My friend had a Commodore 64 growing up. My mom knew I wanted a computer and bought me TRS80 color 2 . It came with a book on how to program and make your own games. I was hooked on learning how to program. I came upon your videos by accident, and now I am forever hooked. It takes me back in time.
Your wife is beautiful! You’re so lucky to have a woman that embraces your computer enthusiasm for C-64’s and retrocomputing . Kudos to the both of you!
I was supposed to be going to bed, and then I stumbled across this channel. Now I've been up all night watching. Absolutely love it! Keep up the good work!
This is exactly the kind of information I was looking for to start my journey on owning a C64. Thank you so much to you both for doing this! (and to puppyfractic too!)
Just wanted to say I find the videos you three make very soothing. After needing to defrag my mind after doing heavy work projects, these are just the ticket.
@@RetroRecipes Not at all. One of your videos popped up in my recommendeds, it looked interesting, and it turns out it's exactly what I needed. All the best with the channel, I'm really enjoying it.
I recently bought a Commodore 128 (twice the 64 in one package haha) advertised as not working for parts. Bought a new power supply and turned it on and it works!
its a gamble but from what I had Learned the C64 is Easy too Repair if you have knowledge Experience with a solder iron , if you Lucky it has the Sockets .. there is many websites in how too Repair a C64 or C128 as the the Most Common problem is the PLA Chip I took a chance on a Untested Atari 400 and a Untested Atari 800 both from 1982 and they Both WORK! got them Real Cheap ..36 Dollars for a Complete Set minus the Disk Drive .. I had taken a Chance also... on a two . untested . TI99/4a computers one was Dead the other a Video problem ( CAPS ) ..
Nice score! I used a C-128 from the mid-80s through the early 90s. Definitely had fun with it but I don't know if I'd call it "twice the 64" - it's more like "the 64 plus a bunch of stuff you probably won't use much". 64 mode is where most of the games are, and most of the added features of the 128 (extra keys, extra RAM, fast mode, 80 column mode, etc.) can't be used in 64 mode. Looking back I mostly feel like getting the 128 was a poor choice, though it did serve me well. That's great that the machine you bought worked out for you, though. Have fun with it!
I stumbled upon your channel and was blown away by the professional content and execution. In full disclosure, I’m a guitar player who surfs in my free time for great videos to further explore my guitar passion. I gotta say I am not sure how I got hear, but I am happy I did. Learning a lot and think you guys are great. Cheers!
This was the first video of yours that I've seen. I'm glad RUclips recommended it! I've never used a C64, but I've been fascinated with them since watching The 8-Bit Guy for the last couple of years. At some point, I'd love to give the C64 a try. Thanks for a lovely video. You have a new subscriber!
Great & helpful Commodore Fans Channel 👍😎 As a commodore users since 1980 , just bought a 64C ( have my original Vic-20 , 2 C-64s and an Amiga , all fully functional ) . Keep up the good work guys and stay safe .
I have pre-ordered the TheC64 that will be out by the end of this year, and I am so excited for that one! I know the innards are totally different, but I will be just another C64 user (as I have been, all my life, basically) :). I love the C64, and always have, since I was a little kid. I may not be able to swap physical disks with the new model, and I do see that a lot of people look down on it, but still, I love this community, and I enjoy it greatly! But no matter what, I love watching videos about the original hardware!
So you program that one?, if so ( after the basic guides perhaps ) you might be interesting in these, 6502.org/ www.ajordison.co.uk/ www.zimmers.net/cbmpics/cbm/c64/vic-ii.txt skilldrick.github.io/easy6502/ books.google.be/books/about/What_s_Really_Inside_the_Commodore_64.html?id=ETfdtgAACAAJ&redir_esc=y www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/Commodore_64_Programmer's_Reference_Guide I remember having to go back to these things for some SNES stuff I was playing with after the Amiga, yes I prefer 68k asm hands down.
I watched just to see the dynamics in the family, I'm impressed she has watched your videos. That either shows great support or that she is just very curious about your other woman.
Thanks so much for uploading this wonderful guide! Since I finally got to buy one myself recently, and get into it more, all this information is super helpful! Keep up the great work, and greetings to all of you three from Germany! :)
This video and the links provided are an amazing resource for newbies to the C64 , like myself. I just purchased both a C64 and 128 a few days ago and the information you shared gives me so much more confidence to tackle the restorations. I’m stoked to be getting into the retro computing hobby because people like yourself have helped to make it accessible for the rest of us. Thank you!
Right what I needed: well, I've got already my old setup refurbished and fixed, but thanks to your vids and my game room my girlfriend, who missed most part of the 8bit era because her parents had her skip the 80s and start with MS-DOS in early nineties will catch up. She already gave me copies of old ads from her collection of kid magazines from the 80s (in that age, she read diligently the cultural parts, I got my old man Xerox the ads and searched bits and pieces for my room. Some of them surviving to show her, some bought anew in this age to show her) So, thank you for making this hobby enjoyable to laymen and everyone We, the fan and the usual customers, won't stick around forever We need to spread our passion out and you can do this better than anyone else :) PS: my doggie didn't recap anything lately. But he stole the antistatic bag of my Fastload and refused to give it back. That's a start :)
for what it's worth, I buy them in not working and release them working back on to eBay, the last two I bought on eBay in "untested" condition actually worked. I do agree with you that it most cases they probably don't but buying a 30+ computer is a risk even if it works when the seller tested it but may not when you get it. anyway, enjoy the videos, keep up the good work.
