Commodore 64 works after 10 years sitting outside - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2018, 07:14:20 am
content: The guy goes speechless as totally rusty Commodore comes alive after 10 years in the field

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2018, 08:47:19 am
content: Big, chunky trace computers with mostly through-hole components, and a rock solid design tend to be incredibly resilient to all sorts of havoc, and also incredibly easy to repair, unlike modern computers where there are thousands of traces, and thousands of fragile surface mount components, the damaging of any one of which could definitely result in the board being broken, and difficult to repair without the right experience or tools.

author: Kleinstein
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2018, 09:43:01 am
content: The C64 was to cheap to use tantalum capsIt also was a time before low ESR caps got popular so it was from before the time of the early short shelf life low ESR caps.Another point is no lead free solder and mask ROM - so no EEPROM to loose it's content.There still is a chance the power-supply might fail if stared. So I would first run the supply on it's own and check the voltage (AFAIR its only 5 V regulated + some 9 V AC).It is odd the C64 was in storage for only 10 years - I haven't used it for more like 20-25 years.I would not call the design rock solid - the signal supposedly contained quite some glitches, so that using fast chips for the logic could be a problem. The RESTORE key was dodgy from the beginning (needed to hit it hard to make it "work" by bouncing enough), but rarely used. Arguably this was a feature and not a bug.

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2018, 11:02:03 am
content: This wasn't 10 years in storage, this was 10 years outside. I don't even think it had a power supply with it.I'm saying the manufacturing technology is very chunky compared to modern systems. I have motherboards from 2004 that have absolutely no signs of any issue whatsoever, look pristine, but just don't work in the slightest, and I bet you nothing consumer made in the last 14 years could survive this easily.

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2018, 11:08:40 am
content: Quote from: Kleinstein on October 13, 2018, 09:43:01 am1) Like any two-layer design.2)http://www.breadbox64.com/blog/c64-restore-mod/

author: pamperchu
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2018, 03:59:40 pm
content: alot of modern computers are just as good at that sort of thing, dishwasher safe too...

author: TheEPROM9
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2018, 12:37:16 am
content: Even when the rock solid design was unitentional, even cheap 80s tech achived it. Just try the same with a modern equiverlent computer & it probaly would not suvive the first week. & a mac would not suvive the first hour.Also a bouns you don't need 100s to 1000s in tooling to repair these machines, simple soldering setup, analog scope & a mutimeter. No microscopes or BGA rework stations. None of that bull. Plus it ain't glued together. I hate how modern stuff is designed to fail & be bined within its first year of life.Service manuals & detailed board info is easily avalible. Name one consumer prodact that offers that these days. (Pi's & such are not desgned for your average consumer)

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2018, 08:11:08 pm
content: Quote from: pamperchu on October 13, 2018, 03:59:40 pmLike what? I'm sure there are special built computers that can brave this sort of thing, maybe, but it wouldn't be a simple, clean and spiff up a couple of bits repair job.

author: DimitriP
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2018, 12:22:08 am
content: QuoteYeah...old stuff still works...it's new stuff that lasts right about the warranty duration (sometimes less).

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2018, 01:44:45 am
content: Quote from: pamperchu on October 13, 2018, 03:59:40 pmMy friend must be kidding. Apple fears moisture like hell. Why do you think they put water damage indicators all over. My son's 2 min swimming with iPod in his pocket destroyed the device in no time.