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{{Short description|Prototype successor to the Commodore 64}}
{{Short description|Unreleased 8-bit home computer developed by Commodore in the early 1990s}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2025}}


{{Infobox computer
{{Infobox computer
| name = Commodore 65
| name             = Commodore 65
| photo = [[File:C65alleine (no bg) (balance).jpg|300px|Prototype Commodore 65]]
| logo              = Commodore logo 1980s.svg
| type = [[Home computer]]
| logo_size        = 100px
| released = Never officially released
| caption          = Commodore 65 prototype (C65)
| discontinued = 1991 (project cancelled)
| developer        = [[Commodore International]]
| processor = [[MOS Technology|CSG]] CSG 4510 R3
| manufacturer      = Commodore
| memory = 128 KB (expandable to 8 MB)
| type             = [[Home computer]]
| os = Commodore BASIC 10.0
| release_date      = Unreleased (prototype developed in 1990–1991)
| graphics = VIC‑III (CSG 4567 R5)
| discontinued     = 1991
| display = 320×200×256; 640×200×16; 640×400×16; 1280×200×4; 1280×400×4; palette of 4096 colors
| cpu              = [[MOS Technology 4510]] @ 3.54 MHz (65CE02-based)
| sound = Dual CSG 8580 SID chips, stereo output
| memory           = 128 KB – 1 MB RAM (expandable to 8 MB)
| storage = Internal 3½″ DSDD floppy (880 KB)
| storage          = Internal 3.5" floppy disk drive, cartridge port
| cpuspeed = 3.54 MHz
| os               = [[Commodore BASIC]] 10.0
| predecessor = [[Commodore 64]]
| graphics         = VIC-III graphics chip
| units shipped= Estimated fewer than 200 prototypes
| display           = 320×200, 640×200, 640×400, 256 colors (12-bit RGB palette)
| website = N/A
| sound             = 2× [[MOS Technology 8580]] SID chips (stereo)
| compatibility    = Partial [[Commodore 64]] software compatibility
| predecessor       = [[Commodore 64]], [[Commodore 128]]
| successor        = [[Amiga series]] (unofficial)
| website           = <!-- None; unreleased product -->
}}
}}


The '''Commodore 65''' (C65, also marketed as the C64DX) was a prototype 8-bit personal computer developed by Commodore Business Machines between 1990 and 1991. Intended as a successor to the [[Commodore 64]], it was designed to offer improved graphics, sound, and storage capabilities while maintaining backward compatibility with C64 software.<ref name="floodgap">Kaiser, Cameron. "Secret Weapons of Commodore: The Commodore 65". Floodgap.com. Accessed 2024. [https://www.floodgap.com/retrobits/ckb/secret/65.html]</ref>
The '''Commodore 65''' (also known as '''C65''') was a prototype [[8-bit]] [[home computer]] developed by [[Commodore International]] in the early 1990s as a successor to the [[Commodore 64]]. It was intended to bridge the gap between the aging C64 platform and the more powerful [[Commodore Amiga]] series. Although the C65 was never commercially released, it remains one of the most advanced 8-bit systems ever designed and is notable among computer collectors and retrocomputing enthusiasts.


== History ==
== History ==
The Commodore 65 project began around 1990 under the internal name "C64DX," with the goal of offering a more powerful 8-bit machine that remained largely compatible with Commodore 64 software. It was envisioned as a stopgap product that would offer C64 users enhanced capabilities—including better graphics, faster processing, a more capable BASIC interpreter, and internal floppy disk storage.


