sx64_gpibmodel.jpg
|
||
adverts:
|
||
- title: US ADVERT
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: |-
|
||
This guy has so much power in his hands that he has attracted two girls (so far) in his swimming-pool !
|
||
|
||
Notice the classical symbol of the 80s adverts : the glass of orange juice with a straw...
|
||
image: /media/museum/pubs/commodore_sx64_sweden-pub_1.jpg
|
||
- title: UK ADVERT (1984)
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: Thanks to Tony Mattson for this picture
|
||
image: /media/museum/pubs/commodore_sx64_pub-uk_1.png
|
||
- title: NEW ZEALAND ADVERT
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: dated February 1984 from Bits & Bytes magazine
|
||
image: null
|
||
hardware:
|
||
- title: 1530 C2N
|
||
subtitle: Tape-recorder
|
||
text: The classic Commodore tape-recorder !
|
||
image: /media/museum/hardware/commodore_c64_tape-recorder-1530-c2n_1.jpg
|
||
- title: SONG PRODUCER
|
||
subtitle: from Moog
|
||
text: MIDI interface with sequencer software plugged in an SX-64 computer.
|
||
image: /media/museum/hardware/commodore_sx64_moog-sound-producer.jpg
|
||
- title: CMD SUPERCPU
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: |-
|
||
The SuperCPU by Creative Micro Devices is an accelerator cartridge for the Commodore 64. It contains an W65C816S processor running at 20 MHz, providing 20 times the performance of the stock 6510 processor! CMD later added a SuperRAM Card option that could include up to 16 MB of additional memory. There is also a v2 version that offers native 128 mode support (also called SuperCPU/128). It is one of the most sought-after Commodore peripherals.
|
||
|
||
Thomas Conté
|
||
image: /media/museum/hardware/c64_supercpu.jpg
|
||
- title: CMD RAMLINK
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: |-
|
||
This RAM expansion unit by Creative Micro Devices was intended to be used as a RAM drive to accelerate disk access. It is externally powered, and thus will preserve the data even when the computer is turned off.
|
||
|
||
Thomas Conté
|
||
image: /media/museum/hardware/c64_cmd_ramlink.jpg
|
||
- title: FLOPPY DISK UNIT 1540-1541
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: |-
|
||
It is connected to the C64 via a serial link.\
|
||
It is very very slow and can store 170 kb per disk.
|
||
image: /media/museum/hardware/commodore-diskdrive_1540_1.jpg
|
||
- title: QUICK DATA DRIVE
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: |-
|
||
**Cheaper and faster than diskettes.**
|
||
|
||
This Quick Data Drive from Dean Electronics is dedicated to Commodore 64 and <$252$>Vic 20 systems. It uses a special tape called 'Wafer', of 16, 64 or 128 Kb capacity. This wafer was also used by a product marketed for the <$223$>Sinclair Spectrum, called Wafadrive. Various tests proved that the Q.D.D. was approximately 20 times faster than a normal cassette recorder and 2 or 3 times faster than the Commodore 1541 disk drive. The reason : data transfer routines (called QOS) much more efficient than those of Commodore, and a file management operating system (FMU) much more modern and powerful.
|
||
|
||
The Q.D.D. is however not more than an advanced tape recorder using a magnetic tape, and the delay to access a specific file still remains higher than with a normal disk drive. Despite its qualities, the Q.D.D. did not meet success because most C64 software was sold on disks or tapes and users had to acquire both Commodore peripherals before investing in a third powerful storage system.
|
||
image: /media/museum/hardware/commodore_64_quick_data_1.jpg
|
||
- title: CMD HD-20
|
||
subtitle: 20Mb hard-drive
|
||
text: This is a hard drive for the C64 or 128. SWAP-Devicenumber-Buttons let the HD become drive 8 or 9. It can create sub-directories and partitions, including 1541 emulation.
|
||
image: /media/museum/hardware/commodore_c64_cmd-hd20_1.jpg
|
||
- title: VICMODEM
|
||
subtitle: Advert
|
||
text: You could already send emails !!
