Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!decwrl!hplabs!hpfcdc!hpldola!hp-lsd!hp-col!warren
From: warren@hp-col.HP.COM (Warren Tustin)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm
Subject: Re: C64 IC Failure
Message-ID: <410005@hp-col.HP.COM>
Date: 9 Feb 89 20:10:01 GMT
References: <435@manta.NOSC.MIL>
Organization: HP Colorado Springs Division
Lines: 24

/ hp-col:comp.sys.cbm / mitch@manta.NOSC.MIL (Ray Mitchell) / 12:13 pm  Feb  3, 1989 /

>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.

>Any suggestions will be appreciated.

>Ray Mitchell
>----------

I leave my joysticks plugged in and have not had any problems, but if I had,
I would probably buffer the joystick ports with some inexpensive TTL 74LS04's
or the non-inverting version of above.  I have modified the ROM's in my 64 
and have replaced a bad ram and also have added a numeric keypad so I'm not
afraid to 'dig into' the 64; however adding a simple buffer would protect the
CMOS parts from static and should solve your problem.  It may involve some
cutting on the PC board although you could probably do it externally to the 
computer if you had a spare joystick plug or two.  The simpleler(sp?) solution
of metallic tape around the Joystick ports is probably nearly as effective and
much easier to implement.

Warren Tustin