Commodore 65

The C65, also known as C64DX or C64DX Development System should come in 1991 as the successor of the Commodore C64 home computer on the market. However, it never came to mass production, because Commodore wanted to create no competition with added purchased Amiga line.

History

After the bankruptcy and liquidation of Commodore, 1994, inter alia, all previously built prototypes of the C65 were sold, which today are invariably sought and valued as rarities in the hands of collectors. The data on the number of units in circulation vary between 50 and 1000 pieces. Realistically, however, is an amount of not more than 250 devices.

It is unknown why Commodore developed the C65, as early as 1986 with the Amiga 500 there was a very similar device. Assumptions are that the unbroken success of the Commodore 64 a dedicated successor made ​​it seem inevitable, since the Amiga series was not compatible with the software and hardware of the 64ers. It would certainly have been a selling point for many users if they would have continued to use the existing equipment, and programs. Commodore Amiga had however purchased quasi developed almost done. The Amiga was originally conceived as a game console. Commodore changed the design is known, into a full-fledged home computer, which should suffice in mutually compatible versions for demanding office applications. However, from the niche of the home computer, the Amiga never really found out. For the C64 was needed, however, more an evolution than a successor. Its first development plans were made prior to the acquisition of the Amiga.

Technical Details

The prototypes of the C65 are all located in respectively different, very early stages of development. For example, the built-in Commodore BASIC V10.0 still very buggy and has some still significant gaps. The proposed compatibility with the C64 is not far from being achieved. Actually, these pre-production models were intended only as a model for developers and the press.

Features

• Processor: CSG 4510 ( "Victor" )
• Clock Frequency: 3.54 MHz
• 128 KB ROM contains: C64 Kernal, BASIC 2.2, BASIC 10.0, DOS, character sets with country-specific keyboard layout

• Supports all video modes of the VIC II
• Max. 256 colors from a palette of 4096
• Text modes with 40/80 characters × 25 lines
• Graphics resolutions of 160 × 200-1280 × 400 pixels
• Complete C64 contain graphics mode
• Synchronized with external video source ( genlock )
• Integrated DMA controller (bit blit )

• Separate control for volume, filter and modulation

Processor

The processor is an evolution of the MOS 65CE02 was used with the CSG 4510 because of the then current Motorola 68000 could ensure no compatibility with the C64. The processor is clocked at 3.54 MHz and has two CIAs integrated type 6526. The original 8- bit instruction set has been extended to some 16- bit RMW commands and relative jumps and subroutine calls can also be addressed with a 16 -bit offset. Thus, the CSG 4510 is a 16 - bit features advanced 8 -bit CPU. Since there is still also the complete command set is included in the MOS 6502, the C65 is largely binary compatible to the C64. Only a few well-known illegal opcode of the MOS 6502 here no longer work for the CSG has 4510 other undocumented features.

Chipset

Much like the Amiga, the C65 various co - processors with specific tasks, and, like the Amiga one has given this own name:

• VICTOR: main processor CSG 4510
• BILL: VIC -III ( GPU ) CSG 4567
• DMAGIC: DMA controller CSG 390 957
• FDC: floppy disk drive controller CSG 4571 or 4581
• PAL programmable ICs ELMER ( Rev. 2A) and IGORI ( Rev. 2B right Elmer). From Rev. 3 combined into one IC.

(CSG = Commodore Semiconductor Group, previously known as the MOS technology)

• Custom chips

Bill

Elmer

Floppy Disk Controller

Another highlight is a UART with programmable baud rate generator, which can reach speeds up to a MIDI clock. This should make the C65 ready to operate modems with high data rates or to use it as a sequencer, or even as an instrument in a MIDI setup.

Software

Native C65 - programs are as good as any. Much like the C128 the C65 but it should be fully compatible with the C64. However, this was only partially successful, and only about 60-70% of the C64 - programs can be run on the C65. The reason is that in contrast to the C128, which contains a full- C64 inwards, whilst the C65 a C64 is emulated almost on the same hardware. Problems are especially games and demos that make excessive use of common programming tricks of the C64. For most of the new capabilities of the C65 can also be used in C64 mode. In addition, also as it is already at a C128 machine language monitor. Between the individual operating modes ( C65, C64, monitor) can be changed any time without performing a restart. The built-in BASIC interpreter of the C65 mode has the version V10.0.

There are a handful of small demo programs that run natively on the C65 and demonstrate the progressive for its time graphics capabilities.

ROM

The ROM contains in its 128 KB BASIC 2.2, BASIC 10.0, DOS, and monitor. There, the corresponding memory area in the Kernal is displayed by bank switching and when required.

BASIC

The Commodore BASIC is based always on the first BASIC interpreter from Microsoft in the year 1977. The C64 had the version 2.0. This is easily adapted as BASIC 2.2 in C65 inclusions ( Datassette routines have been deleted due to lack of connectivity as a standard drive was instead the internal 3.5 " set ). It is included with 20 KB in 128 KB large ROM of C65. Though sounds in C65 BASIC implemented due to the 10.0 version number for a significantly extended version, but unfortunately were never all commands implemented, and so, the instruction set functionally large gaps.