Development of the C65 began around 1989–1990, under the guidance of engineers including Fred Bowen, Bill Gardei, Paul Lassa, and Victor Andrade. The project aimed to revitalize the Commodore 64 product line before Commodore redirected its focus to the Amiga series.<ref name="zimmers">Zimmers, Bo. "Commodore 65 Computer". zimmers.net. Accessed 2024. [http://www.zimmers.net/cbmpics/c65/index.html]</ref> Full development commenced in late 1990, but internal disputes and financial pressures led Commodore chairman Irving Gould to cancel the project in 1991.<ref name="bagnall">Bagnall, Brian. ''On the Edge: The Spectacular Rise and Fall of Commodore''. Variant Press, 2005. ISBN 0‑9738649‑0‑7.</ref>
Development was led by Commodore’s West Chester, Pennsylvania office. However, the C65 faced competition from Commodore’s own Amiga line and internal disagreements about product direction. After the departure of CEO Irving Gould and the company’s ongoing financial difficulties, the project was cancelled in 1991 before mass production began.


Following Commodore's liquidation in 1994, an estimated 200 prototype units were released onto the collector market.<ref name="floodgap" /> Several units have since been sold at auction, occasionally reaching prices above €20,000.<ref name="slashdot">"The MEGA65: A Modernization of a Classic Commodore Computer". Slashdot, 2021. [https://slashdot.org/story/21/03/01/1529246/the-mega65-a-modernization-of-a-classic-commodore-computer]</ref>
== Specifications ==
The Commodore 65 combined legacy 8-bit architecture with significant improvements over the C64:


== Technical specifications ==
=== Processor ===
* **MOS 4510 (65CE02 core)**: An enhanced 8-bit processor running at 3.54 MHz, significantly faster than the 1 MHz CPU in the C64.


'''CPU''': CSG 4510 R3 (based on the 65CE02), running at 3.54 MHz
=== Memory ===
* 128 KB to 1 MB of RAM on board (expandable to 8 MB)
* 128 KB ROM containing Commodore BASIC 10.0 and KERNAL


'''Memory''': 128 KB onboard RAM, expandable to approximately 8 MB via a RAM expansion port on the underside of the case<ref name="zimmers" />
=== Storage ===
* Built-in 3.5" double-density floppy disk drive (Commodore 1581-compatible)
* C64-compatible cartridge expansion port


'''Graphics''': VIC-III (CSG 4567) chip supporting:
=== Graphics ===
* **VIC-III graphics chip**
* Display modes up to 640×400 resolution
* 256 on-screen colors selected from a 4096-color palette
* Enhanced text modes with 80-column support
* Hardware scrolling, blitting, and split-screen features


320×200 with 256 colors
=== Sound ===
* Two **MOS 8580 SID** sound chips for stereo output
* FM synthesis capabilities similar to the C64, but improved voice panning and output


640×200 or 640×400 with 16 colors
== Software ==
The C65 featured **Commodore BASIC 10.0**, a major update from BASIC 2.0 used in the C64. The new version introduced structured programming constructs, advanced graphics commands, and enhanced disk access.


1280×200 or 1280×400 with 4 colors
It retained partial backward compatibility with Commodore 64 software, although the VIC-III’s different memory layout and additional instructions sometimes caused incompatibilities.
 
Hardware blitter, DMA, and genlock support
 
'''Sound''': Dual CSG 8580 SID chips for stereo audio<ref name="floodgap" />
 
'''Storage''': Integrated 3½″ double-sided double-density floppy drive (880 KB), compatible with the Commodore 1581 format
 
'''Operating system''': Commodore BASIC 10.0, including extended graphics and disk commands
 
== Ports and expansion ==
 
The Commodore 65 included several ports and interfaces:
 
Two DE-9 joystick ports
 
50-pin expansion connector and Amiga-style RAM expansion flap
 
IEC serial port for disk drives
 
RGB (DE-9F), composite video, RF modulator, and stereo audio outputs
 
User port (parallel), DMA expansion bus, and built-in floppy controller<ref name="zimmers" />


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==
Although the Commodore 65 never saw commercial release, around 50 to 200 prototypes were built before the project was terminated. Some of these units were later sold as surplus when Commodore was liquidated in the mid-1990s. Due to their rarity and significance, C65s are highly sought after by collectors, often fetching prices over US$30,000 at auction.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Commodore 65 prototype sells for $30,000 |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/2026818/rare-commodore-65-fetches-30000-on-ebay.html |date=2013-01-08 |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=PCWorld}}</ref>


