Mark’s C64 Kick December 2020 ‘A New Hope’ – Building A New C64 With A C64Reloaded V1.x 2015 board

#C64 #C64ReloadedRev1.x #New

Way back in 2015 I got word of a reimplementation of a real C64 motherboard with ZIF sockets installed that allowed you to basically build a new C64 with real C64 chips and/or replacements for those.
As over the years I had repaired, sorted out working and non working parts I figured I had enough parts from unsalvageable machines that I would in fact be able to populate one of those new motherboards and basically have a ‘new’ real C64 that is as new as they can get. The ZIF sockets allow for easily changing out broken components.

There was an option to obtain the C64 Reloaded motherboard with salvaged reconditioned C64 chips mounted and I received mine with all chips installed except the PLA. That was a chip I planned to salvage from my donor C64 that I had intended to use to build up the motherboard. I know it’s a bit lazy but I wanted to convenience of certified working chips and rom chips this time.

When I got my C64c donor our of the bin in the loft – it was on the fritz, and it showed signs of the PLA being faulty so I had to come up with another solution. Now I did something absolutely daft building up this computer – I used the paper RF-shielding too. It’s in there. Most throw it out – but of course then I most certainly won’t! 🙂

At the end of the video I install my replacement PLA and turn on the unit for the first time and show you how it works. As I didn’t have a proper s-video cable I hooked it up on the old composite video cable and it still gives a very good image.

Back in 2015 I had also backed a project for new coloured key-caps to completely turn this into a blue C64! but as if today December 5th 2020 I am still waiting for those five years on. But the white C64c ones also look quite good.

My Commodore C64 December 2020 Kick is not over…. there’s more to come…

Oh and since then a C64 Reloaded V2 has been released. You can check it out here: https://icomp.de/shop-icomp/en/shop/product/c64-reloaded-mk2.html

This video contains no paid promotion. The items shown are all obtained with my own money. The opinions are all my own. No one but me is editing the content on this video.