C64 Mod

Optimus Prime · 03-05-2014 4:53pm #1

Quick question, can you mod a C64 to play games off say an SD card like you can on the amiga?

Steve X2 · 03-05-2014 5:26pm

keithgeo wrote: »

Quick question, can you mod a C64 to play games off say an SD card like you can on the amiga?

You sure can. I'm not in front of my computer now so don't have links but one option is the SD2IEC. Or the 1541 ultimate I think is what the other option is.

Optimus Prime · 03-05-2014 5:33pm

Cool, ill check them out thanks! Are they plug in things, or do i need to get my hands dirty?

Steve X2 · 03-05-2014 5:34pm

keithgeo wrote: »

Cool, ill check them out thanks! Are they plug in things, or do i need to get my hands dirty?

Eh, a light soiling of the hands more than full on dirty

Optimus Prime · 03-05-2014 5:39pm

haha Just had a look there, looks like you just plug it in. handy.

http://www.sd2iec.co.uk/id14.html

Steve X2 · 03-05-2014 5:49pm

keithgeo wrote: »

haha Just had a look there, looks like you just plug it in. handy.

http://www.sd2iec.co.uk/id14.html

Yeah, but i think the software side is a bit more than copy and play. But I'm not sure as I've not got one myself. But was looking to pick up one over the next month or two.

Relikk · 03-05-2014 7:44pm

I don't have an SD2IEC but, I do have a 1541 Ultimate II, although the SD2IEC looks a lot tidier, smaller and those cases are amazing, especially the 1541 case. :pac:

1541 Ultimate is pretty good although the dev only makes them in batches and you could be waiting a while. Looking at a comparison it seems to have an advantage over the SD2IEC as it's cartridge based, allowing for instant loading and fast loading D64s.

Doge · 03-05-2014 10:11pm

Another +1 for the 1541 Ultimate II from me!

It's expensive @ ~€150, but its totally worth it as its the only unit with total compatibility.
It's full FPGA emulation of the 1541 Disk Drive.

You see those 1541 Disk Drivers actually had a processor in them.

And a lot of the games use fast loaders which take advantage of that processor.

So only the 1541 Ultimate II can run those games properly, not sure how many are compatible with the SD21EC.

The 1541 Ultimate can also connect to the tape drive, to load TAP files! Just like a cassette deck would.

You can also backup tapes to it directly without connecting to a PC.

It can also emulate cartridges or CRT files, which loaded instantly! Instant loading on a c64 is a dream come true.

You can also play back Video files on c64 with it, do a search for Nuvie Player on youtube.

It also has the easiest GUI to use ever, you can load and run games without even touching the keyboad!

I could go on all day about the features it has, it's an amazing product.

Relikk · 03-05-2014 10:13pm

waveform wrote: »

Another +1 for the 1541 Ultimate II from me!

It's expensive @ ~€150, but its totally worth it as its the only unit with total compatibility.
It's full FPGA emulation of the 1541 Disk Drive.

You see those 1541 Disk Drivers actually had a processor in them.

And a lot of the games use fast loaders which take advantage of that processor.

So only the 1541 Ultimate II can run those games properly, not sure how many are compatible with the SD21EC.

The 1541 Ultimate can also connect to the tape drive, to load TAP files! Just like a cassette deck would.

You can also backup tapes to it directly without connecting to a PC.

It can also emulate cartridges or CRT files, which loaded instantly! Instant loading on a c64 is a dream come true.

You can also play back Video files on c64 with it, do a search for Nuvie Player on youtube.

It also has the easiest GUI to use ever, you can load and run games without even touching the keyboad!

I could go on all day about the features it has, it's an amazing product.

Surprised you left out the SID player. :pac: Although the latest firmware sacrfices the SID player in favour of dual 1541 drives, which is also awesome.

Doge · 03-05-2014 10:16pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_HEvR6AgY0

Seriously the 150 euro is worth it.

It's about the same price as SD2SNES, and both are the 2 greatest SD Cart systems you can buy.

Doge · 03-05-2014 10:19pm

Relikk wrote: »

Surprised you left out the SID player. :pac: Although the latest firmware sacrfices the SID player in favour of dual 1541 drives, which is also awesome.

I should be shot for forgetting that!

Can't believe they ditched the SID player though.

I'm still on firmware 2.4c (AC), so haven't been keeping upto speed.

Nightfall Crew's blog is great for C64 relateed updates, and he also posts everytime a new firmware is released also:

http://www.nightfallcrew.com/

Doge · 03-05-2014 10:21pm

Right, I seriously need to go through all the updates I missed out on!

http://www.nightfallcrew.com/tag/1541-ultimate/

Doge · 03-05-2014 10:27pm

If you're on facebook, here's a video of me downloading and running the Amazing Horse demo from a USB Stick.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=492247050902917

Don't feel too shy to send a friend request.

MrVestek · 06-05-2014 3:04pm

waveform wrote: »

If you're on facebook, here's a video of me downloading and running the Amazing Horse demo from a USB Stick.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=492247050902917

Don't feel too shy to send a friend request.

Well I better not show you where the lemonade is made...

keanebg1 · 08-05-2014 11:46am

I have 2x SD2IEC devices. I got one from thefurturewas8bit in the UK and another from darekp324, a Polish seller on eBay. Both cards are great & easy to use with the FB browser application. Loading times are emulated per the original Commodore 1541 disk drive so can seem slow but its nothing like as slow as tape loading. The Fastload feature of my C64 Action Reply 6 cart does'nt work with SD2IEC which is the only real negative I have, there are other fastload carts which will work, so I need to get one that's supported.

The thefurturewas8bit team have a starter pack you can download to put on your SD card containing the file browsers and a few thousand games for the C64, Plus/4, C16 and Vic20. You put the files on the SD card, connect it up, turn on the C64 and load the first file like on a real 1541 disk drive - Load "*",8,1 The FB app launches, auto detects the computer type and loads the correct browser, once in you can use a joystick to go through the file menus & pick a disk/program to load. I went for the 'user port' power option when ordering as I use it with my C64, Plus/4 and Vic 20.

The one from Poland was really cheap at €23 including shipping to Ireland. But it has no case, no reset or disk swap buttons and uses the 9 pin joystick port for power which is far from ideal.

PM me if anyone needs the links.

C64 Mod

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