Sunday, November 6th 2011
Commodore 64 Replica: The Ultimate PC Enthusiast Retro PC Gets An Upgrade
The original 8-bit Commodore 64 computer was very popular in the early 1980s, but the original company eventually closed down in the 1990s, having launched their 16-bit Amiga range in the meantime as the C64s successor. For a while now, replica C64 models, packed with the latest PC technology, have been made by Commodore USA, a different company that has purchased the original Commodore brand.
Since last summer, they have been selling a replica for $999 powered by an Intel CPU. This PC, called the C64x Ultimate (model number: C64x-UL) included a dual core Atom D525, NVIDIA Ion 2 graphics, 4 GB RAM and a 1 TB hard drive. A barebones version is available for $349 without a motherboard, just the keyboard and case, allowing the customer to add their own hardware into the retro box. However, Commodore USA has now upgraded their offering with a considerably more powerful CPU. This version is the C64x Extreme (model number: C64x-EX) which includes a 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7-2720QM CPU, mini-ITX motherboard and PSU, 8 GB DDR3 RAM, DVD writer (slot loading) 2 TB 7200 RPM HDD, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The back panel has the following ports: legacy PS/2, USB 2.0 x5 (one eSATA combo) USB 3.0 x2, Ethernet and three audio jacks. Video connectivity is looked after by HDMI, DVI-D and VGA outputs.
This new version costs a not inconsiderable $1499, but the company justifies this by comparing it to the Mac Mini, which doesn't seem a completely convincing argument, since these are aimed at different markets. More than likely the price is this high, because of low volume production and the nostalgia factor.
It's important to note that this price doesn't include Windows 7 - that has to be sourced separately by the customer. Instead, it comes with Linux Mint 11 preinstalled. The company is also working on a custom operating system, called OS Vision, explaining simply:
Given the processor this houses, it will be interesting to see how far it can be overclocked (assuming the motherboard allows this) especially given the heat dissipation limitations of the retro case. Note the rightmost picture of the three is the original 1982 Commodore 64. In these photos, the most obvious visual difference compared to the replica, is the cursor key layout at the bottom right of the main keyboard.
There's detailed info on the original 8-bit Commodore 64 on Wikipedia here and the 16-bit Amiga here.
Source:
TechSpot
Since last summer, they have been selling a replica for $999 powered by an Intel CPU. This PC, called the C64x Ultimate (model number: C64x-UL) included a dual core Atom D525, NVIDIA Ion 2 graphics, 4 GB RAM and a 1 TB hard drive. A barebones version is available for $349 without a motherboard, just the keyboard and case, allowing the customer to add their own hardware into the retro box. However, Commodore USA has now upgraded their offering with a considerably more powerful CPU. This version is the C64x Extreme (model number: C64x-EX) which includes a 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7-2720QM CPU, mini-ITX motherboard and PSU, 8 GB DDR3 RAM, DVD writer (slot loading) 2 TB 7200 RPM HDD, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The back panel has the following ports: legacy PS/2, USB 2.0 x5 (one eSATA combo) USB 3.0 x2, Ethernet and three audio jacks. Video connectivity is looked after by HDMI, DVI-D and VGA outputs.
It's important to note that this price doesn't include Windows 7 - that has to be sourced separately by the customer. Instead, it comes with Linux Mint 11 preinstalled. The company is also working on a custom operating system, called OS Vision, explaining simply:
Commodore OS Vision (due for release shortly) allows you to play all your favorite 8-bit era games with a single click.Click here to see the C64x Extreme product page.
It even has the option to boot right into the original C64's full screen READY prompt (left), where you can also launch classic games.
Given the processor this houses, it will be interesting to see how far it can be overclocked (assuming the motherboard allows this) especially given the heat dissipation limitations of the retro case. Note the rightmost picture of the three is the original 1982 Commodore 64. In these photos, the most obvious visual difference compared to the replica, is the cursor key layout at the bottom right of the main keyboard.
There's detailed info on the original 8-bit Commodore 64 on Wikipedia here and the 16-bit Amiga here.
26 Comments on Commodore 64 Replica: The Ultimate PC Enthusiast Retro PC Gets An Upgrade
Talking about heat, I can remember the 6502 in my Acorn computers when it was running flat out. It was housed in something like a 40-pin DIP plastic package soldered straight onto the motherboard, no heatsink. You could put your finger on it and it felt just a little warm. Oh, those were the days, lol.
Anyone that buys this is a nostalgic fool.
commando...... hehe
At least the new Amiga has niche hardware
thats why we have to thanks for what weve been thru. without it we gonna have different future
The Vic Slim is better priced. And I think that OS they're working on could be interesting.
I seriously doubt they're writing an OS, much less an OS that functions on x86 with full support for built-in hardware, that can run 65xx era code, especially considering the amount of open-source code that is already out there doing that exact same thing.