Commodore 65

The Commodore 65 was an advanced successor to the C64 with a faster integrated processor, VIC-III graphics, BASIC 10.0 and built-in 3.5-inch drive.

Cancelled before production, it survives as one of the most technically ambitious and valuable Commodore prototypes.

Notable Features

• Prototype revisions differ substantially in board, ROM and case details.
• The VIC-III adds higher resolution and a greatly expanded colour palette.

Historical Significance

• Cancelled before production, it survives as one of the most technically ambitious and valuable Commodore prototypes.

Collector’s Notes

• Board revision, regional video standard, power supply, keyboard legends and original accessories should be recorded.
• Memory, storage, displays and expansion hardware should be documented because configurations often changed during a system’s working life.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Commodore 65
Manufacturer	Commodore
Launched	Tuesday, January 1, 1991
Discontinued	1990s
Country	United States
CPU	CSG 4510 at 3.54 MHz
Units Sold
Form Factor	Keyboard computer prototype
Power	External or internal mains supply according to model
Networking	Commodore serial networking and third-party network adapters where supported
Operating System	Commodore BASIC 10.0 with C64 mode
Expansion / I/O	C64-style ports, RGB, IEC, cartridge and expansion
Keyboard	Integrated keyboard with numeric keypad and function keys
Storage	Built-in 3.5-inch floppy drive and cartridge port
Sound	Enhanced dual-SID audio on many prototypes
Colours	Up to 256 colours from a larger palette
Graphics	VIC-III graphics with higher resolutions and sprites
Display	Television or RGB monitor; 40 or 80-column modes
ROM	BASIC 10.0 and C64 compatibility ROMs
RAM	128KB; expandable
CPU Speed	3.54 MHz