Hardware FAQ

Gamepad, Joystick and Mouse

Links to where to buy are for your convenience and list not every place where they are sold nor is that the intention.

Gamepad

What gamepads work?

Natively

Turbo 2000 Super Wireless Gamepad V2

https://amigastore.eu/932-turbo-2000-super-wireless-gamepad.html

Commodore 64 / VIC-20 Atari 2600 Controller Joystick Up to Jump Map Gamepad

https://retrogameboyz.com/products/commodore-64-atari-2600-flashback-9-x-controller-joystick-up-to-jump-map-gamepad

Atari wired CX78+ Gamepad Controller. - The mini joystick on the D-pad can be removed

https://atari.com/products/cx78-gamepad-emea

Atari wireless CX78+ Gamepad Controller. It also has an USB dongle for use on PC. - The mini joystick on the D-pad can be removed

https://atari.com/products/cx78-wireless-gamepad-emea

Not yet available but in the works; Protopad from Protovision

https://www.protovision.games/shop/protopad/protopad.php

Do not use an (unmodified) Sega Genesis controller.The plug fits and it works, but the internal wiring differs and will damage your port.

You could can modify a nearly compatible gamepad to make it safe to use

modifying_a_nes_gamepad_controller_for_the_c64

With adapter

Sega Mega Drive adapter to DB9

makes it possible to use Sega controllers, also Bluetooth ones, on the C64

https://www.ebay.com/itm/257183359134

https://www.8bitdo.com/retro-receiver-genesis-mega-drive/

Joystick

For information about how the joysticks work in the C64 see c64w>Joystick

What joysticks work?

ArcadeR Joystick

https://www.commodore.net/product-page/arcader-joystick - A good way to spend your Commodore Coins if you have them (and expire after 3 months)

USD$10 off on first order in the Commodore store

https://amigastore.eu/en/919-arcader-joystick.html

The Atari CX40+ Wireless Joystick. Several colour options

https://atari.com/products/cx40-wireless-joystick-emea

An Immortal Joystick. Build is bomb proof. It comes with the C64 9pin connector so you can get a USB adapter to connect to PC also

https://www.immortaljoysticks.co.uk/

Trooper Premium Controller 2600 from Hyperkin

https://www.hyperkinstore.com/products/trooper-premium-controller-for-2600-retron-77-hyperkin (USA)

https://dragonbox.de/en-be/wired-controllers/trooper-premium-controller-2600-atari2600-style (EU)

Competition Pro from Kempston Micro Electronics is a very well regarded joystick that is not longer in production. Joysticks that look a lot like it do exist.

Mouse

Note: the actual use of a mouse on a C64 is limited to a few programs. Like GEOS and C64OS.

Where can you buy a DB9 compatible mouse ?

There is no known commercially available compatible mouse available. The only options are a legacy mouse from the time period. Or a new mouse in combination with an adapter.

Be aware: some DB9 to USB adapters can support mouse on the Atari but not on the C64 but do support gamepad/joystick on the C64

Can I use an USB-device?

The only device that just should work is an usb keyboard when plugged in an C64U USB-port. Anything, besides an storage device (like USB-stick) will not work.

Note: Gideon Zweijtzer, who made the Ultimate 64 which is nearly identical to the C64U, wrote about the use of an USB mouse on Facebook 'Not yet implemented'. - So there is potential that it could come in a later firmware update.

Buying and using a DB9-to-USB adapter

Dongles do exist which translate between the DB9 port to usb. If it works you can use an usb mouse, gamepad or joystick.

MouSTer: What can I do with that and where to buy?

The dongle that gives the best hope that it will work is the MouSTer dongle.

With mouSTer it works in GEOS and C64OS with an USB-mouse. Be aware that the mouSTer is a universal USB HID class device to DB9 adapter. It emulaties Atari, Amiga and the Commodore 1351 mouse. And it emulates joysticks and gamepads. The mouSTer is highly configurable via an .INI file.

https://retrohax.net/shop/modulesandparts/mouster/

Other DB9-to-USB dongels

Other dongles:

Amiga Atari ST C64 USB Mouse & Joystick Adapter

https://www.tindie.com/products/ikonsgr/amiga-atari-st-c64-usb-mouse-joystick-adapter/

Does not supports mouse but does some usb gamepads & joysticks with list of known working devices

Build-it-Yourself

Can I make my own C64 to joystick/gamepad/mouse adapter?

While some people sell ready to use adapters you can find the information built your own. This requires that you will need source components and able to put the electronics together. A lot of people do that but it is more difficult than putting a IKEA bokshelft together.

PCB-Way: Unijoysticle 2 allows you to use modern bluetooth gamepads for your retro computers.

User port: What is it & how to get it back?

At the C64U is the user port is missing. At it's place are the external usb ports, ethernet port and HDMI-connector.

The user port was to connect external devices such as modems and printers to the Commodore 64. It is possible to get it back with a special expansion module you can buy on the Commodore website and plug it in the available connector for it on the C64U motherboard.

See this FB post for how installing it can look and be done.

A potential use of the user port is is this module to add 2 extra DB9 joystick ports. So that you can play with 4 people on one C64, if the game supports that.

Does it bend? (or flexes)

What editions are affected?

