Commander X16 technical deep dive

The Commander X16 is a "modern" retro computer which promises to finally realize David Murray's goal of being the upgrade to the Commodore 64 that everyone wanted. Let's take a deep-dive look at it and see what makes it tick, and see if it's any good.

0:00 Intro
2:56 Commander X16 design and capabilities
20:46 The VERA: the heart of the X16
33:52 Check out some X16 software
52:15 Q&A about the X16
55:41 A very special surprise
58:57 Outro

--- Info

VERA = Versatile Embedded Retro Adapter

Intro music: Eternity by 4mat (Matt Simmonds)
https://modarchive.org/index.php?requ...
Used with permission

From Modarchive:
Matthew Simmonds, also known as 4mat or 4-Mat, is best known for his chiptunes. Most of his music is found in the form of tracked music files (modules). He began his career in the demoscene of the early ’90s, progressing to commercial games where he has worked on titles released by Konami and EA. 4-Mat’s latest work can be found on his Facebook page:

  / 4matofficial  

--- Video Links

8-bit Guy Commander X16 videos:

Building my Dream Computer
Part 1:    • Building my dream computer - Part 1  
Part 2:    • Building my Dream Computer - Part 2  

The Commander X16 has finally arrived:
   • The Commander X16 has finally arrived!  

Commander X16 2023 update:
   • Commander X16 2023 update  


Commander X16 forums:
https://www.commanderx16.com/forum/in...

Commander X16 documentation and repos:
https://github.com/orgs/X16Community/...
https://github.com/X16Community/x16-d...

VERA programmer's reference:
https://github.com/X16Community/x16-d...
https://github.com/X16Community/vera-...

Commander X16 emulator: (click on releases to get the most recent)
https://github.com/X16Community/x16-e...

Adrian's 8-bit Dance Party for the Commander X16:
https://cx16forum.com/forum/viewtopic...

Furnace Chiptune tracker:
https://github.com/tildearrow/furnace


Adrian's Digital Basement Merch store:
https://my-store-c82bd2-2.creator-spr...

Adrian's Digital Basement ][ (Second Channel)
   / @adriansdigitalbasement2  

Support the channel on Patreon:
  / adriansdigitalbasement  

-- Tools

Deoxit D5:
https://amzn.to/2VvOKy1
http://store.caig.com/s.nl/it.A/id.16...

O-Ring Pick Set: (I use these to lift chips off boards)
https://amzn.to/3a9x54J

Elenco Electronics LP-560 Logic Probe:
https://amzn.to/2VrT5lW

Hakko FR301 Desoldering Iron:
https://amzn.to/2ye6xC0

Rigol DS1054Z Four Channel Oscilloscope:
https://www.rigolna.com/products/digi...

Head Worn Magnifying Goggles / Dual Lens Flip-In Head Magnifier:
https://amzn.to/3adRbuy

TL866II Plus Chip Tester and EPROM programmer: (The MiniPro)
https://amzn.to/2wG4tlP
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33000...

TS100 Soldering Iron:
https://amzn.to/2K36dJ5
https://www.ebay.com/itm/TS100-65W-MI...

EEVBlog 121GW Multimeter:
https://www.eevblog.com/product/121gw/

DSLogic Basic Logic Analyzer:
https://amzn.to/2RDSDQw
https://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-Logic-DS...

Magnetic Screw Holder:
https://amzn.to/3b8LOhG
https://www.harborfreight.com/4-inch-...

Universal ZIP sockets: (clones, used on my ZIF-64 test machine)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/14-16-18-20-...

RetroTink 2X Upconverter: (to hook up something like a C64 to HDMI)
http://www.retrotink.com/

Plato (Clone) Side Cutters: (order five)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-2-5-10PCS-...

Heat Sinks:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32537...

Little squeezy bottles: (available elsewhere too)
https://amzn.to/3b8LOOI

--- Links

My GitHub repository:
https://github.com/misterblack1?tab=r...

Commodore Computer Club / Vancouver, WA – Portland, OR – PDX Commodore Users Group
https://www.commodorecomputerclub.com/

--- Instructional videos

My video on damage-free chip removal:
   • How to remove chips without damaging ...  

--- Music

Intro music and other tracks by:
Nathan Divino
@itsnathandivino