website/content/museum/commodore-c64g.md

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

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Commodore C64G	Computers	Home Computer	Germany	1989	MOS 8500	name image company company_name specs tabs photos hardware emulators links videos related oc_id source C64G /media/museum/photos/commodore_64g_system_s1.jpg /companies/commodore Commodore label value NAME C64G label value MANUFACTURER Commodore label value TYPE Home Computer label value ORIGIN Germany label value YEAR 1989 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE Commodore BASIC V2 label value KEYBOARD Full-stroke 66 keys with 4 function keys label value CPU MOS 8500 (HMOS version of the 6510) label value SPEED 0.985 MHz (PAL) / 1.023 MHz (NTSC) label value CO-PROCESSOR VIC II (Video),MOS 8580 SID-chip (sound & music), MMU (memory management) label value RAM 64 KB label value ROM 20 KB label value TEXT MODES 40 columns x 25 lines label value GRAPHIC MODES several, most used : 320 x 200 label value COLORS 16 + 16 border colours label value SOUND 3 voices / 9 octaves, 4 waveforms (sound output through TV) label value SIZE / WEIGHT 40.4 (W) x 21.6 (D) x 7.5 (H) cm / 1820 g label value I/O PORTS RGB (composite, chroma/luma and sound in/out), 2 x Joystick, Cardridge slot, Tape interface (300 bps), Serial, User Port, TV RF output label value BUILT IN MEDIA External cassette unit or 170 KB 5.25'' floppy disc unit (1541) label value POWER SUPPLY External power adaptor label value PRICE Unknown photos hardware emulators links videos title subtitle text image C=64G /media/museum/photos/commodore_64g_system_s2.jpg title subtitle text image RIGHT SIDE Power switch, power DIN socket and joystick DB9 connectors are on the right side. /media/museum/photos/commodore_64g_rightside_s1.jpg title subtitle text image LEFT SIDE /media/museum/photos/commodore_64g_leftside_s1.jpg title subtitle text image REAR CONNECTORS Same connectors as the standard C64, from left to right:\ • Programmable Expansion port / cartridge slot\ • TV channel adjustment\ • RF/TV aerial video output\ • Audio-Video RGB output\ • Programmable Serial DIN socket\ • Tape recorder connector\ • Programmable IEEE488 user port. /media/museum/photos/commodore_64g_rearconnectors_s1.jpg title subtitle text image MOTHERBOARD This board (latest revision) was also used in the 64GS game console. **(1)** Expansion port / Cartridge slot cover\ **(2)** Keyboard connector\ **(3)** First CIA Chip (Communication interface adaptor), provides serial communications\ **(4)** UHF/TV modulator\ **(5)** SID sound chip (Sound Interface Device)\ **(6)** System clock generator\ **(7)** VIC II CRT controller (Video Interface controller)\ **(8)** MMU chipset (Memory management Unit)\ **(9)** MOS 8500 processor, an evolution of the 6510 CPU\ **(10)** 64 KB RAM chips (2x2464)\ **(11)** First ROM chip, holds the Commodore BASIC and Kernel\ **(12)** Second ROM chip, holds the character generator\ **(11)** Second CIA chip. /media/museum/photos/commodore_64g_inside_s1.jpg title subtitle text image BOX /media/museum/photos/commodore_64g_box_1.jpg title subtitle text image BOX #2 /media/museum/photos/commodore_64g_box_2.jpg title subtitle text image 1530 C2N Tape-recorder The classic Commodore tape-recorder ! /media/museum/hardware/commodore_c64_tape-recorder-1530-c2n_1.jpg title subtitle text image CMD SUPERCPU 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 /media/museum/hardware/c64_supercpu.jpg title subtitle text image CMD RAMLINK 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 /media/museum/hardware/c64_cmd_ramlink.jpg title subtitle text image FLOPPY DISK UNIT 1540-1541 It is connected to the C64 via a serial link.\ It is very very slow and can store 170 kb per disk. /media/museum/hardware/commodore-diskdrive_1540_1.jpg title subtitle text image QUICK DATA DRIVE **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. /media/museum/hardware/commodore_64_quick_data_1.jpg title subtitle text image CMD HD-20 20Mb hard-drive 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. /media/museum/hardware/commodore_c64_cmd-hd20_1.jpg title subtitle text image VICMODEM Advert You could already send emails !! /media/museum/hardware/commodore_vicmodem_pub_1.jpg title subtitle text image WERSIBOARD MUSIC 64 Thomas Conté /media/museum/hardware/c64_wersiboard.jpg title subtitle text image MODEL 1525 It can print all the semi graphic characters of the C64. (30 characters per second) /media/museum/hardware/commodore_printer_1525_1.jpg title url platform text CCS64 http://www.ccs64.com/ Windows The best C64 emulator for the PC title url platform text Free64 http://www.umr.edu/~bmartin/ Windows A Freeware emulator for MS DOS title url platform text MESS http://www.mess.org Windows This fantastic emulator can emulate the mlost of the 8-bit Commodore systems title url platform text Win 64 http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Park/6558/win64.htm Windows The Best C64 Emulator for Win95 / WinNT title url platform text Win64 http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/park/6558/win64.htm Windows Good Commodore 64 for Windows title url platform text Mac Frodo http://internetter.com/titan/macfrodo/ Apple The MAC OS version of Frodo, one of the best C64 Emulator title url platform text Power 64 http://www.infinite-loop.at/Power64/index.html Apple Emulator for PPC Macintoshes title url platform text SID PLay http://stud1.tuwien.ac.at/~e9426444/sidplay/ Apple A player for C64 Musics title url platform text ccs http://www.funet.fi/pub/cbm/crossplatform/emulators/unix/ Unix / Linux C64 emulator for Unix title url platform text Frodo for Amiga OS http://www.uni-mainz.de/~bauec002/FRMain.html Amiga OS The best C64 Emulator for Amiga title url platform text VICE for Amiga OS4 http://amidog.se/amiga/vice/ Amiga OS This AmigaOS4 version is ported by Mathias "AmiDog" Roslund title url platform text c64.gr http://www.c64.gr/ Other platform C64 online emulator. Play favorite games in your browser! title url platform text C-ONE http://c64upgra.de/c-one/ Other platform Hardware emulator (re-configurable computer) title url platform text Frodo for PalmOS http://frodopalm.sourceforge.net/ Other platform Frodo for PalmOS title url platform text VICE http://viceteam.bei.t-online.de/ Other platform 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 url platform text Web C64 http://www.dreamfabric.com/c64/ Other platform The 64 as a Java applet in your Browser. Excellent ! title url platform text C=64 Emulator for OS/2 Full Screen http://home.hccnet.nl/w.m.brul/emulator/index.html OS2 Freeware emulator for OS/2 title url text C64.COM http://www.c64.com/ Excellent and beautifully designed site, full of games to download. A must title url text c64.gr http://www.c64.gr/ C64 online emulator. Play favorite games in your browser! title url text c64files.com :: the ultimate C64 portal! http://www.c64files.com/ News, Gaming, Music, Museum, Links etc. title url text Commodore 64 - http://folkvagn.commodore64.org Info about the C64 and successors, C64 emulators and the SID chip. Also contains C64 programs and a forum. In Swedish only. title url text Commodore 64 Game Endings http://www.c64endings.co.uk/ All your fave C64 game endings under one roof. title url text Commodore 64 Nostalgia http://www.staggs.pair.com/c64/ title url text Commodore Scene Magazine and Importing Service http://www.commodorescene.org.uk/ New publications, hardware and software for the Commodore 128/128d and C64 title url text Commodore Service Manuals http://www.devili.iki.fi/Computers/Commodore/ Commodore Service Manuals & other stuff title url text Commodore-64 Programmer's Library http://home.comcast.net/~c64proglib many of Robert Baker's early original magazine articles, programs and programming tips (not free) title url text Commodore-related Net Resources http://www.hut.fi/~msmakela/cbm/netresources.html title url text Good Old Games http://speccy.altervista.org/ Many games with screenshot comparisons, download and magazines title url text Greg and David's C64 Web page http://www.ozemail.com.au/~gvincent/ title url text HV C64 CD's - The ultimate CD set full of software for the C64 http://www.talent.demon.co.uk/64/ title url text LEMON 64 http://www.lemon64.com/ The source for all Your Commodore 64 Gaming and News needs ! Quite impressive !!! title url text Mayhem64 http://www.mayhem64.co.uk/main.htm For all your C64 cartridge needs... and more! title url text Remixes of music from C-64 games http://remix.kwed.org Hear the tunes from your fav C64 games like you've never heard them before! title url text Stadium 64 http://s64.emuunlim.com/ 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 url text The Commodore 8-bit WWW server http://www.hut.fi/~msmakela/cbm/ title url text The Secrets Weapons of Commodore http://www.floodgap.com/retrobits/ckb/secret/ Awesome website ! Presents all the weird systems imagined by Commodore. title url text The Star Commander homepage http://sta.c64.org/sc.html title url text Web Wiz CAPTCHA http://www.webwizcaptcha.com This is a bulletin board run on a Commodore 64! title url text C64 assembly line pictures! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vzfJLVS2YI Length: 6 min 56 s /museum/commodore-c128-c128d /museum/commodore-c64 /museum/commodore-c64-aldi /museum/commodore-c64-golden-jubilee /museum/commodore-c64c /museum/commodore-educator-64 /museum/commodore-lcd /museum/commodore-sx-dx-64-executive-computer /museum/commodore-vic-1001 /museum/eds-c64-edc 1136 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230610110034/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1136 2023-06-10

