Commodore 64 parts question.

[Atari 5200]

I am ignorant of the c64 and I was wondering what it actually needs to play games. I know there is a keyboard and a disk drive, but how do these things hook up, and what other parts are needed to make it work properly? Thanks for your help!

[Hammy]

well the basic system comes with a power supply and an rf lead. of cause you'll prolly have a disk drive of some kind (for a casette tape or 'propper' floppies) this is hooked up with a serial type lead iirc. it's been a long time since i stuck mine in the loft.

[lotus13]

I am ignorant of the c64 and I was wondering what it actually needs to play games. I know there is a keyboard and a disk drive, but how do these things hook up, and what other parts are needed to make it work properly? Thanks for your help!

Well, you need the Commodore 64 which is the computer and keyboard. You need either an RCA to F connector (cable television connector) or a 5 pin din to RCA connector for the video. Go with the cable, it's easier if you have a VCR or RF modulator. Just plug this sucka into it, then plug a cable from it to your VCR: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103580&cp=&kw=rca+adapter&parentPage=search

Next, if you're playing disk based games, you'll need a disk drive such as a 1541. Then a serial cable, which is a a 5pin din -> 5pin din straight through cable. Of course, power supply.

Tape games require just a datasette (data cassette) drive.
Cartridge games plug right into the C64.
It's really fairly minimal!

[Jibbajaba]

Knowledge Base to the rescue:

http://www.digitpress.com/livefaq/index.php?action=artikel&cat=22&id=73&artlang=en

:D

Chris

[tom]

A CX 40 helps indeed, or a Competition Pro

[Tan]

a vic-20, sega master system or genesis model 1 av cord can also be used if you rather composite over RF.

[Mr.collection]

basicly you need a C64/power cord, floppy drive/power/hook up cables, controller,and a standurd RFU. Games are generally cart or floppy and some tapes. Or if you are like me you have a monitor and all the setup like the box has.

[Ze_ro]

I don't think it's been mentioned, but it's worth pointing out that the tape drive (or datasette or whatever you want to call it) does not need a power supply, so don't worry if you can't find one :)

Oh, and if you're going to get into C64 stuff, you might want to look into buying/building an X1541 (http://sta.c64.org/xcables.html) cable. With one of these, you can hook up a 1541 drive to your PC and write .d64 images to disk.

--Zero

[vulcanjedi]

Hey

All commodore 64 users should get a copy of Moondust on cartridge and play it in a dark room on a big screen TV.

Trippy ...

[Pete Rittwage]

You really pretty much have to have a fast-load cartridge also if you're using disks. The built-in loading routines are unbelieveably slow unless the disk bootstraps in some better routines, which not all games do.

Pete Rittwage
C64 Preservation Project
http://c64preservation.com

[idrougge]

You should really consider investing in an MMC64. It's really cheap and really convenient.

[idrougge]

(double post)