|
||
image: /media/museum/hardware/commodore_vicmodem_pub_1.jpg
|
||
- title: WERSIBOARD MUSIC 64
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: Thomas Conté
|
||
image: /media/museum/hardware/c64_wersiboard.jpg
|
||
- title: MODEL 1525
|
||
subtitle: ''
|
||
text: It can print all the semi graphic characters of the C64. (30 characters per second)
|
||
image: /media/museum/hardware/commodore_printer_1525_1.jpg
|
||
emulators:
|
||
- title: CCS64
|
||
url: http://www.ccs64.com/
|
||
platform: Windows
|
||
text: The best C64 emulator for the PC
|
||
- title: Free64
|
||
url: http://www.umr.edu/~bmartin/
|
||
platform: Windows
|
||
text: A Freeware emulator for MS DOS
|
||
- title: MESS
|
||
url: http://www.mess.org
|
||
platform: Windows
|
||
text: This fantastic emulator can emulate the mlost of the 8-bit Commodore systems
|
||
- title: Win 64
|
||
url: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Park/6558/win64.htm
|
||
platform: Windows
|
||
text: The Best C64 Emulator for Win95 / WinNT
|
||
- title: Win64
|
||
url: http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/park/6558/win64.htm
|
||
platform: Windows
|
||
text: Good Commodore 64 for Windows
|
||
- title: Mac Frodo
|
||
url: http://internetter.com/titan/macfrodo/
|
||
platform: Apple
|
||
text: The MAC OS version of Frodo, one of the best C64 Emulator
|
||
- title: Power 64
|
||
url: http://www.infinite-loop.at/Power64/index.html
|
||
platform: Apple
|
||
text: Emulator for PPC Macintoshes
|
||
- title: SID PLay
|
||
url: http://stud1.tuwien.ac.at/~e9426444/sidplay/
|
||
platform: Apple
|
||
text: A player for C64 Musics
|
||
- title: ccs
|
||
url: http://www.funet.fi/pub/cbm/crossplatform/emulators/unix/
|
||
platform: Unix / Linux
|
||
text: C64 emulator for Unix
|
||
- title: Frodo for Amiga OS
|
||
url: http://www.uni-mainz.de/~bauec002/FRMain.html
|
||
platform: Amiga OS
|
||
text: The best C64 Emulator for Amiga
|
||
- title: VICE for Amiga OS4
|
||
url: http://amidog.se/amiga/vice/
|
||
platform: Amiga OS
|
||
text: This AmigaOS4 version is ported by Mathias "AmiDog" Roslund
|
||
- title: c64.gr
|
||
url: http://www.c64.gr/
|
||
platform: Other platform
|
||
text: C64 online emulator. Play favorite games in your browser!
|
||
- title: C-ONE
|
||
url: http://c64upgra.de/c-one/
|
||
platform: Other platform
|
||
text: Hardware emulator (re-configurable computer)
|
||
- title: Frodo for PalmOS
|
||
url: http://frodopalm.sourceforge.net/
|
||
platform: Other platform
|
||
text: Frodo for PalmOS
|
||
- title: VICE
|
||
url: http://viceteam.bei.t-online.de/
|
||
platform: Other platform
|
||
text: Emulates the C64, C128, VIC20, all the PET models and the CBM-II under Unix, MS-DOS, Win95/NT, OS/2, Acorn RISC OS or BeOS !!
|
||
- title: Web C64
|
||
url: http://www.dreamfabric.com/c64/
|
||
platform: Other platform
|
||
text: The 64 as a Java applet in your Browser. Excellent !
|
||
- title: C=64 Emulator for OS/2 Full Screen
|
||
url: http://home.hccnet.nl/w.m.brul/emulator/index.html
|
||
platform: OS2
|
||
text: Freeware emulator for OS/2
|
||
links:
|
||
- title: C64.COM
|
||
url: http://www.c64.com/
|
||
text: Excellent and beautifully designed site, full of games to download. A must
|
||
- title: c64.gr
|
||
url: http://www.c64.gr/
|
||
text: C64 online emulator. Play favorite games in your browser!
|
||
- title: 'c64files.com :: the ultimate C64 portal!'
|
||
url: http://www.c64files.com/
|
||
text: News, Gaming, Music, Museum, Links etc.
|
||
- title: Commodore 64 -
|
||
url: http://folkvagn.commodore64.org
|
||
text: Info about the C64 and successors, C64 emulators and the SID chip. Also contains C64 programs and a forum. In Swedish only.
|
||
- title: Commodore 64 Game Endings
|
||
url: http://www.c64endings.co.uk/
|
||
text: All your fave C64 game endings under one roof.