The last model of the C64 to be sold was the 64G. It had the original "breadbin" case, but the color was much lighter, pretty much the same as on the 64C model, to match the tastes of the moment.

The keyboard could either be the original black model with graphical symbols on the front side of the keys or the cream colored c-model type with the symbols on top of the keys. It seems that Commodore just tried to use up all the parts that they had in stock which resulted in all kinds of weird color combinations. The motherboard was a small and simplified one, very similar to the the one found in the Aldi version, though some C64G are reported with more older classic C64 motherboards in them...

The SID chip used here is a MOS 8580 version, resulting in sampled sound playing on very low volume. The reason comes from a bug in the older 6581 SID that was removed in the 8580. Eventually a solution was found by grounding one leg of the 8580 through a resistor.

Some of these machines were made from C=64GS game console parts when the console bombed. Most were sold with a game pack (some magazine adds show the same game module as with the GS) and was marketed almost as a pure game console which just happened to have a computer in the same package. The G-model kind of replaced the horrible GS.

Build quality is not very good, especially the case feels quite brittle. The model sticker says "Made in W. Germany", but the motherboards were probably made in Hong Kong in the same factory as the C-model machines and only final assembly was made in Germany. The machine was probably only aimed at the European market.

The G-model was clearly a final cheap gaming computer that Commodore made to get rid of the huge stocks of C=64 spares and GS-parts. It was sometimes also named c64-III or C64 BN/E.

Thanks to Taneli Lukka and Roman von Wartburg for information and pictures