I love how the "bad" editing mimics videos from the 80s when we couldn't edit frame-by-frame. This video is brilliant on so many levels. I love the bad sound. It's obvious they know exactly what they're doing. This is so meta, really good, and fun, made my day
Am amazed at how vibrant and advanced the C64 scene is in this day and age. Am even more amazed the Speed Kind is STILL available used! My fave joystick of all time.
I had a ntsc 64 and I had about 500 games that ran just fine. Never had a problem with programs not working. I still have it and it's works great. I remember my dad buying it for me. I use it to get my retro fixes in these days.
Brilliant! This came out fantastically. I'm so glad you pointed out the SD2IEC's relative ubiquity and compatibility as well; definitely a great choice for a first foray into modern storage. I do wish there was a mention of a modern joystick for C64s (and others that share it's joystick port).
Glad you liked it! I intentionally left out modern joysticks as there are none that are both available (in stock) or considered anywhere near as good as originals. Trust me I tried. I might add a note about that too the description. If you know of one that people like and is in stock, I'm open to that though! 👍🕹️
Never thought I would regret selling my original C64(prob about 1989 for beer tokens) so much after watching this perfect you tube presentation..Im hooked.Keep up the fantastic work your presentation skills are so up my street ;-)
I love the husband and wife videos! I've even got my lovely non-geek wife to watch a couple with me and she would never considering watching any other retro videos with me! 👍
That's true, this (very kind) guy reacts to nearly every comment if it's possible - even if you criticize his puns ;-) - regards from Germany (we take fun very seriously here, it's not a laughing matter! Oh no, now I'm doing it, too...) PS: I put a FPGA Mist in a old c64 shell, which is quite convenient and is as near as you can get to a real one with avoiding the known problems)
The whole 'Fractic' family all in one amazing video. You have out done yourself on this video mate. Great job on all the links and help for those of us who are wanting to get back into Commodore 64 computing for the first time since we were kids! ❤️
Just some additional tips for video: - If you live near a thrift store, some of them will carry LCD monitors/tvs from the 2000s to 2010. They will generally have S Video and Composite. Allowing you to connect your C64 to both connection types and crisp pictures as with the upscaler :) - Cables are available online for both connection types. My preference would be the LCA/SVideo if you have that.
Excellent video guys! I just got into retro computing after decades separating the days when I grew up with 8 bit computers. This video also doubles as a relaxing ASMR adventure 😉✌🏻
NTSC is also used in Japan, so it's not exclusively a USA thing, plus NTSC is used all though out north america. On the other hand, PAL isn't exclusive to the UK, it's most of Europe.
I never owned a C64 but my brother had one. When he was in high school they were using C64's. They used graph paper to design sprites. I made some Battlestar Galactica Vipers. Wish I could recreate them. Another enjoyable video!
Some of the later C64 with "made in West Germany" can be either PAL or NTSC. The reason is simple: ALL C64 from the later area were produced in Germany. From 1987 or so on Commodore didn't produced C64 or C128 machines anymore in the states - they switched over to Amiga and Commodore IBM compatibles. Meanwhile, the C64 was still huge in Europe, while the Amiga didn't had a big run and the PCs lost heavily against the Amstrad ones. So they produced the C64 for the whole world, in NTSC and PAL, and C128, completely in Germany. That's also the reason, why a GERMAN company (ESCOM) bought Commodore in the end: They wanted the production facilities of CBM to build their own computers. They just went bankrupt too fast for doing it.
I purchased a breadbin C64 on eBay in great condition for more than I like to admit, and I also got the newest Ultimate64 FPGA full implementation board direct from the maker. Now I have a spare original C64 board to refurbish, recap, add chip sockets, etc. The Ulitimate64 allows you use the original SID chip from the C64, so my original C64 board will end up SID-less. I’m inclined to hold onto the original board. It’s a work of art.
I’ll be in the market for an Atari 800 compatible soon, and would love to see a similar guide for that, since the Atari 8-bit is where I got started in coding. There are so many varieties of this architecture it is hard to choose.
Great video as always. Ladyfractic put this one over the top. Emulating is a good way to experience a C64 but does not compare to having one especially if you have an old working monitor. Yes there is a big difference between a CRT and something more modern. The CRT displays things as they were intended while a modern display although looks sharp and clean does not quite display things as they were intended. While most will not notice the difference its definitely there. Similarly the SID chip sound is quite unique so having a real SID chip running vs a modern replacement or emulated SID there is a difference in the sound quality although when your old like me just being able to hear anything is a good thing so yea I can't tell the difference easily.
I use S-Video on my LCD and CRT and notice one thing more than picture quality and that is lag, I notice it on the cursor when I type.. Just looks normal on the CRT. The only time I use it on my LCD is so I can use my audio devise connected to the LCD TV.. both screens look good with my Commodore 64.
There are some really advanced emulators that will nicely emulate how a CRT works. For instance, today "RetroVirtualMachine" got another new update, and the way it emulates the screen includes all kinds of interesting bits. Like ghosting. Mask details. Screen curvature. Vsync out of perfect alignments, amplitude, flicker, type of screen, interlace blending, overscan, noises, random offset, sharpness/softness, vignette, beam (looks like filming a screen), --- all these knobs it has just for making the screen go wild. It's so fun to play with these! :) I had an Amstrad CPC as a child, and this has been one of my favourite ways to "go back" to it, for a while now. :)
If it is listed as untested or as is: -if it looks pristine on the outside, it is definitely broken and tampered with. -if it is dirty, the seller probably doesn't really care (to test it). I found multiple perfectly working pieces this way.