|
||
- title: Commodore 64 Nostalgia
|
||
url: http://www.staggs.pair.com/c64/
|
||
text: ''
|
||
- title: Commodore Scene Magazine and Importing Service
|
||
url: http://www.commodorescene.org.uk/
|
||
text: New publications, hardware and software for the Commodore 128/128d and C64
|
||
- title: Commodore Service Manuals
|
||
url: http://www.devili.iki.fi/Computers/Commodore/
|
||
text: Commodore Service Manuals & other stuff
|
||
- title: Commodore-64 Programmer's Library
|
||
url: http://home.comcast.net/~c64proglib
|
||
text: many of Robert Baker's early original magazine articles, programs and programming tips (not free)
|
||
- title: Commodore-related Net Resources
|
||
url: http://www.hut.fi/~msmakela/cbm/netresources.html
|
||
text: ''
|
||
- title: Good Old Games
|
||
url: http://speccy.altervista.org/
|
||
text: Many games with screenshot comparisons, download and magazines
|
||
- title: Greg and David's C64 Web page
|
||
url: http://www.ozemail.com.au/~gvincent/
|
||
text: ''
|
||
- title: HV C64 CD's - The ultimate CD set full of software for the C64
|
||
url: http://www.talent.demon.co.uk/64/
|
||
text: ''
|
||
- title: LEMON 64
|
||
url: http://www.lemon64.com/
|
||
text: The source for all Your Commodore 64 Gaming and News needs ! Quite impressive !!!
|
||
- title: Mayhem64
|
||
url: http://www.mayhem64.co.uk/main.htm
|
||
text: For all your C64 cartridge needs... and more!
|
||
- title: Remixes of music from C-64 games
|
||
url: http://remix.kwed.org
|
||
text: Hear the tunes from your fav C64 games like you've never heard them before!
|
||
- title: Stadium 64
|
||
url: http://s64.emuunlim.com/
|
||
text: Are you a sportgaming fan? Then this site is definitely for you! Over 1000 sportgames available for download. Lots of manuals, reviews, covers, adverts, screenshots, hints&tips, world records + a lot more!
|
||
- title: The Commodore 8-bit WWW server
|
||
url: http://www.hut.fi/~msmakela/cbm/
|
||
text: ''
|
||
- title: The Secrets Weapons of Commodore
|
||
url: http://www.floodgap.com/retrobits/ckb/secret/
|
||
text: Awesome website ! Presents all the weird systems imagined by Commodore.
|
||
- title: The Star Commander homepage
|
||
url: http://sta.c64.org/sc.html
|
||
text: ''
|
||
- title: Web Wiz CAPTCHA
|
||
url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com
|
||
text: This is a bulletin board run on a Commodore 64!
|
||
docs:
|
||
- title: COMMODORE SX-64 USER'S GUIDE
|
||
url: null
|
||
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/commodore_sx64_user-guide.jpg
|
||
text: |-
|
||
**COMMODORE SX-64 USER'S GUIDE**\
|
||
written by Commodore
|
||
|
||
compiled/archived by Russ Riebel\
|
||
type of document : Online reader
|
||
|
||
**... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :**
|
||
videos:
|
||
- title: C64 assembly line pictures!
|
||
url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vzfJLVS2YI
|
||
text: 'Length: 6 min 56 s'
|
||
related:
|
||
- /museum/commodore-c128-c128d
|
||
- /museum/commodore-c64
|
||
- /museum/commodore-c64-aldi
|
||
- /museum/commodore-c64-golden-jubilee
|
||
- /museum/commodore-c64c
|
||
- /museum/commodore-c64g
|
||
- /museum/commodore-educator-64
|
||
- /museum/commodore-lcd
|
||
- /museum/commodore-vic-1001
|
||
- /museum/eds-c64-edc
|
||
oc_id: 524
|
||
source:
|
||
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230205011417/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=524
|
||
date: '2023-02-05'
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
The SX/DX 64 is the "laptop version" (though hardly portable) of the [C64](/museum/commodore-c64/). This computer has a built-in 5" color screen (just about enough for the eyes), a detachable keyboard with new functions, and one or two 5.25" floppy disk drives (the famous 1541), depending on the model.
|
||
|
||
The DX-64 and the SX-100 (SX-64 with black & white monitor) were first announced in January 1983 but the SX-100 never made it to the shelves and was replaced by the SX-64 later that year.
|
||
|
||
One important feature is that the SX/DX-64 lacks a cassette interface ! People who upgraded from the classic C64 couldn't play their games stored on tapes ! Some programs that used the tape buffer for storage (of sprites say) had problems too.\
|
||
The cartridge slot is found on top of the case, and there is a sound speaker inside the unit (unlike the C64).
|
||
|
||
The DX-64 has the same characteristics as the SX64 except its two 5.25" floppy disk drives instead of one. A very small quantity was produced. It was probably never sold but only used by Commodore insiders.
|
||
|
||
The SX64 and DX64 computers never had success, probably because of higher selling prices, but were known as the world's first color portables.
|
||
|
||
The SX64 was not the only machine that Commodore made in this chassis, there was also the SX500, which was an Amiga in the SX case (see 'More pictures').
|