Commodore 128 - Old Home Computer Collection

“Commodore 128” Logo

After Jack Tramiel left Commodore to join their arch competitor Atari, Commodore wanted and needed a good machine upgrade for the Commodore 64. Bill Herd got the top job as head Engineer to come up with a machine to replace the C64 and also to push the range into the Small Business market.

The C128 was launched In January 1985 at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics show.

It was the last commercial 8 bit machine released by Commodore.

In C64 Mode, the machine is fully compatible with the Commodore 64.

“Commodore 128” Advertisement


	Commodore C128 (1985)

Commodore C128 (1985)


	Box

Commodore C128 (1985) Box


	QWERTY Keyboard

Commodore C128 (1985) QWERTY Keyboard


	Introductory Guide

Commodore C128 (1985) Introductory Guide

Another Major Breakthrough!


	Technical Specifications

Manufacturer		Type
Commodore Business Systems		Home Computer
Year:	1985	Built-in Language	64.128 & CP/M
Original Price	$300.00	Origin:	U.S.A
Model #:	C64	My Serial #:	CA1981638

Processor Type		Speed	ROM	RAM
8502 + Zilog Z80	8 Bit	1.023 Mhz (NTSC) in C64 Mode	48 KB	128 KB

Co-Processors & I/O’s
I/O	Video	Sound	I/O
External Cassette Unit Interface	VIC 2	SID	External 5.1/2 Floppy Drive

I/O Port:

RGB

I/O Port:

Cartridge Slot

I/O Port:

TV RF Output

Graphic Modes						Colors
320x200	Text Mode:		40 or 80 Ch		25 Lines	16 Colors
Sound				Ports		Joystick / Mouse Ports	Power Supply
3 Voices, 6 Octaves		Sound output through TV Monitor		Serial, User Port		2	External PSU


	Peripherals

External Cassette Unit	5.1/4” Floppy Disc Drive

1988	1983	1984	1985	1986
Battle Chess	Chess 7.0	Chess 7.5	Chess Champion	The Chessmaster 2000

5.1/4” Floppy Disk	5.1/4” Floppy Disk	5.1/4” Floppy Disk	5.1/4” Floppy Disk	5.1/4” Floppy Disk

1984	1985	1986	1989	1988
Colossus Chess 2.0	Colossus Chess 4.0	Cyrus II	Falken Schach	Fidelity Chessmaster 2100

Game Cassette	Game Cassette	Game Cassette	5.1/4” Floppy Disk	5.1/4” Floppy Disk

1982	1987	1984	1983	1984
Grandmaster Chess	Masterchess	Mychess II	Sargon II	Sargon III

Game Cassette	Cassette & 5.1/4” Floppy Disk	Cassette & 5.1/4” Floppy Disk	5.1/4” Floppy Disk	5.1/4” Floppy Disk

There are several Commodore 64 Emulators available on the internet. Below is information about Vice for Windows version 2.1 that works well and can be used to try out some of the software that was available for the machine. The chess software that was available is also shown under this section. You might want to try out the emulator and at the same time play a game with some of the listed chess software.

WinVice v. 2.1

Emulator


	C64TPC is a nice Utility tool that allows you to connect your PC to a Commodore 64/128 and load D64 and PRG Files directly to your Commodore 64/128. Instead of using an Emulator you can play with your Commodore 64 or 128. Click on the Icon below for details on C64TPC and also on the Chess Software that works with this Utility.

C64TPC

File Transfer Utility


	Did you know that there was also a Game Cartridge available for the Commodore 64/128, dedicated exclusively to chess?

1989

THE FINAL CHESSCARD

Game Cartridge

[Home] [Collection] [Tournaments] [Tests] [Computers] [What's New] [Links]