Commmodore 64 power supply (and accessories)

jaytee · Post by **jaytee** » Sun Jan 16, 2005 1:41 am

I just bought a Commodore 64 for 5 bucks, but it didn't come with anything but the composite switch to hook it into a TV.

The first thing I need, obviously, is a power supply, to make sure it even turns itself on. This plug has got to be one of the weirdest I've ever seen, so I was wondering if anyone knew of a good place to get a replacement.

Next, I cut my teeth on an Apple LCII, so I know next to nothing about how things like Commodores even work. Do I need a boot disk of some sort (and thus, a disk drive?) I know programs (and games) come in cartridge format, can I run directly off of them, like a game console?
Also, I noticed that the controller ports are the same as the atari joysticks'. Are the pinouts the same, or do I need to track down new joysticks too?

I already checked around for the power supply, the only place I can find is eBay, so I was kinda hoping for a retail store.
As for the other stuff, I know I could find it on google if I looked hard enough, but I figured that if someone here could give me some first-hand, personalized help, it'd be a lot better, and this was (for whatever reason) the first place I thought of posting.
Thanks.

JackFrost22 · Post by **JackFrost22** » Sun Jan 16, 2005 8:48 am

you can use an atari controller and probably eBAay for the rest
o got a vic 20 missing everything ended up buy a boxed one

jaytee · Post by **jaytee** » Sun Jan 16, 2005 2:07 pm

JackFrost22 wrote:you can use an atari controller and probably eBAay for the rest
o got a vic 20 missing everything ended up buy a boxed one

Does that mean I can also use Genesis controllers?

And yea, I'm scouring ebay.

MM007 · Post by **MM007** » Sun Jan 16, 2005 2:23 pm

You do need a power supply. I believe it is 5 volts.

Next, no boot disks are needed, since the OS and the BASIC language are in ROM.

There is a cartridge port on the back-right corner, around the corner from the controller ports.

Also a tape drive or a disk drive can be connected through the series connectors at the back of the unit.

Post by **SpongeBuell** » Sun Jan 16, 2005 8:03 pm

it also uses 9 volts AC

MM007 · Post by **MM007** » Sun Jan 16, 2005 9:30 pm

SpongeBuell wrote:it also uses 9 volts AC

Hmm...must be similar to the NES in power supply schematics....

vb_master · Post by **vb_master** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 8:39 am

Get a Commodore 64 DTV.

jaytee · Post by **jaytee** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 12:22 pm

vb_master wrote:Get a Commodore 64 DTV.

uh, why?

Post by **SpongeBuell** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 12:46 pm

they're on sale at Kay Bee toys for a mere $10, and is the actual C64 hardware shrunk down. You can even use a PC keyboard with some hacking, along with the cart slot and disk drive (though I dunno if you need a commodore one)

MM007 · Post by **MM007** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 1:04 pm

SpongeBuell wrote:they're on sale at Kay Bee toys for a mere $10, and is the actual C64 hardware shrunk down. You can even use a PC keyboard with some hacking, along with the cart slot and disk drive (though I dunno if you need a commodore one)

The 1541 is actually a type of Mac drive with some additional stuff.

jaytee · Post by **jaytee** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 1:25 pm

SpongeBuell wrote:they're on sale at Kay Bee toys for a mere $10, and is the actual C64 hardware shrunk down. You can even use a PC keyboard with some hacking, along with the cart slot and disk drive (though I dunno if you need a commodore one)

yea, except i already have a commdore 64, i don't know how to solder, all the kaybee toys around me went out of business and it would end up being just as expensive as me collecting for my original commodore 64 (probably moreso, as I'd have to get a keyboard and hacking supplies).

maybe in the future if i decide to make a portable commodore 64, i'll get the direct to tv unit, but i'd rather stick to getting my current system up and running instead of starting a new project.

cennar · Post by **cennar** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 3:00 pm

jaytee wrote:I just bought a Commodore 64 for 5 bucks, but it didn't come with anything but the composite switch to hook it into a TV.

The first thing I need, obviously, is a power supply, to make sure it even turns itself on. This plug has got to be one of the weirdest I've ever seen, so I was wondering if anyone knew of a good place to get a replacement.

Next, I cut my teeth on an Apple LCII, so I know next to nothing about how things like Commodores even work. Do I need a boot disk of some sort (and thus, a disk drive?) I know programs (and games) come in cartridge format, can I run directly off of them, like a game console?
Also, I noticed that the controller ports are the same as the atari joysticks'. Are the pinouts the same, or do I need to track down new joysticks too?

I already checked around for the power supply, the only place I can find is eBay, so I was kinda hoping for a retail store.
As for the other stuff, I know I could find it on google if I looked hard enough, but I figured that if someone here could give me some first-hand, personalized help, it'd be a lot better, and this was (for whatever reason) the first place I thought of posting.
Thanks.

i th8ink i have most of that... ill have to dubble check.

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Commmodore 64 power supply (and accessories)

Commmodore 64 power supply (and accessories)

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