Retrocomputers
This page lists Rubenerd's retrocomputers and their current state. Work in progress!
Contents!
8-bit
- Commodore VC-20 (1983)
- Commodore Plus/4 (1984)
- Commodore 16 (1984)
- Commodore 128 (1985)
- Apple //e Platinum (1986)
- Commodore 64 "Aldi" (1987)
- Commodore 64C (1988)
Commodore VC-20 (PAL, 1983)
This was Commodore's first mass-produced colour home computer, which set the stage for the legendary C64. This is a later cost-reduced VC-20 variant, which was rebadged in Germany. The keyboard came broken, so I replaced it with an Aldi 64 keyboard but retained the original orange function keys.
Photo
Parts
| Component | Part | Socket | Date | State | Memo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Noel Llopis | - | - | 🟢 | His VIC-20 video really helped! |
| Case | Stock | - | - | 🟢 | Retr0brighted to fix some nasty blotching |
| Keyboard | Aldi 64 | - | - | 🟢 | Replaced dead board with one from an Aldi 64 |
| Motherboard | - | - | - | 🟢 | PAL shortboard version |
| CPU | MOS 6502 B | UE10 | 0683 | 🟢 | - |
| CIA 1 | MOS 6522 | UAB1 | ??86 | 🟢 | Much newer, must have been replaced |
| CIA 2 | MOS 6522 | UAB3 | 4682 | 🟢 | - |
| VIC Video | MOS 6561-101 | UB7 | 1883 | 🟡 | Want the VIC-20 Digitiser |
| BASIC ROM | MOS 901486-01 | UE11 | 3883 | 🟢 | BASIC 2.0 |
| KERNAL ROM | MOS 901486-07 | UE12 | 5281 | 🟢 | Much older, must have been a replacement |
| Primary Cart | Penultimate+ cart | - | 2023 | 🟢 | From TFW8b. Even has memory expansion! |
Commodore Plus/4 (NTSC, 1984)
This was the flagship of the Commodore 264 line of computers built by Bil Herd and his team. While they lacked the C64's hardware sprites and sound, their expanded BASIC and colour palette make them much nicer to program. My parents bought this Plus/4 for my 18th birthday off eBay. I think it's the most beautiful 8-bit machine ever.
Photo
Parts
| Component | Part | Socket | Date | State | Memo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Bil Herd | - | - | 🟢 | The lead 264 and C128 designer |
| Case | Stock | - | 84 | 🟢 | Some very minor scratches |
| Keyboard | Stock | - | 84 | 🟡 | Rattly/scratchy, might need lubrication |
| Motherboard | Stock | - | 84 | 🟢 | Gorgeous design! |
| TED | MOS 8360R2 | U1 | 2684 | 🟢 | NTSC video and sound for the 264s |
| CPU | MOS 8501R1 | U2 | 🟡 | Needs heatsink | |
| PLA | PLAnkton +4 | U19 | 23 | 🟢 | Replaced dead MOS 251641-02 (2584) |
| BASIC ROM | MOS 318006-01 | U23 | 2884 | 🟢 | BASIC 4.0! |
| KERNAL ROM | MOS 318005-05 | U24 | 3884 | 🟢 | |
| Function Low ROM | MOS 317053-01 | U25 | 3884 | 🟢 | |
| Function High ROM | MOS 317054-01 | U26 | 3084 | 🟢 | |
| SPI ROM | MOS 6525B | U27 | 3284 | 🟢 | Plus/4 software. Wonder if I could replace? |
Commodore 16 (NTSC, 1984)
This was one of the budget machines in the Commodore 264 line, alongside the rare C116. Sharing the C64 case let them cut costs, and today gives hobbyists plenty of internal room for expansion. I also got this machine for my 18th birthday, and have subsequently upgraded it to 64 KiB of memory. It currently has a fault with its reset line, which prevents it warm rebooting.
Photo
Parts
| Component | Part | Socket | Date | State | Memo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | David Dunham | - | - | 🟢 | My high school computer and bowling teacher |
| Case | Stock | - | 84 | 🟢 | |
| Keyboard | Stock | - | 84 | 🟢 | Repaired a broken 6 key |
| Motherboard | Stock | - | 84 | 🟢 | Upgraded with SaRuMan 64 KiB |
| TED | MOS 8360R2 | U1 | 4084 | 🟢 | NTSC video and sound for the 264s |
| CPU | MOS 8501R1 | U2 | 🟡 | Needs heatsink | |
| BASIC ROM | MOS 318006-01 | U3 | 3084 | 🟢 | BASIC 4.0! |
| KERNAL ROM | MOS 318005-04 | U4 | 3184 | 🟢 | |
| PLA | MOS 251641-02 | U16 | 2984 | 🟢 |
Commodore 128 (PAL, 1985)
This was 8-bit computing's swan song, also built by Bil Herd and his team. It was three computers in one: a C128 with improved BASIC and 128 KiB of memory, a C64 mode, and a CP/M machine running on a Zilog Z80. It could also run in 40-column mode, and a separate 80-column text mode. My unit comes from Josh from The Geekorium, after he heard me wax lyrical about the machine. Currently there's an issue with its VDC.
