Help With Commodore 64

[dsheinem]

good to see you asking for help with a computer!

[BurningDoom]

All C64s output composite video and ones with the 8-pin DIN jack also output chroma/luma
(S-video). There are plenty of cables out there that will work or you can do what I did and mod your system with dedicated jacks.

Which connection is composite? On the back I see the RF-Connection with the headphone-looking jack, I also see 2 strange looking circular jacks that look almost like a TurboGrafx-16 controller input. I remember those being for accessories like the Floppy Drive and the Datasette, though it has been a while. And then of course there's the power and joystick ports on the side.

BTW, while we're on the subject of the C64. Does the C64 have any D-Pad controllers that you can use on it? I've heard that Genesis controllers don't work right on it.

[CRTGAMER]

All C64s output composite video and ones with the 8-pin DIN jack also output chroma/luma
(S-video). There are plenty of cables out there that will work or you can do what I did and mod your system with dedicated jacks.

Which connection is composite? On the back I see the RF-Connection with the headphone-looking jack, I also see 2 strange looking circular jacks that look almost like a TurboGrafx-16 controller input. I remember those being for accessories like the Floppy Drive and the Datasette, though it has been a while. And then of course there's the power and joystick ports on the side.

BTW, while we're on the subject of the C64. Does the C64 have any D-Pad controllers that you can use on it? I've heard that Genesis controllers don't work right on it.

One round Din is for the Disc drive the other is the proprietary Commodore Video/Audio cable. The flat connector would be for the Datasette. Look at my first Reply on page one, I posted a pic showing the pin layout to BUILD a cable.

Any Atari 2600 Joystick and Paddle will work. Look for Omega Race which is a Commodore game cart, it uses the Paddle for a true Spinner control.

The C64 does not have a dedicated Composite or SVideo port. A cable can be made up to accommodate both, I updated my earlier Reply with a pic.

[Hobie-wan]

I've heard that Genesis controllers don't work right on it.

Gen controllers could actually damage the C64.

[ApolloBoy]

I've heard that Genesis controllers don't work right on it.

Gen controllers could actually damage the C64.

Yep, for some reason the first controller port is tied with the keyboard and using a Genesis controller could fry the main CIA chip (an I/O chip that controls the keyboard among other things). If you want to use a control pad, use a Sega Master System controller or an Atari 7800 joypad. You can even convert an NES controller for use on the C64 if you wanted.

[BurningDoom]

I've heard that Genesis controllers don't work right on it.

Gen controllers could actually damage the C64.

Yep, for some reason the first controller port is tied with the keyboard and using a Genesis controller could fry the main CIA chip (an I/O chip that controls the keyboard among other things). If you want to use a control pad, use a Sega Master System controller or an Atari 7800 joypad. You can even convert an NES controller for use on the C64 if you wanted.

Sweet, I've got a Sega Master System controller.

But I'm curious, why would a Genesis controller fry the C64 but not a Sega Master System controller?

[Hobie-wan]

But I'm curious, why would a Genesis controller fry the C64 but not a Sega Master System controller?

C64 and 2600 joysticks are basically just 5 switches. One for each direction and the fire button. So all you're doing is turning off 5 volts. The plug has 9 pins and some are used for joysticks while others are used for paddles which are basically like big volume knobs adjusting from 0 to 5 volts as you turn them. Later console controllers have more buttons then there are wires in the connector so they use coded pulses to indicate what's being pressed. Presumably the coded pulses cause a problem. Though FWIW it is possible to blow a C64 with even an appropriate joystick in port 1 if you're not careful and it is best to not plug or unplug sticks in port 1 while the C64 is on. That's why most games used port 2.