New to the channel but loving it. All the devices in the background take me back to my youth. (Confession - I was a ZX Spectrum kid. It was my friend who was C64 - but we spent endless hours gaming together on both).
I loved your channel before but the addition of more frequent visits with Lady Fractic makes it 500% better. If she had her own channel, I would totally sub.She just seems like a genuine great person.
Your videos are so fantastic and Ladyfractics are soooo cute. I like the "iku iku" screwdriver sound from her so much. Please more from this. Greetings from Germany! :)
C64 my first real computer that i ever owned. My dad won the illigal lotto and bought me a Commodore 64, good memories of years of gameplay and programming. Great duo by the way ;)
Great episode. So accurate information, well put together and spoken in a soothing voice. :) And the fun and the puns - I love them! :D Thank you for the video.
26:22 Quickshot II turbo! Wow there's a blast from the past. I had one of those in 1988 or thereabouts. We are fortunate in Australia that our C64s are all PAL. I must get around to buying a replacement for that old machine I sold to buy an Amiga 500 back in the day
I did the exact same thing.. Sold my entire C64 setup in 1987 to fund the A500. I couldn't go on with my life like that as long as you have though and bought another C64 in 1989-90 ish
Another great video, your guide is exactly what I needed a year ago when i got back into owning a c64 again, very informative video, and will be really helpful for future buyers. Top quality video!
Excuse me, Serbian language. Croatian and Serbian are the same except some minor dialects. For example, Croatian says: "na primjer", Bosnian (another republic before - it's federation now) says "na primijer", Serbs says "na primer". 😎
My beautiful lady has just bought me a C64 and a TapeCart SD, how she knows these things is beyond me, I can't believe she actually listens to all the geeky crap I talk about.... But I just wanna say that I Iove your videos', please keep them coming.
Having only started watching your channel in the beginning of 2023, going back & watching older videos is a bit of a shock. The lighting is a bit much. Still enjoyed it. 👍
After watching all of your Brixty Four videos, and obviously this extremely helpful video, I'm happy to announce that I bought my very own Commodore 64, today! (flailing my arms like Kermit) Now to dig in!! Thanks guys (and pups)!!
If you installed JiffyDOS, Commodore would finally be keeping up with you. Think about all of the saved minutes from loading games it would solve... :)
Awesome Video. I have been looking at getting an "untested" model to refurbish as a project. But these tips are invaluable for getting a good working model. Thanks for taking the time to explain and provide links to assist. You are both indeed amazing!
Excellent video How about a video for advanced users ... like building your new C64 from a kit, building your power supply from a kit. Stuff like that Thank you for your content it is a pleasure to watch.
Considering how much she looks like a Nagel painting I'm surprised Ladyfractic doesn't write about the Amiga more often. :) One point that I was to reiterate is that because it was the most popular computer ever sold, there are probably lots of cheap C=64's still available in garage sales and thrift stores (if you get there before youtubers :) ). Buying the C=64 is only the first, and possibly cheapest, expense. Shipping those lead-filled 1541 disk drives can be more expensive that buying a C=64+modern IO device!
Love your channel, even when i did not live the commodores era, just the IBM computers 90`s, love to wake up and put your porgramtion. great revies, recipies and more. Love your team georgeous partnet girl...!! In case to vacations time or travel to rest we wait for you here in Costa Rica, best place in the world to aproach to nature. Pura Vida keep doing what your love!
I gambled on an untested Atari 800xl. Got super lucky. It works great. And 4 other untested systems that were broken. So they aren't _all_ broken, but do assume you'll need to do repairs.
For people who like to do lots of recapping, it might be worthwhile to get an ESR(equivalent series resistance) meter (or a multimeter which can do ESR). That way you can test a cap while it is still in circuit. If the ESR is way high, then you know the cap needs to be replaced without having to bother to pull it from the board to test the capacitance.
IIII think it works pretty well.. i mean it's pretty easy to tell when a cap has popped, the values are gonna be pretty wrong. only doesn't work if the caps are directly in parallel. it is said: don't fix what's not broken
I'd love to see an updated version of this video, or a part two. There's a lot of options and accessories like the ultimate 64 board or wifi64 card that you just stumble across in the community. Could also be a chance to cover your evolving opinion on original hardware vs modern substitutes for the new buyer. Thanks as always!
Yes, I think that modern substitutes are the greatest solution if it is for everyday use and not for a personal museum-collection. After playing with emulation for months I decided to preorder a Mega 65. It is expensive but eliminates the need for a separate storage-drive and a video-upscaler.
I love how this is still a thing . My dad still has our original c64 from back in the 80's , complete with tape deck , disk drive and even a commodore monitor . As a kid I played so many hours on that computer , great times :-)
PUPPY DEX is already lying down, browsing the net for a c64, using MY NEW TABLET!! lol! I had a Vic20 when they were at the top, though i passed on the 64, and went for the 128, which i had for a long time, hm..maybe..just maybe... thankyou all for the entertaining video!! and PUPPY FRACTIC on top of things!! - Dex&Levi in sweden enjoyed!
