Commodore’s VIC-II chip – Are they interchangeable?

I’m a geek, you’re a geek, we’re all geeks.

And when geeks repair retrocomputers or build them they sometimes need to be imaginative with replacement parts.

The Commodore 64 has been the most successful home computer, and part of why comes from the Video Interface Chip II by Mos Technology.

During the lifetime of the Commodore 64, there has been several revisions of the VIC-II chip.

Why different versions? Are they compatible?

Today we discuss what is the VIC-II chip, why it was revolutionary, and how to interchange them.

2023/10/232023/10/10 by wereallgeeks Categories: 100% Geek, C64VIC, Commodore 64, Computers and technology, Games, Geekyness, Projects, RetrocomputingTags: BYO, BYOC64, C64, C64C, commodore, Commodore 64, Commodore 64C, DIY, electronics, games, Geek, HMOS, HMOS-II, MOS technology, NMOS, retro computer, retrocomputer, Retrocomputing, retrogaming, VIC chip, VIC-II, VIC-II chip, video games

Gamepad controller for ATARI VCS or Commodore 64

I’m a geek, you’re a geek, we’re all geeks.

And geeks play retro video games.

On retro computers.

And sometimes, their retro arcade style joysticks aren’t well suited for the side-scroller platform retro-game.

What is a geek to do then?

Today we look at making – or modding – a gamepad controller that works on the Commodore 64

2023/10/022023/09/06 by wereallgeeks Categories: 100% Geek, C64Mods, Commodore 64, Computers and technology, Games, Geekyness, Retrocomputing, RetrogamingTags: Atari, Atari 2600, Atari VCS, BYO game controller, C64, commodore, Commodore 64, Commodore 64C, Commodore alteration, controller, DIY, electronics, Game controller, gamepad, games, Geek, joystick, personalize your commodore, retrogaming, video games

What happens in the arcade…

I’m a geek, you’re a geek, we’re all geeks.

And 10 years ago, geeks were talking about making arcade control panels.

While arcade has drastically decreased in popularity since the 1980s, they are still widely regarded as the summum of geek videogames. There are multi-platform machines, emulation…

Did the arcade world evolved in the last decade?

2023/08/092023/08/10 by wereallgeeks Categories: 100% Geek, Arcade Cabinet, Arcade electronics, Arcade room, Computers and technology, Control Panel Redux, Games, Geek lounge, Geekyness, Projects, Retrocomputing, RetrogamingTags: Altoids, arcade, computer, console, control panel, CPO, DIY, Game Boy, gameongrafx, games, Geek, MAME, NES, Raspberry pi, Raspberry pi 3b+, retrogaming, Retropie, trackball, video games

Are physical video games still a thing?

I’m a geek, you’re a geek, we’re all geeks.

And 10 years ago [to this day] geeks asked “Physical video games are dying, should we care?”

In 2013, the concept of downloadable games was still emerging, and there was concerns about it, particularly from collectors, as the physical discs were dissapearing from the shelves in favor of content to be downloaded.

A lot has happenned in 10 years. What happenned to videogames during that time?

2023/08/022023/08/10 by wereallgeeks Categories: 100% Geek, Computers and technology, Games, Geekyness, Modern gaming, RetrogamingTags: 10years, cartridge, disc, games, Geek, Modern gaming, nintendo, Nintendo 3DS, nintendo switch, nintendo wii, nintendo wii u, playstation, playstation 4, playstation 5, PS Vita, PS4, PS5, retrogaming, video games, wereallgeeks, xbox, xbox one, xbox serie x

Commodore 64 RF modulator for the 21st century

I’m a geek, you’re a geek, we’re all geeks

and geeks like their vintage aparitus to work on their brand new TV. This is one of the unrationalities of geekdom.

When building a commodore 64 computer from scratch, geeks need to come up with a solution for the RF modulator.

Il old time, there was a modulator to push the video signal into RF-compatible format to be connected on the antenna jack of a television set in order to display video on the TV. This reality has changed now and no analog televisual signal is sent trough the airwaves anymore.

Modern TV generally lack the capability to accept the RF-modulated signal. In modern times, there are better ways to connect anything to a (modern) TV, including the Commodore 64.

In today’s article we will explore the possible RF-Modulator replacement to be installed on a Commodore 64 motherboard.

2023/07/172023/08/03 by wereallgeeks Categories: 100% Geek, Audiovideo, C64Mods, C64VIC, Commodore 64, Computers and technology, Geekyness, Projects, RetrocomputingTags: BYO, BYOC64, C64, c64 longboard, C64C, Commodore 64, Commodore 64C, computer, DIY, electronics, games, Geek, retro computer, retro computing, retrocomputer, Retrocomputing, retrogaming, RF, RF modulator, RF modulator replacement, Television, TheRetroChannel, video games 2 Comments