C64net
C64net is a free Windows emulator for the Commodore 64, written in C#.
What C64net is
C64net is a free Windows emulator for the Commodore 64, written in C#. It models the computer with cycle-based timing, synchronizing emulated chips and their timing behavior. The implementation includes the VIC-II graphics chip, including graphic modes, sprites, and collision detection, plus keyboard and joystick input. It also emulates a 1541-II disk drive at hardware level, an approach that uses more resources while improving compatibility. D64 is the only disk-image format implemented, and extensions for bad-sector emulation are unsupported. Emulator state can be saved or loaded, with saves written only at the end of a frame. C64net does not provide SID sound-chip, REU, or tape emulation. Only documented CPU opcodes are implemented, and an undocumented opcode causes a crash. ROM files are excluded for legal reasons and must be obtained separately and placed in the ROM folder or beside executables. The maker says this implementation was abandoned after a C++ reimplementation and presents it as a basis for explaining emulation. The repository identifies GPL-3.0 licensing.
Good
- Free Windows software
- Cycle-based chip timing
- VIC-II graphics and input support
- 1541-II hardware-level drive emulation
- State save and load support
Watch out
- No SID sound emulation
- No REU or tape emulation
- Only D64 disk images supported
- Undocumented opcodes crash the emulator
Who it suits
C64net suits Windows users who need a Commodore 64 emulator and understand its limited hardware and format coverage. It may also interest readers studying a cycle-based emulator implementation.
Verdict
C64net provides a focused Commodore 64 emulation base with graphics, input, drive modeling, and state handling. Its missing sound, tape, and REU features, ROM requirement, and opcode limitation define a narrow scope.
The facts
Each one read from C64net's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Audio limit
- SID chip emulation is not implemented.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Compatibility limits
- Only documented CPU opcodes are implemented, and executing an undocumented opcode causes the emulator to crash.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Disk images
- D64 is the only disk-image format implemented, and D64 extensions for bad-sector emulation are unsupported.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Drive emulation
- It emulates a 1541-II disk drive at the hardware level, which uses more resources but improves compatibility.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Emulation timing
- The emulator uses cycle-based emulation to synchronize chips and emulate their timing.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Graphics
- It emulates the VIC-II graphics chip, including graphic modes, sprites, and collision detection.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Hardware coverage
- The implementation covers much of the hardware needed to run games, including the VIC-II graphics chip and keyboard and joystick input.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Input
- The implementation includes keyboard and joystick emulation.checked 8 Oct 2001
- License
- The repository identifies its license as GPL-3.0.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Missing features
- SID sound-chip emulation, REU emulation, and tape emulation are unavailable.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Other limits
- REU and tape emulation are unavailable, and only documented CPU opcodes are implemented.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Product
- C64net is a Commodore 64 emulator written in C#.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Project status
- The maker says this C# implementation was abandoned after a C++ reimplementation and describes it as a base for explaining emulation.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Purpose
- C64net is a Commodore 64 emulator written in C#.checked 8 Oct 2001
- ROM files
- ROM files are excluded for legal reasons and must be obtained separately and placed in the project ROM folder or beside the executable.checked 8 Oct 2001
- ROM requirement
- ROM files are excluded for legal reasons and must be obtained separately and copied into the project ROM folder or alongside the executables.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Save states
- Emulator state can be saved or loaded, with saves written only at the end of a frame.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Timing
- The emulator uses cycle-based timing to synchronize chips and implements real-drive emulation of a 1541-II disk drive.checked 8 Oct 2001
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