If the problem occurs, it will be with the Starlight edition and probably also the Founders edition. To make the case transparent in these versions, the material is built lighter and the PCB is transparent and more fragile. As such the Basic beige version should be the most solid built version.

How serious is the bending?

Not every example is the same. Some buyers have no complaints about it, and even realize there is some flex when they read about it; though some do have complaints.

See timestamp 09:35

How to fix the bending?

It is quite possible that some units were not put together exactly like they should have been with some parts not being not exactly aligned. This could be explained the difference in experience of the person assembling the unit.

As the C64U is very simple to open and there are very few parts, one should be able to fix the issue by realigning the offending parts.

There also have been 3D printed braces made to re-enforce the internal structure.

Small brace made by Jakub Rzepecki

I know that there is a 3d print fix for bending keyboard, but for me it's too much print. So I made smaller one, lightweight one - it does not cover the entire keyboard - but it is sufficient to “eliminate” the bending effect - or at least greatly reduce it. The print was designed to use the four built-in screws already present in the C64U, as well as two existing additional holes, into which a screw with a nut can be inserted. The reinforcement does not interfere with the installation of SID chips, even if heat sinks are mounted on them.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7262014

What's the SID about?

The C64U comes with software based SID chips, 'UltiSID'. These produce the sound of the C64. These are good but are not able in every situation to produce the authentic sound.

Sockets are available to install hardware SID chips very easily. Configuration options are available in the menu for this.

What is the difference between the 6581 and 8580 SID chips?

The 6581 SID has grittier, more distorted filters. The 8580 in later C64C's sounds cleaner struggles with some filter-heavy music written for the 6581.

Should I install real SID chips? What is that about?

This is a controversial topic.

At the very least try the UltiSID's first. They are good. It is true they can not cope with edge cases. But those are the exceptions.

If you look you indeed can find programs that will not work like the should like this one with the UltiSID. The C64U offers you the option to install hardware SID's.

There are the legacy ones from C64. They are literally 'the real deal'. By definition they are old and limited in supply. Their prices have only gone up. If you wish to buy one of those be careful. Broken and especially fake ones are on offer.

There are also new hardware SID's. Those are not the real MOS-chips. They are attempts to create replacements, just like the UliSID is, but with hardware instead with software.

Examples of those new hardware SID's are; ARMSID, SIDKickPico, FPGAsid, BackSID, SwinSID and SIDKick

Comparing C64U UltiSID versus vintage MOS 6581	Comparing Ultimate 64 UltiSID versus ARM2SID

Should after installing real SID chips I change the jumpers SID Mix/P16?

Page 210 of the Manual, #24 explains it. Just insert the SID, they are auto-detected. Just enable it in the menu system and you are off to the races. Don’t change any other settings. Enable = done

If you move the jumpers you will bypass the mixer and UltiSID's… so you only have the sound of the SID sockets. You can in the Menu disable the UltiSID's and enable the hardware SID's. There is no need to switch the jumpers. It's mostly for purists who want to connect it to a setup to get the pure, unaltered sound from the chip.

You lose the option to change what SID's to use with the configuration software if you change that.

Where can I buy SID's?

Please do your research before just buying stuff. - And try the UltraSID's included first.

ARMSID replacement of the MOS 6581 and 8580 SID - retrocomp.cz

Internal storage

Do not forget; typical Commodore 64 software is very, very small. Look at the included 'usb cassette' and how much space is still free to guide you how much you need

SD-card

What capacity for the SD-card is supported?

Several owners of the C64U have reported that a 254GB card works. It is reported that Commodore support said the limit is 1TB.

What file system should I use for the SD-card?

A supported one. The wp>FAT-32 or wp>exFAT filesystem

How to install it?

18

Remove the 3 screws on the backside

Carefully open it and unplug the keyboard from the USB-C port and unplug the LED-light. Be careful.

Install the Micro-SD-card in the slot contact side down / label side facing up

Adding an NVMe SSD

Inside the C64U is an internal USB-A port. The top port works. You can buy an NVMe enclosure, put an 2230 M.2. NVMe SSD inside it. And hook it up with an short USB-A to USB-C cable. This way you can have several terabyte of internal storage in your C64U. - Consider using something to secure it inside. Like double sided tape so it will not move around or maybe damage anything.

Example NVMe enclosure

Example 2230 M.2. NVMe SSD

Example short cable

What are my options to get sound output?

Internal speaker: not great but better than nothing

HDMI out: audio is provided if the monitor has speakers

Line out: there is a 3.5 mm stereo audio jack and Optical S/PDIF. This gives many options. Connecting it to the line-in of a Bluetooth speaker is a simple solution.

S-video: this port has a video and audio output. Even if you do not use the video you could use the audio of it. You need a cable like this. - Useful to connect it to a audio setup that is using tulip connectors.

How to use the C64U without wall power? Can I make it portable?

FB post about this The C64U is powered with a barreljack connector and needs 12 volt. Some USB battery packs can deliver that power. There exist usb-to-barreljack connectors. - So it is possible to make it 'battery powered'. Make very sure you get the polarity correct.

Example usb barreljack connector (Amazon PL)

Can I put the C64U in an original C64 case?

Yes. Or an original replica. The board fits. See also c64u_breadbin_to_64c_case_modification. They C64U main board has a legacy 19-pin connector to connect the original keyboard of an original case.