The cable hookups are really easy since you can't plug the wrong thing in the wrong place unless you force it, and you only need to learn two commands to play games. "load" for loading games from casettes (if you have a casette drive) and "LOAD "[file here]",8,1 ( "*" instead of the filename is for loading the first thing on a floppy and "$" instead of filename loads the directory of the disk and if you type "LIST" for listing the things on the disk)
This channel is not only bolstering with charisma, but also the technicals that I want. 5-Star content!
Thank you for your kind words! Means a lot 👍🕹️
My friend had a Commodore 64 growing up. My mom knew I wanted a computer and bought me TRS80 color 2 . It came with a book on how to program and make your own games. I was hooked on learning how to program. I came upon your videos by accident, and now I am forever hooked. It takes me back in time.
Your wife is beautiful! You’re so lucky to have a woman that embraces your computer enthusiasm for C-64’s and retrocomputing . Kudos to the both of you!
Thank you for your kind words! Means a lot 👍🕹️
Just rescued a C64 from my old HS today, thanks for the buying guide!
You guys are all awesome together! His voice is so relaxing and chill, and her smile is like a supernova!
(and the puppy is a cutie!)
Thank you for your kind words! Means a lot 👍🕹️
@@RetroRecipes Now all we need is Christian to get a better hairstyle and they'll be perfect!
@@BobsBand Hairstyle? That's a wig!
@@RetroRecipes Lol. There's always hats!
@@RetroRecipes Responding to comments on a video that's over 2 years old! Man is a legend!
I've never seen 2 people matched so well..... but by ek he did well 😂
Thank you so much! 😊 BTW you misspelled "she".
😂
@@RetroRecipes or did he lol
Woooh pinned post! I've never had a post pinned before, do I get a special hat or something?....
@@repairupdaterepeat5815 Only if it's re-capped 👍🕹️
@@RetroRecipes lol touche
I was supposed to be going to bed, and then I stumbled across this channel. Now I've been up all night watching. Absolutely love it! Keep up the good work!
Thank you for your kind words! Means a lot 👍🕹️
This is exactly the kind of information I was looking for to start my journey on owning a C64. Thank you so much to you both for doing this! (and to puppyfractic too!)
That makes us so happy to hear! 👍🕹️
make sure, you have the manuals....i lost mine and had a hard time for programming ( learning )
I second that!
Just wanted to say I find the videos you three make very soothing. After needing to defrag my mind after doing heavy work projects, these are just the ticket.
Thank you for your kind words! Means a lot 👍🕹️
@@RetroRecipes Not at all. One of your videos popped up in my recommendeds, it looked interesting, and it turns out it's exactly what I needed. All the best with the channel, I'm really enjoying it.
I recently bought a Commodore 128 (twice the 64 in one package haha) advertised as not working for parts. Bought a new power supply and turned it on and it works!
Welcome to the family 👍🕹️
its a gamble but from what I had Learned the C64 is Easy too Repair if you have knowledge Experience with a solder iron , if you Lucky it has the Sockets .. there is many websites in how too Repair a C64 or C128 as the the Most Common problem is the PLA Chip I took a chance on a Untested Atari 400 and a Untested Atari 800 both from 1982 and they Both WORK! got them Real Cheap ..36 Dollars for a Complete Set minus the Disk Drive .. I had taken a Chance also... on a two . untested . TI99/4a computers one was Dead the other a Video problem ( CAPS ) ..
Untested will probably be cheaper, but may well require more TLC, if it works at all. This is a buyers guide.
Nice score!
I used a C-128 from the mid-80s through the early 90s. Definitely had fun with it but I don't know if I'd call it "twice the 64" - it's more like "the 64 plus a bunch of stuff you probably won't use much". 64 mode is where most of the games are, and most of the added features of the 128 (extra keys, extra RAM, fast mode, 80 column mode, etc.) can't be used in 64 mode. Looking back I mostly feel like getting the 128 was a poor choice, though it did serve me well.
That's great that the machine you bought worked out for you, though. Have fun with it!
I got so lucky today, visited my sister today and she gave me one as a present in mint working condition. 😀
I have absolutely NO INTEREST in old computers, but I can stare at this gal ALL DAY! 🥰
Same!!
You two are perfect together and I’m glad she’s been in more of your videos lately.
Aw shucks thanks!!
What a gorgeous couple ! You can't beat a puppy and a C-64... .
Its got electrolytes in it. It's what caps crave.
Welcome to Costco, I love you!
Just don't let them win the Superbowl or they will up-end their electrolytes all over the CPU. So no Madden NFL, ok?
It's great to see that your wife has now joined you on your channel! I'm glad that she shares and enjoys your favorite hobby! Great Job guys!
Thank you for your kind words! Means a lot 👍🕹️
I stumbled upon your channel and was blown away by the professional content and execution. In full disclosure, I’m a guitar player who surfs in my free time for great videos to further explore my guitar passion. I gotta say I am not sure how I got hear, but I am happy I did. Learning a lot and think you guys are great. Cheers!
Thank you for your kind words! Means a lot 👍🕹️
This was the first video of yours that I've seen. I'm glad RUclips recommended it! I've never used a C64, but I've been fascinated with them since watching The 8-Bit Guy for the last couple of years. At some point, I'd love to give the C64 a try.
Thanks for a lovely video. You have a new subscriber!
Thank you for your kind words! Means a lot 👍🕹️ Welcome!
Great & helpful Commodore Fans Channel 👍😎
As a commodore users since 1980 , just bought a 64C ( have my original Vic-20 , 2 C-64s and an Amiga , all fully functional ) .
