Keep your C-64 working like new

[Tachyon]

I bought several of the C64 cap sets from Retroleum and I was pleased with them. They are new and matched to your motherboard version.
I can recommend them.

[motrucker]

I bought several of the C64 cap sets from Retroleum and I was pleased with them. They are new and matched to your motherboard version.
I can recommend them.

I agree completely. I posted about this company in another forum. I have not used them myself, but do know someone close who has used them, and was very satisfied. It's a very good start to keeping your C-64 running like new....

[dudz]

there is still no reason not to buy them from your favourite electronic store for a much better price.

[eslapion]

there is still no reason not to buy them from your favourite electronic store for a much better price.

I can think of one reason... time is money.

It takes time to note one by one all the capacitor values and type then ask for them one by one.

Much quicker and less cumbersome to just buy a bag with everything already prepared for you.

On the other hand there are some people who feel that takes away the fun.

Personally, I prefer to choose my components one at a time. It gives me experience and expands my knowledge but I can sympathize with somebody who just wants a quick way to expand the lifespan of their beloved machine and are willing to pay the little extra for someone else to go through the tedious part.

[Tachyon]

there is still no reason not to buy them from your favourite electronic store for a much better price.

I can think of one reason... time is money.

It takes time to note one by one all the capacitor values and type then ask for them one by one.

Much quicker and less cumbersome to just buy a bag with everything already prepared for you.

On the other hand there are some people who feel that takes away the fun.

Personally, I prefer to choose my components one at a time. It gives me experience and expands my knowledge but I can sympathize with somebody who just wants a quick way to expand the lifespan of their beloved machine and are willing to pay the little extra for someone else to go through the tedious part.

You've nailed it. I have much better things to do with my time that picking through capacitors at stores in town. And no doubt I'll have to go to more than one to get a complete set of all the correct capacitors. Even excluding the gas wasted on this endeavour, my time is worth way more than that, especially when I can get a set of already matched and correct capacitors for a very reasonable price, shipped right to my door.
I mean good grief, it's 5 bucks for a complete set FFS.

http://store.retroleum.co.uk/c64-capacitors

[motrucker]

there is still no reason not to buy them from your favourite electronic store for a much better price.

I can think of one reason... time is money.
It takes time to note one by one all the capacitor values and type then ask for them one by one.
Much quicker and less cumbersome to just buy a bag with everything already prepared for you.
On the other hand there are some people who feel that takes away the fun.
Personally, I prefer to choose my components one at a time. It gives me experience and expands my knowledge but I can sympathize with somebody who just wants a quick way to expand the lifespan of their beloved machine and are willing to pay the little extra for someone else to go through the tedious part.

You've nailed it. I have much better things to do with my time that picking through capacitors at stores in town. And no doubt I'll have to go to more than one to get a complete set of all the correct capacitors. Even excluding the gas wasted on this endeavour, my time is worth way more than that, especially when I can get a set of already matched and correct capacitors for a very reasonable price, shipped right to my door.
I mean good grief, it's 5 bucks for a complete set FFS.
http://store.retroleum.co.uk/c64-capacitors

I agree with both of you. If I wanted to buy from a "local" electronics supplier, I have to drive at least 30 miles into either Baltimore, or the Washington D.C. Suburbs. Traffic around here is a bitch, to put it mildly. Just the drive time puts me off of buying from any "local" shop. It's so much easier, and farless time time consuming to order the Caps on the internet, snf have them shipped to me at home. In the long run, I am sure I am saving money, and loads of time. It's what makes sense.

[eslapion]

If I wanted to buy from a "local" electronics supplier, I have to drive at least 30 miles into either Baltimore, or the Washington D.C. Suburbs. Traffic around here is a bitch, to put it mildly. Just the drive time puts me off of buying from any "local" shop.

Add to that the possibility that once you've driven your 30 miles, you discover a number of the parts are not available at the store/city you went to...

[motrucker]

I have just been replacing the Caps in my C-128, and C-64 computers. most of the Caps were not working 100% (by a long shot) several were a pre-emtive strike. These machine are now so old that many of the parts are showing their age.
http://store.retroleum.co.uk/c64-capacitors and: http://www.thefuturewas8bit.com/index.php/64-repair-3
The caps have a nasty habit of leaking all over the place, and creating other problems if they aren't fixed in short order. There are other potential problems lurking under the keyboard of these computers. Joystick ports that are notoriously touchy, and chips that can generate too much heat even when working correctly. You need to identify and fix any and all problems in these 8 bit machines or they could could cause even worse failures.
So start by opening up your Commodore computer, break out your test instruments, and see what condition your computer is in.

I guess I was bound to have more problems with my C-64's. I just hooked up one that had been instorage since my move, and it was silent. No music, or noise at all, Turned out to be the sid chip. I was looking at several sources for the good replacement SID. I found one a good deal cheaper than this - but look at this price:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-x-SOUND-CHIP- ... 4aef1edaa6
At least this C-64 will singing again soon.