10.0 BASIC has many similarities with BASIC 7.0 on the C128. In addition there are a number of interesting new commands:

GEN LOCK ( video sync ) MOUSE / RMOUSE (mouse) TYPE ( Displays a sequential file on the screen ) FIND / CHANGE ( search and replace on strings) FRE ( 0 | 1 | 2) ( shows the free memory of the respective bank to ) PALETTE ( color definition ) DMA ( unclear DMA operations ) The following commands provide an unimplemented COMMAND ERROR from? :

PAINT PASTE CUT LOCATE SCALE WIDTH QUIT OFF SET VIEWPORT As with BASIC 7.0, the function keys are programmable. Busy they are by default with the following assignment:

F1: Switch 40/80 column F2: deletes everything below the cursor F3: DIR writes to the position of the cursor F4: writes DIR " * = PRG " to the position of the cursor F5: moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous word F6: writes KEY 6 to the position of the cursor (probably not implemented yet) Q7: moves the cursor to the beginning of the next word F8: MONITOR writes to the position of the cursor HELP: HELP writes to the position of the cursor graphic

The graphics are comparable to the performances of the first Amiga. Novelty is the CSG 4567 graphics processor, also known as "Bill" or " VIC III ", with integrated MMU. The chip can display 256 colors in 16 levels of brightness. This gives a range of 4096 different colors, of which only 256 simultaneously can be represented. MMU can be programmed separately and independently in a manner similar to the Amiga blitter. the blitter itself is integrated in the DMA controller " DMAgic ". hereby arise at the time unique opportunities in the programming of dynamic graphics and color effects. the resolution can be up to 1280 × 400 pixels ( interlaced). the display of 256 colors at 320 x 200 pixels was a then modern PC equal. Even the Amiga could display only 16 or 32 colors in normal mode., the display can have a built-in RF modulator or a composite output are output to a TV. better for monitors is an RGB output is available, resulting in a much higher image quality promises.

When translating the complexity of addressing coordinates in graphics memory, a display address translator (DAT ) helps.

Graphics modes

Non-interlaced

• 320 × 200, 256 colors (8 bit planes )
• 640 × 200, 16 colors ( 4 bitplanes )
• 1280 × 200, 4 colors (2 bitplanes )

Interlaced

• 320 × 400, 256 colors (8 bit planes )
• 640 × 400, 16 colors ( 4 bitplanes )
• 1280 × 400, 4 colors (2 bitplanes )

Sound

Also the sound ( Sound) has been improved. They donated the C65 two SIDs with three each, for a total of six independent voices. In the prototypes, unfortunately, no dual channel (stereo ) provided that, because the signals were mixed internally.

DOS

In contrast to the most recent 8 bits of the computers from Commodore C65 has a complete DOS, via which the built-in 3.5 "floppy controlled. The drive is compatible with VC1581 and their MFM format. The discs have a storage capacity of 880 KB. Since this format was not very common in the former C64 -owners, the C65 has also additionally on the already known serial port for Commodore floppies. About Here can also be a VC1541, how they will use for the C64, C65 are operated on.

The programmer of the C65 operating system Dennis Jarvis used the DOS of the old Commodore drives with IEEE -488 port as a base for the DOS of the C65. It can deal with only two drives, the internal counted. The F011 controller for drives can address up to seven external drives that each have to contain IC called F016 (CSG 4101 ). Since the planned external 1565, an additional drive for the F011 "Fast Serial " port has no more connections, it can be assumed that the C65 maximum appeal to an external drive should.

Interfaces

The C65 has the usual ports of the C64, in addition, there is a DMA port for memory expansion. The latter is attached just like the Amiga 500 via a flap in the bottom of the bottom of the board. The built-in floppy disk drive is connected via a "fast- Serial" said Port, serial drives Commodore can be connected via the standard IEC port. Also, a plug for a genlock was provided. Only the port for Datasette the C64 is no longer available, and the user port is missing the 9 volts AC, which could lead to problems with some extensions. The expansion port is 50 pin and identical to that of C16. A special adapter, the so-called " widget " board, presented the usual 44 -pin C64 expansion port at your disposal, so simple games and software modules could be played. Special extensions such as freezer, however, were not able to run.

Documentation

A handbook does not exist, only a few documents from the development with technical descriptions ( " C65 Technical Specification" ).

Market

The price should be about to launch between the C64 ( ≈ 300 DM / ≈ 150 € ) and the Amiga 500 lie ( ≈ $ 1000 / ≈ 500 € ). The prototypes were then sold off ( € 300 ≈ ) for about 600 DM. However, there are hardly any software that had been written directly for the C65 and compatibility with the C64 was approximately 60-70%.

Although these are outdated prototypes with a by no means complete feature, now high and constantly rising prices collectors are paid on a C65: During December 2009, a functionally ready C65 in the online auction site eBay a retail price of € 6060. achieved, a device is sold with missing blocks in October 2011 on the same platform for about $ 20,100. In April 2013 was achieved on eBay with 17,827 EUR, the previous maximum amount at an auction of a C65. Most owners of a C65 are collectors and many of them even by name in the scene known.

Emulation

The C65 can be emulated by MESS emulator and Hi65.