Keep up the good work guys and stay safe .
I have pre-ordered the TheC64 that will be out by the end of this year, and I am so excited for that one! I know the innards are totally different, but I will be just another C64 user (as I have been, all my life, basically) :). I love the C64, and always have, since I was a little kid. I may not be able to swap physical disks with the new model, and I do see that a lot of people look down on it, but still, I love this community, and I enjoy it greatly! But no matter what, I love watching videos about the original hardware!
Me too!!
A fine option! 👍🕹️
So you program that one?, if so ( after the basic guides perhaps ) you might be interesting in these, 6502.org/ www.ajordison.co.uk/ www.zimmers.net/cbmpics/cbm/c64/vic-ii.txt skilldrick.github.io/easy6502/ books.google.be/books/about/What_s_Really_Inside_the_Commodore_64.html?id=ETfdtgAACAAJ&redir_esc=y
www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/Commodore_64_Programmer's_Reference_Guide
I remember having to go back to these things for some SNES stuff I was playing with after the Amiga, yes I prefer 68k asm hands down.
@@RetroRecipes , Nigel, thanks so much for the many links! I might really try and get creative! :) Learn BASIC and see where I go from there...
Thicc64
I watched just to see the dynamics in the family, I'm impressed she has watched your videos. That either shows great support or that she is just very curious about your other woman.
Well, definitely the former. Why do you think I married her? 😉
Thanks so much for uploading this wonderful guide! Since I finally got to buy one myself recently, and get into it more, all this information is super helpful! Keep up the great work, and greetings to all of you three from Germany! :)
That’s great!
I was just on eBay thinking about getting a C64. Glad I saw this video first.
This is awesome! I love the videos you do together and the ribbing and riffing you do off one another! Thanks for the insights and the laughs!
So great to know it works, and not just from our perspective lol. Cheers mate! 👍🕹️
Puppyfractic needs her own social media pages!
Yay, all my favorite peeps in one video! Lady Fractic, Puppy Fractic, Ashley Fractic, and Peri Fractic! Thank you!!!!!
This is a must-see video for new Commodore 64 owners. Very well done
I had to pause this a moment to hear Bjork talking about her TV. That was, um, different. Different. Bjork is different...and I love her for it!
Crazy 8s Drums the whole video is amazing really. never let poets lie to you
There’s nothing about this program I do not like. This is now my favourite thing on RUclips.
Thank you so much! 👍🕹️
Retro Recipes The production value of these videos are extraordinary. Keep going, this channel is going to explode!
This is a great video. Very helpful while being entertaining.
RUclips at its best.
Thank you for your kind words! Means a lot 👍🕹️
This video and the links provided are an amazing resource for newbies to the C64 , like myself. I just purchased both a C64 and 128 a few days ago and the information you shared gives me so much more confidence to tackle the restorations. I’m stoked to be getting into the retro computing hobby because people like yourself have helped to make it accessible for the rest of us. Thank you!
Great to hear!
I'm sorting through several boxes of C=64's I have had in storage and about to put on sale.
Watching this eagerly!
Your description with its links to eBay really helped me make my purchase. Thank you so very much !!!! You guys are awesome !!
Great to hear!
Right what I needed: well, I've got already my old setup refurbished and fixed, but thanks to your vids and my game room my girlfriend, who missed most part of the 8bit era because her parents had her skip the 80s and start with MS-DOS in early nineties will catch up. She already gave me copies of old ads from her collection of kid magazines from the 80s (in that age, she read diligently the cultural parts, I got my old man Xerox the ads and searched bits and pieces for my room. Some of them surviving to show her, some bought anew in this age to show her)
So, thank you for making this hobby enjoyable to laymen and everyone
We, the fan and the usual customers, won't stick around forever
We need to spread our passion out and you can do this better than anyone else :)
PS: my doggie didn't recap anything lately. But he stole the antistatic bag of my Fastload and refused to give it back. That's a start :)
for what it's worth, I buy them in not working and release them working back on to eBay, the last two I bought on eBay in "untested" condition actually worked. I do agree with you that it most cases they probably don't but buying a 30+ computer is a risk even if it works when the seller tested it but may not when you get it. anyway, enjoy the videos, keep up the good work.
I love how the "bad" editing mimics videos from the 80s when we couldn't edit frame-by-frame. This video is brilliant on so many levels. I love the bad sound. It's obvious they know exactly what they're doing. This is so meta, really good, and fun, made my day
Thank you so much, I just bought my first C64 and this was very informative and helpful. Lovely to see lady fractic and puppy again x
So glad! 👍🕹️
Well done Puppyfractic another great video, you've chosen your supporting cast well.
🐾
Am amazed at how vibrant and advanced the C64 scene is in this day and age. Am even more amazed the Speed Kind is STILL available used! My fave joystick of all time.
I get a kick out of every time they are together in a video, he gets an English lesson lol
I had a ntsc 64 and I had about 500 games that ran just fine. Never had a problem with programs not working. I still have it and it's works great. I remember my dad buying it for me. I use it to get my retro fixes in these days.
Brilliant! This came out fantastically. I'm so glad you pointed out the SD2IEC's relative ubiquity and compatibility as well; definitely a great choice for a first foray into modern storage. I do wish there was a mention of a modern joystick for C64s (and others that share it's joystick port).
