Commodore 64G

Released: January 1987 Original Price: DM 598

Gallery

Commodore 64G The Commodore 64G with its distinctive beige case and German keyboard layout.

C64G keyboard The C64G's keyboard with German QWERTZ layout and special characters.

C64G motherboard The C64G's motherboard showing the revised chipset and layout.

Commodore 64G (German Model)

“The C64G was our solution for the German market, where we needed to comply with strict regulations and cater to local preferences. The German QWERTZ keyboard layout and the improved power supply were specifically designed to meet these needs. While it was essentially the same great C64 under the hood, these regional adaptations made it more appealing to German users and helped us maintain our strong position in that market.” - Bil Herd, Commodore Engineer

The Commodore 64G (where “G” stood for Germany) was a variant of the popular Commodore 64 home computer, specifically designed for the German market. Released in 1987, it featured a beige case similar to the C64C but with a German QWERTZ keyboard layout and a revised power supply that complied with German regulations. The C64G was part of Commodore’s strategy to maintain its dominance in the German home computer market, which was one of the company’s strongest markets outside North America.

The German C64

The C64G was essentially a C64C with specific modifications for the German market. It maintained full compatibility with the original C64 while addressing some of the issues that were particularly relevant to German users.

Key Features

German QWERTZ Keyboard: With Umlauts and special characters
Revised Power Supply: Compliant with German regulations
Beige Case: Matching the C64C design
Updated Motherboard: With fewer chips for better reliability
Full C64 Compatibility: All software and peripherals work

Technical Specifications

CPU: MOS 6510 @ 0.985 MHz (PAL)
Memory: 64 KB RAM + 20 KB ROM (KERNAL/BASIC)
Graphics: VIC-II - 320×200, 16 colors, 8 sprites, smooth scrolling
Sound: SID 6581 - 3 channels, 4 waveforms, filter, ADSR
Storage: Commodore 1541/1571 floppy drive, Datasette
Ports: Cartridge, tape, serial, TV/RF, 2× joystick, audio/video, power
Operating System: Commodore KERNAL/BASIC 2.0

Design and Features

Physical Design

Case: Beige plastic (matching C64C)
**Dimensions”: 40.4 × 21.6 × 7.5 cm (15.9 × 8.5 × 3 in)
“Weight”: 1.8 kg (4 lb)
“Keyboard”: 66-key QWERTZ layout
**Power Supply”: External brick (improved design)

Keyboard

**Layout”: German QWERTZ
**Special Characters”: Ä, Ö, Ü, ß, etc.
**Color”: Light gray/beige
**Feel”: Full-travel keys

Ports and Expansion

**Cartridge Port”: For games and expansions
**User Port”: For peripherals
**Serial Port”: For disk drives and printers
**Audio/Video”: Composite and RF output
**Power Connector”: Improved design

The C64G Experience

For Home Users

Word Processing: Textomat, SpeedScript
Education: Learning software
Gaming: Thousands of titles
Programming: BASIC, machine language

For Business

Office Applications: Word processing, spreadsheets
Database: File management
**Communication”: Terminal programs
**Custom Solutions”: Industry applications

For Gamers

**Huge Library”: Thousands of games
**Joystick Support”: 2 ports
**Paddles/Mice”: Supported
**Multiplayer”: Up to 2 players

Technical Deep Dive

Hardware Revisions

**Motherboard”: 250469 (short board)
**Chips”:
- MOS 6510 CPU
- MOS 6581 SID (sound)
- MOS 6569 VIC-II (video)
- MOS 6526 CIA (I/O)
**Power Supply”: 5V DC, 1.5A (improved)

Video System

**Chip”: MOS 6569 (PAL)
**Resolutions”: 160×200, 320×200
**Colors”: 16 (from 16-color palette)
**Sprites”: 8 (24×21 pixels each)
**Scrolling”: Smooth hardware scrolling

Audio System

**Chip”: MOS 6581 (SID)
**Channels”: 3 independent
**Waveforms”:
- Triangle
- Sawtooth
- Square (variable pulse width)
- Noise
**Filter”: Programmable high/low/bandpass
**Envelope Generators”: ADSR control

The C64G Legacy

Commercial Performance

**Release”: 1987
**Discontinuation”: 1990
**Price”: DM 598 (without monitor)
**Markets”: Primarily Germany and Austria

Why It Was Special

**German Market Focus”: Localized for Germany
**Improved Reliability”: Better power supply
**Modern Design”: Matching C64C aesthetics
**Full Compatibility”: All C64 software works

Collector’s Item

**Rarity”: Uncommon outside Germany
**Price Range”: $100-$500
**Sought-After Items”:
- Boxed systems
- Original documentation in German
- German software
- Peripherals

Notable Software

German Localizations

**Turbo Assembler”: German version
**GEO”: German office suite
**Turbo Pascal”: German edition
**The Quill”: German adventure creator

Games

**Turbo Outrun”: Racing
**The Great Giana Sisters”: Platformer
**Katakis”: Shoot ‘em up
**The Last Ninja”: Action-adventure

Demos

**German Demoscene”: Many productions
**Cracktros”: From German groups
**Music Disks”: German chip music

Technical Notes for Enthusiasts

Common Issues

**Power Supply Failure”: Still a concern
**SID Chip Failure”: Common with age
**Keyboard Issues”: Worn keycaps
**Video Output”: May need adjustment

Restoration Tips

**Recap Power Supply”: Replace capacitors
**Clean Keyboard”: Remove keycaps
**Replace Chips”: Socketed for easy replacement
**Clean Contacts”: On ports and cartridge slot

Modern Upgrades

**SD2IEC”: Modern storage
**Video Output”: RGB/SCART mods
**WiFi Modem”: Internet connectivity
**RAM Expansion”: Modern memory upgrades

The C64G Today

Emulation

**VICE”: Accurate emulation
**TheC64”: Hardware re-creation
**Web Emulators”: Browser-based

Community

**German Forums”: Forum64, C64-Wiki
**User Groups”: Local meetups
**Preservation”: Software archives

Uses

**Retro Gaming”: Classic experience
**Collecting”: Vintage computing
**Education”: Computer history
**Music”: SID chip music

Did You Know?

The C64G was also known as the “German C64C”
It was one of the last C64 models produced
Some C64G units were sold in other European countries
The German keyboard layout made it unique among C64 variants
The C64G is still popular among German retro computing enthusiasts

The C64G in Popular Culture

Featured in German computer magazines
Appears in German TV shows and movies from the 1980s
The subject of YouTube restoration videos
Mentioned in books about Commodore history