Commodore 64

The Commodore 64, released in August 1982, was one of the best-selling home computers of all time, with estimates ranging from 12.5 to 17 million units sold. It featured a 1.023 MHz MOS 6510 processor, 64KB of RAM, and 20KB of ROM, running Commodore BASIC 2.0. The system was known for its VIC-II graphics chip, which supported 320×200 resolution with 16 colors, and its SID 6581/8580 sound chip, which provided three-channel waveform synthesis, making it a favorite for gaming and music applications. The C64 dominated the low-end computer market throughout the 1980s, outselling competitors like the Apple II, Atari 8-bit computers, and IBM PC compatibles. It remained in production until April 1994, cementing its legacy as a defining system in computing history.

Pictured below are examples of peripherals used with the Commodore 64, including the MPS-802 dot matrix printer and 1541 disk drives.

The 1541 disk drive was a widely used storage device featuring a built-in 6502 processor as its disk controller. The first drive pictured is an early version with the ALPS mechanism, identifiable by its horizontal lever in the center, while the second image showcases the later version, which replaced the ALPS mechanism with a rotating lever. To enable daisy chaining, I modified my 1541 by cutting jumper 1 on the board and wiring it to a switch installed on the back. This allows me to toggle between DEVICE 8 and DEVICE 9, enabling the use of two disk drives simultaneously. Later models, such as the 1571, came factory-equipped with a rear switch, allowing users to easily select DEVICE 8, 9, 10, or 11 without requiring modifications like those needed for the 1541.

I bought my Commodore 64 along with all of the peripherals from ebay in circa 2004.