Glad you liked it! I intentionally left out modern joysticks as there are none that are both available (in stock) or considered anywhere near as good as originals. Trust me I tried. I might add a note about that too the description. If you know of one that people like and is in stock, I'm open to that though! 👍🕹️
Loved the c64 when i was younger. Still have it ❤
This reminds me of 'Sheldon Cooper's Fun with Flags' on the Big Bang Theory. You gotta know how to hold and know how to fold them.
Never thought I would regret selling my original C64(prob about 1989 for beer tokens) so much after watching this perfect you tube presentation..Im hooked.Keep up the fantastic work your presentation skills are so up my street ;-)
Thank you for your kind words! Means a lot 👍🕹️
I love the husband and wife videos! I've even got my lovely non-geek wife to watch a couple with me and she would never considering watching any other retro videos with me! 👍
That's great! Sounds like a keeper in any case!
Retro Recipes totally agree, after 10 years and 2 kids, she still buys me retro, movie and video game themed tshirts 🤓
@@Cybernetic_Systems Now that's true love!!
I had a C64 back in the 80’s and a VIC20 before that, loved both machines 👍
That's true, this (very kind) guy reacts to nearly every comment if it's possible - even if you criticize his puns ;-) - regards from Germany (we take fun very seriously here, it's not a laughing matter! Oh no, now I'm doing it, too...) PS: I put a FPGA Mist in a old c64 shell, which is quite convenient and is as near as you can get to a real one with avoiding the known problems)
I do not reply to any comments actually.
Oh wait.
😂
This perfect timing. I literally bought a C128D today and needed to figure out how to get it connected to a HDMI monitor
These two look so disgustingly good it's almost unfair! D:
The whole 'Fractic' family all in one amazing video. You have out done yourself on this video mate. Great job on all the links and help for those of us who are wanting to get back into Commodore 64 computing for the first time since we were kids! ❤️
"This is a gorgeous looking device" yes, yes she is.
just what I thought...
Just some additional tips for video:
- If you live near a thrift store, some of them will carry LCD monitors/tvs from the 2000s to 2010. They will generally have S Video and Composite. Allowing you to connect your C64 to both connection types and crisp pictures as with the upscaler :)
- Cables are available online for both connection types. My preference would be the LCA/SVideo if you have that.
Good tip!
@@RetroRecipes Great video thanks!
Wow, so much work and love in these videos, appreciate it!
Thank you for your kind words! Means a lot 👍🕹️
Excellent video guys! I just got into retro computing after decades separating the days when I grew up with 8 bit computers. This video also doubles as a relaxing ASMR adventure 😉✌🏻
NTSC is also used in Japan, so it's not exclusively a USA thing, plus NTSC is used all though out north america. On the other hand, PAL isn't exclusive to the UK, it's most of Europe.
FRAG aLOT I live in Japan and have a NTSC system....getting pal to work here is cost prohibitive
I never owned a C64 but my brother had one. When he was in high school they were using C64's. They used graph paper to design sprites. I made some Battlestar Galactica Vipers. Wish I could recreate them. Another enjoyable video!
The german C64s are also PAL. But they are around the same price as the UK ones. I personally own probably one of the earlier german units from 1983.
All European C64 are PAL
Souljastation 5 Wouldn’t Australian ones be too?
@@BBC600 Maybe, I'm not sure.
@Joe Musashi I think so, since that C64 couldn't work on a German TV/monitor.
Some of the later C64 with "made in West Germany" can be either PAL or NTSC. The reason is simple: ALL C64 from the later area were produced in Germany. From 1987 or so on Commodore didn't produced C64 or C128 machines anymore in the states - they switched over to Amiga and Commodore IBM compatibles. Meanwhile, the C64 was still huge in Europe, while the Amiga didn't had a big run and the PCs lost heavily against the Amstrad ones. So they produced the C64 for the whole world, in NTSC and PAL, and C128, completely in Germany. That's also the reason, why a GERMAN company (ESCOM) bought Commodore in the end: They wanted the production facilities of CBM to build their own computers. They just went bankrupt too fast for doing it.
I purchased a breadbin C64 on eBay in great condition for more than I like to admit, and I also got the newest Ultimate64 FPGA full implementation board direct from the maker. Now I have a spare original C64 board to refurbish, recap, add chip sockets, etc. The Ulitimate64 allows you use the original SID chip from the C64, so my original C64 board will end up SID-less. I’m inclined to hold onto the original board. It’s a work of art.
I love my U64 and have added it to the description 👍🕹️
I’ll be in the market for an Atari 800 compatible soon, and would love to see a similar guide for that, since the Atari 8-bit is where I got started in coding. There are so many varieties of this architecture it is hard to choose.
Great video as always. Ladyfractic put this one over the top. Emulating is a good way to experience a C64 but does not compare to having one especially if you have an old working monitor. Yes there is a big difference between a CRT and something more modern. The CRT displays things as they were intended while a modern display although looks sharp and clean does not quite display things as they were intended. While most will not notice the difference its definitely there. Similarly the SID chip sound is quite unique so having a real SID chip running vs a modern replacement or emulated SID there is a difference in the sound quality although when your old like me just being able to hear anything is a good thing so yea I can't tell the difference easily.
I use S-Video on my LCD and CRT and notice one thing more than picture quality and that is lag, I notice it on the cursor when I type.. Just looks normal on the CRT. The only time I use it on my LCD is so I can use my audio devise connected to the LCD TV.. both screens look good with my Commodore 64.
