I have ten main units (German CIB, two England CIB, Terminator Pack CIB ), Eight power Adapters, Tape Drive VK160, four Commodore Tape Drives, ”load it” Tape Drive, many Commodore 1541 Disk Drives (one CIB), four 1541-II Disk Drive, Commodore Printer MPS803, two Video Cables, Speech Module, Terminator joystick, Commodore Bag, Floppy Disk Cutter, Commodore ES64 module, Commodore Plotter 1520, Commodore Music Maker, Commodore Sound Sampler, Koala Pad, Modem for C64 (B) and Monitor 1702.
type computer
country USA
year 1982
os Commodore Basic V2
cpu MOS 6510, latest MOS 8500
speed 0.985 MHz (PAL), 1.02 MHZ (NTSC)
ram 64 KB
rom 20 KB
graphic 320×200
colors 16
sound 3 voices, 9 octaves
ports RS323c, serial port for printer and disk drive,
cartridge port, two joysticks, tape drive
The Commodore 64: An 8-Bit Legend
The Commodore 64, often simply called the C64, is not just a piece of vintage hardware; it is a cultural icon. Released in 1982, it went on to become the highest-selling single computer model of all time. For many, it was the first gateway into the world of digital creativity and gaming.
Technical Marvel of the 80s
Despite its humble appearance—housed in a beige ”breadbox” style case—the C64 packed impressive technology for its price point. While its competitors were often limited in sound and color, the C64 featured:
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The MOS 6581 SID Chip: Arguably the most famous sound chip in history, capable of complex synthesis that defined the ”chiptune” genre.
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VIC-II Graphics: Supporting 16 colors and hardware sprites, which allowed for much smoother gaming experiences than its rivals.
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64 KB of RAM: A massive amount of memory at the time, giving it its name and providing developers with a vast playground for code.
The Legacy of Software
The C64’s success was driven by its massive library of over 10,000 software titles. From productivity tools like GEOS (a graphical operating system) to legendary games like The Last Ninja, Maniac Mansion, and International Karate+, the machine proved that a home computer could be both a serious tool and an ultimate entertainment center.
Today, the C64 lives on through a vibrant retro-computing community. Enthusiasts still write new games, compose music using the SID chip, and use modern hardware emulators or ”TheC64” mini-consoles to relive the magic of the 8-bit era.
The Commodore 64 — The Best-Selling Home Computer of All Time
Released in August 1982 at $595, the Commodore 64 is the best-selling single desktop computer model in history, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records with independent estimates placing sales between 12.5 and 17 million units. For over a decade it dominated the home computer market, particularly in Europe, outselling Apple, IBM, and Atari combined at its peak. Its combination of extraordinary sound and graphics capabilities, aggressive pricing, and mass-market retail distribution made it accessible to families who had never owned a computer, fundamentally democratising home computing in a way no previous machine had achieved.
The Technical Miracle — SID and VIC-II
The C64’s secret weapons were two custom chips designed at Commodore’s MOS Technology division. The VIC-II (Video Interface Chip II) provided 16 colours, hardware sprites, smooth scrolling, and raster interrupts that enabled programming tricks far beyond what a simple frame buffer could achieve. The SID (Sound Interface Device), designed by Bob Yannes, provided three independent oscillators with four waveforms each, a programmable filter, and an envelope generator — producing music and sound effects of a quality that left competitors far behind. Games and demos exploiting these chips produced results that genuinely seemed impossible for 8-bit hardware.
Six Weeks from Concept to Show
The C64’s development story is one of computing’s most remarkable. In November 1981, Commodore president Jack Tramiel gave his engineering team just six weeks to develop a 64 KB computer for the January 1982 Consumer Electronics Show. Two days after the request, the basic design was completed; by the end of December, five prototypes existed. The VIC-20 operating system was adapted to run on the new hardware, and the machine debuted at CES in January 1982 to extraordinary interest. This six-week development timeline for what became the world’s best-selling computer remains one of the most extraordinary engineering achievements in the industry’s history.
The Software Library
The C64’s commercial dominance generated a software library of approximately 10,000 commercial titles plus countless public domain and shareware programs. Games including Elite, International Soccer, Boulder Dash, Impossible Mission, and the entire Epyx catalog defined a generation of gaming. The demoscene produced technically astonishing demonstrations of what the hardware could achieve. Music trackers and early digital audio tools made the C64 a legitimate musical instrument. The breadth and depth of C64 software is unmatched by any 8-bit computer before or since.
The Computer Museum Ata Connection
The Commodore 64 holds special personal significance for this collection — it was the first computer that sparked Ari Tommiska’s passion for computing in the early 1980s, setting him on the path that eventually led to the largest private retro computer collection in Finland. The C64 in this collection is not merely an artefact of computing history but a deeply personal reminder of where it all began.