Commodore 64 Ultimate

The Commodore 64 Ultimate is a modern, officially licensed, FPGA-based re-creation of the original 1982 C64. It acts as a faithful, high-performance hardware replica (not software emulation) that runs original software, games, and supports classic peripherals, making it a "real" C64 in functionality and feel, while upgrading to HDMI, USB, and Wi-Fi.

Key Aspects of the C64 Ultimate:

FPGA Technology: Instead of a software emulator, it uses an FPGA to replicate the original motherboard, providing near 100% compatibility with original cartridges, tapes, and disks.

Modern Enhancements: Features built-in Ultimate-II+ functionality for loading games via USB/SD cards, HDMI output (1080P), Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Turbo modes.

Physical Fidelity: The unit, available in Beige or special editions, looks and feels like the original "breadbin" model, including a mechanical keyboard, according to this IGN review.

One of the main reasons I bought the original ultimate board was because of the network capability. Being able to push the new code over to the machine via the LAN is so much nicer than disk swapping. This is even more convenient when you go beyond just telnet and FTP and look at the REST API.

For example, if your C64U has the IP address 192.168.0.64 you can load and run a program by POSTing to:

http://192.168.0.64/v1/runners:run_prg

There’s a lot of potential for games taking advantage of the greatly expanded abilities having 20,000+ C64 ultimates out there too.

The C64U is objectively better unless your goal is 100% pure authenticity. Authentic experience does come at the price of frustrating upkeep of old electronics and lack of modern conveniences so I doubt it is for everyone. Retro hardware, have long argued, is a distinct but related hobby from retro gaming.

You can even use all your old peripherals, physical media, and add-ons if you want to. Nothing is lost in translation. The C64U plugs into a Commodore 1084S monitor for gorgeous blurry CRT visuals, as well as crisp, modern HDMI.

There are features that are more convenient on the C64U or even were doable but unlikely on original hardware. On the C64U you can use Jiffy DOS for faster disk loading, but you can switch back and forth with vanilla ROMS with a switch of a menu item. Another is the built-in modem is capable of speeds of up to 38400, whereas my C64 wifi modem tops out at something like 2400 at best.

The one area the original could theoretically beat the recreation is the audio from a real SID chip. This has been neatly solved for those who care, as the board has sockets for you to insert real 6581 or 8580 chips and have it replace the virtual ones.