There are some really advanced emulators that will nicely emulate how a CRT works. For instance, today "RetroVirtualMachine" got another new update, and the way it emulates the screen includes all kinds of interesting bits. Like ghosting. Mask details. Screen curvature. Vsync out of perfect alignments, amplitude, flicker, type of screen, interlace blending, overscan, noises, random offset, sharpness/softness, vignette, beam (looks like filming a screen), --- all these knobs it has just for making the screen go wild. It's so fun to play with these! :) I had an Amstrad CPC as a child, and this has been one of my favourite ways to "go back" to it, for a while now. :)
You two are so fun. Already have 2 complete C64s even the cassette drive, dot matrix printer, epix ram cart and the vintage 500XJ Epyx by Konix
'Thumbs Up' for Lady- & puppy-fractic. :)
If it is listed as untested or as is:
-if it looks pristine on the outside, it is definitely broken and tampered with.
-if it is dirty, the seller probably doesn't really care (to test it). I found multiple perfectly working pieces this way.
Lady fractic is so a-w-e-s-o-m-e she needs her own show 🙂
This is her show 😊
New to the channel but loving it. All the devices in the background take me back to my youth. (Confession - I was a ZX Spectrum kid. It was my friend who was C64 - but we spent endless hours gaming together on both).
Thank you for your kind words. Means a lot! 👍🕹 And welcome!
I loved your channel before but the addition of more frequent visits with Lady Fractic makes it 500% better. If she had her own channel, I would totally sub.She just seems like a genuine great person.
I couldn't agree more! Thanks Sara 😊
Tbh I would like this format more than her own channel. This adds something extra on top :)
A reset switch is a must for entering the peeks and pokes. Back in the day my brother did these for £2.50 including postage!!
Your videos are so fantastic and Ladyfractics are soooo cute. I like the "iku iku" screwdriver sound from her so much. Please more from this. Greetings from Germany! :)
Greetings from California! Ee-oo-ee-oo
Great info. Love the background. Glad I stumbled on you guys, very interesting.
Thank you for your kind words! Means a lot 👍🕹️
You two are just bloody adorable together.
Or 3, I should say.
💁🐶👦
C64 my first real computer that i ever owned. My dad won the illigal lotto and bought me a Commodore 64, good memories of years of gameplay and programming.
Great duo by the way ;)
Congratulations! Belatedly...
Now everyone's gonna want a C64... Is it too late to buy stocks in Commodore? :D
Technically you can actually. The current Commodore Inc. offer stock options starting at $18 million. Seriously!
I wish they would get on and make some new computers already
Never wanted one, ain’t gonna change now!
@@CastleFamilyThe your on the wrong channel then
Great video! I loved the cameo from Dave.
A Star Trek reference from a Star Wars actor... So satisfying!
Alan Toner Seriously? He was in Star Wars?
@@namakudamono IMDb Christian Simpson
Alan Toner Wow, thank you!
Dinotopia, too, according to the IMDB page. I seem to remember that fondly, but vaguely.
Great episode. So accurate information, well put together and spoken in a soothing voice. :) And the fun and the puns - I love them! :D Thank you for the video.
26:22 Quickshot II turbo! Wow there's a blast from the past. I had one of those in 1988 or thereabouts.
We are fortunate in Australia that our C64s are all PAL. I must get around to buying a replacement for that old machine I sold to buy an Amiga 500 back in the day
Wow that was a nice upgrade!
I did the exact same thing.. Sold my entire C64 setup in 1987 to fund the A500. I couldn't go on with my life like that as long as you have though and bought another C64 in 1989-90 ish
Another great video, your guide is exactly what I needed a year ago when i got back into owning a c64 again, very informative video, and will be really helpful for future buyers. Top quality video!
Sorry for the delay 😬
10:55 It's the fabled Yugoslavian cassette azimuth alignment program, check out the Serbian text. :D
Excuse me, Serbian language. Croatian and Serbian are the same except some minor dialects. For example, Croatian says: "na primjer", Bosnian (another republic before - it's federation now) says "na primijer", Serbs says "na primer". 😎
Are you coming from Yugoslavia?
My beautiful lady has just bought me a C64 and a TapeCart SD, how she knows these things is beyond me, I can't believe she actually listens to all the geeky crap I talk about.... But I just wanna say that I Iove your videos', please keep them coming.
Ladyfractic is gorgious. 🤩
yeah, y'all should make out on top of a pile of broken electronics
jerrica benton you’re an idiot!
Depends if it’s a hard disk or a floppy....
I’m in love with Ladyfractic 😀
Having only started watching your channel in the beginning of 2023, going back & watching older videos is a bit of a shock. The lighting is a bit much. Still enjoyed it. 👍
Lovely couple! Your girlfriend does her very best to be interested.
Thought it was his wife. 🤷♂️
She is stunning though, I have a preference for long hair.....but 😍
@@chris8139 Don't get your caps up :)
Haha
Zarr0ch> Thought it was his wife. 🤷♂️
They're not wearing rings on that finger for the fashion…
I somehow want to believe that they met geeking out over the same something! ;)
After watching all of your Brixty Four videos, and obviously this extremely helpful video, I'm happy to announce that I bought my very own Commodore 64, today! (flailing my arms like Kermit) Now to dig in!! Thanks guys (and pups)!!
Congratulations!! Good taste...