Photo
Parts
| Component | Part | Socket | Date | State | Memo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Screenbeard | - | - | 🟢 | The gracious person who gave it to me :) |
| Case | Stock | - | 85 | 🟢 | Retrobrighted and fixed grounding strap |
| Keyboard | Stock (fixed) | - | 85 | 🟢 | Repaired function keys, replaced F7/F8 |
| Motherboard | Stock | - | 85 | 🟡 | Mostly works, but not 80-column mode |
| CIA 1 | MOS 6526 | U1 | 4285 | 🟢 | |
| CIA 2 | MOS 6526 | U4 | 4285 | 🟢 | Has "S" printed on top |
| SID | MOS 6581 R3 | U5 | 4285 | 🟢 | |
| CPU/MPU | MOS 8502 R0 | U6 | 4085 | 🟢 | Used in C128 and C64 modes |
| MMU | MOS 8722 R2 | U7 | 4385 | 🟢 | Memory management unit |
| CPU Z80 | Zilog Z80 B (Z8400BPS) | U10 | 3585 | 🟢 | Z80 mode for CP/M |
| PLA | U17 | 🟢 | #TODO: Add here | ||
| Character ROM | MOS 390059-01 | U18 | 1985 | 🟢 | "CBM M452995 8541H" |
| Colour SRAM | Hitachi HM6116P-4 | U19 | 2785 | 🟢 | |
| VIC-II | MOS 8566 | U21 | 4185 | 🟢 | PAL version |
| VDC | MOS 8563 R2 | U22 | 0786 | 🔴 | Needs fixing. 64 K SaRuMan worked |
| Clock Generator | MOS 8701 | U28 | 4185 | 🟢 | "F6 S" printed on top |
| KERNAL ROM | MOS 251913-01 | U32 | 4185 | 🟢 | With BASIC. "Taiwan 26011D-370" |
| BASIC LO ROM | MOS 318018-02 | U33 | 4185 | 🟢 | "Taiwan 26011D-290" |
| BASIC HI ROM | MOS 318019-02 | U34 | 4185 | 🟢 | "Taiwan 26011D-291" |
| 128 KERNAL ROM | MOS 318020-03 | U35 | 4085 | 🟢 | "Taiwan 26011D-292" |
| User Socket | Empty | U36 | - | – | |
| Disk Drive | Commodore 1571 | - | TODO | 🟢 | Bought in 2022 |
Apple //e Platinum (1986)
This was the last produced version of the legendary Apple II (the Apple IIgs ceased production earlier). They were on their way out when I started primary school, but there were a few dusty computer labs that had them. The sights and sounds imprinted in my little head, and in 2023 I finally found a refurbished unit I could call my own!
Photo
Parts
| Component | Part | Date | State | Memo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Brooks | - | 🟢 | My first primary school teacher |
| Case | Stock | 86 | 🟢 | Bit yellowed, but great condition |
| Keyboard | Stock Platinum extended | 86 | 🟢 | Nicest feeling keyboard I own! |
| PSU | Stock, recapped | 8734 | 🟢 | |
| Motherboard | IIe International NTSC | 86 | 🟢 | B607-0288-C |
| AUX | AIIE 80COL/64K Expansion | 🟢 | Pre-installed | |
| Slot 1 | Empty | - | - | (Usually printers) |
| Slot 2 | Empty | - | - | Would like a Super Serial Card |
| Slot 3 | 80 column card (indirectly) | - | 🟢 | |
| Slot 4 | V2 Analog VGA card | 2024 | 🟢 | (Usually memory expansion) |
| Slot 5 | Empty | - | - | (Usually for mouse) |
| Slot 6 | Apple I/O Controller | 8417 | 🟢 | 655-01-10B |
| Slot 7 | Empty | - | 🟢 | (Usually for co-processors) |
| Disk A | FloppyEmu | 2023 | 🟢 | Connected to I/O controller |
| Disk B | Apple 5.25 140 KiB A9M0107 | 86 | 🟢 | Daisy chain'd to FloppyEmu |
Commodore 64 "Aldi" (1987)
Aldi Germany briefly sold Commodore 64s with grey breadbin cases wed to a beige 64C keyboard. Mine is currently an empty shell I bought from eBay! I'm not sure if I'm going to put a classic motherboard inside like the 250466, or a modern reproduction.
Photo
Parts
| Component | Part | Socket | Date | State | Memo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Jan Beta | - | - | 🟢 | German! And it was his first 64 :) |
| Case | Stock | - | 87 | 🟢 | |
| Keyboard | Stock | - | 87 | 🟢 | |
| Motherboard | Empty | - | - | None | To be bought |
Commodore 64C (PAL, 1988)
What can I say, this machine is the stuff of legend. Hardware sprites, the SID's incredible audio, and only a somewhat lousy version of BASIC! I'd always loved the look of the consolidated "short board" 64C that came out years after the original breadbin, so I bought a PAL unit from eBay in 2022.
Photo
Parts
| Component | Part | Socket | Date | State | Memo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Adrian Black | - | - | 🟢 | His videos fixed so many of my machines! |
| Case | Stock | - | 88 | 🟢 | Slight retrobrighting |
| Keyboard | Stock | - | 88 | 🟢 | |
| Motherboard | Stock | - | 88 | 🟢 | |
| CIA 1 | MOS 6526A | U1 | 3588 | 🟢 | "216A" |
| CIA 2 | MOS 6526A | U2 | 3588 | 🟢 | "216A" |
| KERNAL ROM | MOS 251913-01 | U4 | 3188 | 🟢 | With BASIC |
| Character ROM | MOS 901225-01 | U5 | 3488 | 🟢 | |
| CPU | MOS 8500 | U6 | 3588 | 🟢 | |
| VIC-II | MOS 8565R2 | U7 | 3388 | 🟢 | |
| Super PLA | Sharp 251913-01 | U8 | 3388 | 🟢 | "LH5062B A" |
| SID | MOS 8580R5 | U9 | 3688 | 🟢 | |
| Clock Generator | MOS 8701 | U20 | 3588 | 🟢 | "F6 22" |
| Disk Drive | Commodore 1541 | - | TODO | 🟢 | Parents bought me in 2004 |
| Primary Cart | EasyFlash 3 | - | 2023 | 🟢 |