C64 Breadbin... Any Good?

Is the old "breadbin" C64 better than the later C64? I'm asking as i bought a nice clean breadbin style C64 last night on the other bay... It was an impulse buy and i'm hoping i made the right choice! The other C64 i was looking at was the later model that came as a Terminator 2 pack, but i chose the old breadbin instead :D

As far as i can tell the only "major" differences are the case design and the Sid audio chip. Many people claim the 6851 Sid is better than the later 8580 Sid... Is this really true? or is it just a matter of personal preference? I've only ever used the later model C64 and don't really know much about them at all! As i said, it was an impulse buy :roll:

Anyway it comes with the original box, manuals, datasette, joystick and a load of games... Can't wait till it arrives :)

It's personal preference. I have both, but I still use my 128 more.
To me there is not a huge difference in sids, but I mainly use the 8bits for games and not audio.

Later,
dabone

The difference between SIDs is pretty much in the filter, IIRC, but it is a pretty noticeable difference. One's not really better or worse than the other on a strict merit level, but more software is tuned for the quirks of the 6581 filter than for the 8580.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dabone

To me there is not a huge difference in sids, but I mainly use the 8bits for games and not audio.

---

My C64 will be used primarily for gaming but i'd like my games to sound as they were intended :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by commodorejohn

The difference between SIDs is pretty much in the filter, IIRC, but it is a pretty noticeable difference. One's not really better or worse than the other on a strict merit level, but more software is tuned for the quirks of the 6581 filter than for the 8580.

---

So does this mean some (or most) games will sound a bit odd using the 8580 chip... and vice-versa? I've listended to quite a few Sid chip tunes now, and i think both Sid versions sound great! I wonder how many games were tuned for the 8580 chip?

I've listened to a few comparisons and to me it seems the 8580 has the edge with game music (louder and more detailed/crisp sound)... but i prefer the looks of the breadbin C64 :D

Pretty much everyone here is correct. The only real technical difference is the SID. Even though I believe the 6581 is a better sounding chip, I still use a C128 for my primary 8-Bit Commodore. I do, however, have a Breadbin C64 that I use for SID music. :)

Hope this helps.

Heather

I remember hearing a game (can't remember which) where part of the music or sound effects were missing on the C64C with the newer SID. It's a nicer machine to type on though!

Quote:

---

Pretty much everyone here is correct. The only real technical difference is the SID. Even though I believe the 6581 is a better sounding chip, I still use a C128 for my primary 8-Bit Commodore. I do, however, have a Breadbin C64 that I use for SID music. :smile:

Hope this helps.

Heather

---

What kind of 128 do you use? My flat has a 6581 sid. (I think all of the flat 128's had this correct?) and the 128dcr had a 8580.

later,
dabone

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dabone

Quote:

---

Pretty much everyone here is correct. The only real technical difference is the SID. Even though I believe the 6581 is a better sounding chip, I still use a C128 for my primary 8-Bit Commodore. I do, however, have a Breadbin C64 that I use for SID music. :smile:

Hope this helps.

Heather

---

What kind of 128 do you use? My flat has a 6581 sid. (I think all of the flat 128's had this correct?) and the 128dcr had a 8580.

---

You know, I never checked. I have the flat 128. I just thought all 128s had the 8580. I'll have to double check the next time I have my system open. :D

Heather

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Paradroid

I remember hearing a game (can't remember which) where part of the music or sound effects were missing on the C64C with the newer SID

---

I read somewhere that sound samples such as speech and some sound effects are extremely quiet with the 8580 sid. Musicians and game developers apparently exploited a bug in the original 6581 to create extra audio effects such as sampled speech etc... These samples don't work too well with the "corrected" 8580. Not sure how accurate this info is?

My breadbin C64 has still not arrived yet. These lame courier companies try to blame "adverse weather conditions" when Royal Mail seem to be delivering my items just 1~2 days after i order them in the same weather... go figure :dry:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Powerpie5000

I read somewhere that sound samples such as speech and some sound effects are extremely quiet with the 8580 sid. Musicians and game developers apparently exploited a bug in the original 6581 to create extra audio effects such as sampled speech etc... These samples don't work too well with the "corrected" 8580. Not sure how accurate this info is?

---

That info is totally correct :thumbsup:

The 6581 had a flaw which made it produce a DC offset, by modulating the volume registers a sound sample could be played. As you said above, the flaw was corrected in the 8580.

Fire up 'Skate or Die' or 'Turbo Outrun' and listen to the difference between both chips... This can even be done in Vice or Sidplay if you fiddle with the emulation settings

EDIT- I forgot to mention, the 8580 based C64 can be easily modified to make sample work properly.