If you installed JiffyDOS, Commodore would finally be keeping up with you. Think about all of the saved minutes from loading games it would solve... :)
Awesome Video. I have been looking at getting an "untested" model to refurbish as a project. But these tips are invaluable for getting a good working model. Thanks for taking the time to explain and provide links to assist. You are both indeed amazing!
Thank you for your kind words! Means a lot 👍🕹️
Just discovered your channel ....
Ladyfractic is heart-breakingly gorgeous.
tommyzDad wonder if she has a sister
The PCB Way part was great. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable video.
...sorry, I meant recipode.
OMG the Azymuth program, in my language :D
Serbo-Croatian FTW :)
Greetings from California!
@@RetroRecipes Should you need a translation ... I have that on a cartridge along with a "biorhythm" program.
@@Mrav79 Well, I could always use more video caption translations! See link in description if interested 👍🕹️
Yes I had this same cartridge on my C64
Greetings from Croatia!
Excellent video How about a video for advanced users ... like building your new C64 from a kit, building your power supply from a kit. Stuff like that Thank you for your content it is a pleasure to watch.
Thanks! I have some videos like that already so feel free to look around my playlists 👍🕹️
Considering how much she looks like a Nagel painting I'm surprised Ladyfractic doesn't write about the Amiga more often. :) One point that I was to reiterate is that because it was the most popular computer ever sold, there are probably lots of cheap C=64's still available in garage sales and thrift stores (if you get there before youtubers :) ). Buying the C=64 is only the first, and possibly cheapest, expense. Shipping those lead-filled 1541 disk drives can be more expensive that buying a C=64+modern IO device!
I've searched Patrick Nagel paintings. You're right, the similarity is there. Once you see it you can't unsee it. :)
Love your channel, even when i did not live the commodores era, just the IBM computers 90`s, love to wake up and put your porgramtion. great revies, recipies and more. Love your team georgeous partnet girl...!! In case to vacations time or travel to rest we wait for you here in Costa Rica, best place in the world to aproach to nature. Pura Vida keep doing what your love!
Thank you for your kind words! Means a lot 👍🕹️ I visited San José for a convention a few years ago. Good times!
Jak sie masz? Bardzo dobrze :) Lady Fractic polish is really good.
I guess she's got it polished enough..
I gambled on an untested Atari 800xl. Got super lucky. It works great. And 4 other untested systems that were broken. So they aren't _all_ broken, but do assume you'll need to do repairs.
Can you have WiFractic call up Mrs. Zapp to get her into Retro? I say Retro she says NoNo. 🤣😉
Excellent list, Sir! Obie-Wan would be proud.
Wifractic? Love it! Time for a rebrand 😉 Sure we'll call right now. Via 9600 baud modem... Eeeee oooooooooohhhh...
@@RetroRecipes Cool. Unfortunately she never upgraded so she still has a 300 baud modem. No wonder she hates retro...
Right but at least she randomly yells "I am Sparta!"
For people who like to do lots of recapping, it might be worthwhile to get an ESR(equivalent series resistance) meter (or a multimeter which can do ESR). That way you can test a cap while it is still in circuit. If the ESR is way high, then you know the cap needs to be replaced without having to bother to pull it from the board to test the capacitance.
IIII think it works pretty well.. i mean it's pretty easy to tell when a cap has popped, the values are gonna be pretty wrong. only doesn't work if the caps are directly in parallel.
it is said: don't fix what's not broken
I'd love to see an updated version of this video, or a part two. There's a lot of options and accessories like the ultimate 64 board or wifi64 card that you just stumble across in the community. Could also be a chance to cover your evolving opinion on original hardware vs modern substitutes for the new buyer. Thanks as always!
Yes, I think that modern substitutes are the greatest solution if it is for everyday use and not for a personal museum-collection. After playing with emulation for months I decided to preorder a Mega 65. It is expensive but eliminates the need for a separate storage-drive and a video-upscaler.
I swear your dog knows more than she's letting on. I'm starting to get suspicious.
Lol me too! She even added that titling herself 😲
Their dog is a C++ programmer, actually.
@@RetroRecipes Dogs know a lot, but cats know everything.
I love how this is still a thing . My dad still has our original c64 from back in the 80's , complete with tape deck , disk drive and even a commodore monitor . As a kid I played so many hours on that computer , great times :-)
"how much should you pay?" she asks, tricking him to come clean about how much he's REALLY been spending on old computers
🤐 50p dear
@@RetroRecipes "I got the untested as is ones. honest!"
PUPPY DEX is already lying down, browsing the net for a c64, using MY NEW TABLET!! lol!
I had a Vic20 when they were at the top, though i passed on the 64, and went for the 128, which i had for a long time, hm..maybe..just maybe... thankyou all for the entertaining video!! and PUPPY FRACTIC on top of things!! - Dex&Levi in sweden enjoyed!
I have an old Commodore 64 at my grandparents. I don't even know if it works or not. It would be good to find out
Do it!
I will with the information provided. Thanks
The cable hookups are really easy since you can't plug the wrong thing in the wrong place unless you force it, and you only need to learn two commands to play games. "load" for loading games from casettes (if you have a casette drive) and "LOAD "[file here]",8,1 ( "*" instead of the filename is for loading the first thing on a floppy and "$" instead of filename loads the directory of the disk and if you type "LIST" for listing the things on the disk)
If it doesn´t work...who cares....take the board out put in a RasPi...install VICE and you have a 99.9991% working C64.