Commodore 64 Ultimate Review: A New C64 in 2026

Описание: Believe it or not, it’s 2026, and there is a brand new Commodore 64!

The Commodore 64 Ultimate isn’t an emulator-in-a-box. It’s a cycle-accurate FPGA recreation of the original hardware, rebuilt from entirely modern components, with modern upgrades like HDMI, Ethernet, USB storage, expandable RAM, and multiple SID configurations.

In this LDV Under the Hood video, I take a deep look at what Commodore is calling the return of the C64, what the Ultimate gets right, what still feels very vintage (including disk speeds and quirks), and who this machine is actually for.

We’ll cover:
• The Starlight edition hardware, keyboard flex, and build quirks
• What “cycle-accurate FPGA” means
• HDMI, scanlines, and modern display options
• PAL vs NTSC switching and why that matters
• Fast Kernal options like JiffyDOS
• Running demanding modern homebrew titles like Sonic the Hedgehog on a C64
• Using original cartridges and vintage peripherals
• CommoServe and the new built-in software ecosystem

This isn’t a plug-and-play mini console. It’s closer to having a real Commodore back on your desk, with all the experimentation and weirdness that comes with that.

Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored video. I bought the C64 Ultimate myself. I have collaborated in the past with Retro Recipes, and I was a beta tester on an early revision of the Ultimate motherboard. With that in mind, I have done my best to give this an honest review.

Thanks for watching, and I’m genuinely curious where Commodore goes next.

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⏱️ CHAPTERS:
00:00 Cold Open
00:39 Title Sequence
1:00 Introduction
3:04 Commodore Reborn
3:22 Unboxing
4:50 Logo Badge Warp
5:33 Getting Connected: Video Formats, Analog, HDMI, Scanlines & Demos
8:07 Hardware Up Close
8:46 Keyboard Flex & 3D Printed Supports
9:53 The Ultimate Menu System Configuration Options
10:12 Why an FPGA Matters
11:01 Fastloaders, JiffyDOS & Custom Kernal ROMs
12:01 Running Sonic The Hedgehog With the REU
13:17 Working With Original Hardware
14:25 Bundled Software & CommoServe "App Store"
15:34 Sales Facts & Figures
17:01 Final Thoughts

🔗LINKS
• Official Commodore site: https://commodore.net/
•    • JiffyDOS on Commodore 64 Ultimate: Full In...  
• RetroFrog's Keyboard Support 3-D Model: https://www.printables.com/model/1524...
• Jim Drew's Official C64U Keyboard Support 3-D Model: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:727...

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Song:    • Punch Deck – VHS Heroes [Synthwave] from R...  
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