MACHINE REFERENCE

Commodore 64

Commodore 64 — released in 1982, and still the best-selling single computer model of all time by unit count.

Why it matters

Commodore’s aggressive retail pricing strategy, driven by founder Jack Tramiel, undercut nearly every competitor and got the C64 into more homes than any rival 8-bit machine. The SID chip’s distinctive sound became so beloved it still gets reused — genuinely, not ironically — in new chiptune music today.

Commodore 64 SID 6581 sound chip — The SID chip gave the C64 a sonic reputation that outlived the machine itself.

What to check before you buy

PSU-related motherboard damage is common — a failing power brick can take chips with it
SID chips vary between revisions (6581 vs 8580) with audibly different filter behaviour
1541 floppy drives are notoriously slow and finicky — budget time to service one
Breadbin vs C64C (‘brick’) case styles are cosmetically different but functionally equivalent

Released

1982

CPU

MOS 6510, ~1 MHz

RAM

64 KB

Launch price

$595 (1982, US)

Manufacturer

Commodore

Form factor

CPU

MOS 6510, ~1 MHz

Chipset

RAM

64 KB

ROM

Graphics

320×200, 16 colours

Audio

MOS SID 6581, 3-channel synthesizer

Storage

Cassette (Datasette) or 5.25″ floppy (1541 drive)

Ports

PSU

Units sold

Successors

PSU-related motherboard damage is common

a failing power brick can take chips with it
SID chips vary between revisions (6581 vs 8580) with audibly different filter behaviour
1541 floppy drives are notoriously slow and finicky

budget time to service one
Breadbin vs C64C ('brick') case styles are cosmetically different but functionally equivalent