Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!bionet!agate!helios.ee.lbl.gov!nosc!manta!mitch
From: mitch@manta.NOSC.MIL (Ray Mitchell)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm
Subject: C64 IC Failure
Message-ID: <435@manta.NOSC.MIL>
Date: 3 Feb 89 19:13:01 GMT
Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego
Lines: 30


Has anyone encountered any problems with repeated failures with the 6526A IC
IC in the C64? I think they call the IC an ACI. The system has two of them
but the one interfacing to the joystick ports and keyboard is the one giving
me the problems.

I have been through about four of them in the last 2 years and I am ending
up investing more in them than I have in the computer.  I even bought a
different computer thinking it might be something in the system but the
new one also blows one about every 6 months (The new C64 is using a different
power supply than the old one).

The problem usually manifests itself by the joysticks failing to respond to
a certain direction or a key on the keyboard failing to operate properly.
These ICs cost $17 each from Commodore and about twice that locally.

Commodore has no one that I have been able to contact intelligent enough to
discuss this problem but I'm sure they would deny a problem anyway. My only
solution is to build a replacement from discrete TTL which technically is
no problem but I don't beleive the part is explained sufficiently in the
programmer's manual to premit this.  Commodore is obviously no help on
this either.

I am using the the C64 strictly for games and it is connected only to
a Commodore 1571 drive (no modems, printers, etc.).  I get the feeling
Commodore has probably just found a good way to make some extra money.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Ray Mitchell