Despite never reaching the market, the Commodore 65 gained near-mythical status among retro computing enthusiasts. Its extreme rarity—fewer than 200 working units are known—has made it one of the most collectible Commodore prototypes ever produced.<ref name="floodgap" />
The system became a subject of fascination in the retrocomputing world, inspiring various efforts to emulate or recreate its architecture. The most prominent of these is the **MEGA65**, an open-source FPGA-based recreation of the Commodore 65 developed by the Museum of Electronic Games & Art (MEGA) in Germany.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MEGA65 Official Website |url=https://www.mega65.org/ |access-date=2024-06-01}}</ref>


=== MEGA65 ===
== Emulation and Preservation ==
C65 emulation has been integrated into [[VICE (emulator)]], a widely used Commodore emulator suite, and several ROM dumps are available for archival and testing purposes. The MEGA65 platform provides near-complete emulation and extension of the original C65 design.


In 2015, the non-profit Museum of Electronic Games & Art (MEGA) launched the '''[[MEGA65]]''', a modern open-source re-implementation of the C65 using FPGA technology.<ref name="slashdot" /> The system builds upon the C65 architecture while adding features for modern usability:
== See also ==
 
* [[Commodore 64]]
HDMI and composite video output
* [[Commodore 128]]
 
* [[MEGA65]]
microSD card storage, Ethernet, USB, and real-time clock
* [[Amiga 500]]
 
* [[Retrocomputing]]
A 45GS02 FPGA-based CPU core clocked at up to 40.5 MHz
 
Optional 8 MB RAM expansion and accelerated DMA
 
Full-size mechanical keyboard and functioning floppy drive in a replica Commodore case
 
Developer preview models shipped in late 2020, followed by retail production units in 2021. As of 2024, the MEGA65 remains in production and is available through official channels.<ref name="slashdot" />


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
== Further reading ==
Kaiser, Cameron. "Secret Weapons of Commodore: The Commodore 65". Floodgap.com. [https://www.floodgap.com/retrobits/ckb/secret/65.html]
Bagnall, Brian. ''On the Edge: The Spectacular Rise and Fall of Commodore''. Variant Press, 2005. ISBN 0‑9738649‑0‑7
Zimmers, Bo. "Commodore 65 Computer". zimmers.net. [http://www.zimmers.net/cbmpics/c65/index.html]
"The MEGA65: A Modernization of a Classic Commodore Computer". Slashdot, 2021. [https://slashdot.org/story/21/03/01/1529246/the-mega65-a-modernization-of-a-classic-commodore-computer]


== External links ==
== External links ==
 
* [https://www.mega65.org/ MEGA65 official site]
{{commons category|Commodore 65}}
* [https://vice-emu.sourceforge.io/ VICE emulator supporting C65]
 
* [https://www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/Commodore_65 C65 article on C64-Wiki]
[https://www.floodgap.com/retrobits/ckb/secret/65.html Secret Weapons of Commodore – C65 overview]
* [https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=954&st=1 Commodore 65 at Old-Computers.com]
 
[https://mega65.org Official MEGA65 site]
 
[https://www.zock.com/8-Bit/D_C65.HTML 8‑Bit Nirvana – Commodore 65]
 
[https://devilmaster.altervista.org/hi65.html Hi65 emulator]
 
[[Category:Commodore computers]]
[[Category:Home computers]]
[[Category:Prototype computers]]
[[Category:Commodore 64]]

Revision as of 18:01, 14 August 2025

Commodore 65
File:Commodore logo 1980s.svg
DeveloperCommodore International
ManufacturerCommodore
TypeHome computer
Discontinued1991
Operating systemCommodore BASIC 10.0
CPUMOS Technology 4510 @ 3.54 MHz (65CE02-based)
Memory128 KB – 1 MB RAM (expandable to 8 MB)
StorageInternal 3.5" floppy disk drive, cartridge port
Display320×200, 640×200, 640×400, 256 colors (12-bit RGB palette)
GraphicsVIC-III graphics chip
Sound2× MOS Technology 8580 SID chips (stereo)
Backward
compatibility		Partial Commodore 64 software compatibility
PredecessorCommodore 64, Commodore 128
SuccessorAmiga series (unofficial)

The Commodore 65 (also known as C65) was a prototype 8-bit home computer developed by Commodore International in the early 1990s as a successor to the Commodore 64. It was intended to bridge the gap between the aging C64 platform and the more powerful Commodore Amiga series. Although the C65 was never commercially released, it remains one of the most advanced 8-bit systems ever designed and is notable among computer collectors and retrocomputing enthusiasts.

History

The Commodore 65 project began around 1990 under the internal name "C64DX," with the goal of offering a more powerful 8-bit machine that remained largely compatible with Commodore 64 software. It was envisioned as a stopgap product that would offer C64 users enhanced capabilities—including better graphics, faster processing, a more capable BASIC interpreter, and internal floppy disk storage.

Development was led by Commodore’s West Chester, Pennsylvania office. However, the C65 faced competition from Commodore’s own Amiga line and internal disagreements about product direction. After the departure of CEO Irving Gould and the company’s ongoing financial difficulties, the project was cancelled in 1991 before mass production began.

Specifications

The Commodore 65 combined legacy 8-bit architecture with significant improvements over the C64:

Processor

  • **MOS 4510 (65CE02 core)**: An enhanced 8-bit processor running at 3.54 MHz, significantly faster than the 1 MHz CPU in the C64.

Memory

  • 128 KB to 1 MB of RAM on board (expandable to 8 MB)
  • 128 KB ROM containing Commodore BASIC 10.0 and KERNAL

Storage

  • Built-in 3.5" double-density floppy disk drive (Commodore 1581-compatible)
  • C64-compatible cartridge expansion port

Graphics

  • **VIC-III graphics chip**
  • Display modes up to 640×400 resolution
  • 256 on-screen colors selected from a 4096-color palette
  • Enhanced text modes with 80-column support
  • Hardware scrolling, blitting, and split-screen features

Sound

  • Two **MOS 8580 SID** sound chips for stereo output
  • FM synthesis capabilities similar to the C64, but improved voice panning and output

Software

The C65 featured **Commodore BASIC 10.0**, a major update from BASIC 2.0 used in the C64. The new version introduced structured programming constructs, advanced graphics commands, and enhanced disk access.

It retained partial backward compatibility with Commodore 64 software, although the VIC-III’s different memory layout and additional instructions sometimes caused incompatibilities.

Legacy

Although the Commodore 65 never saw commercial release, around 50 to 200 prototypes were built before the project was terminated. Some of these units were later sold as surplus when Commodore was liquidated in the mid-1990s. Due to their rarity and significance, C65s are highly sought after by collectors, often fetching prices over US$30,000 at auction.[1]

The system became a subject of fascination in the retrocomputing world, inspiring various efforts to emulate or recreate its architecture. The most prominent of these is the **MEGA65**, an open-source FPGA-based recreation of the Commodore 65 developed by the Museum of Electronic Games & Art (MEGA) in Germany.[2]

Emulation and Preservation

C65 emulation has been integrated into VICE (emulator), a widely used Commodore emulator suite, and several ROM dumps are available for archival and testing purposes. The MEGA65 platform provides near-complete emulation and extension of the original C65 design.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Commodore 65 prototype sells for $30,000". PCWorld. January 8, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  2. ↑ "MEGA65 Official Website". Retrieved June 1, 2024.

External links

Retrieved from "https://retrowikipedia.com/index.php?title=Commodore_65&oldid=15446"