Commander X16 technical deep dive

The Commander X16 is a "modern" retro computer which promises to finally realize David Murray's goal of being the upgrade to the Commodore 64 that everyone wanted. Let's take a deep-dive look at it and see what makes it tick, and see if it's any good. 0:00 Intro 2:56 Commander X16 design and capabilities 20:46 The VERA: the heart of the X16 33:52 Check out some X16 software 52:15 Q&A about the X16 55:41 A very special surprise 58:57 Outro --- Info VERA = Versatile Embedded Retro Adapter Intro music: Eternity by 4mat (Matt Simmonds) https://modarchive.org/index.php?request=view_by_moduleid&query=154795 Used with permission From Modarchive: Matthew Simmonds, also known as 4mat or 4-Mat, is best known for his chiptunes. Most of his music is found in the form of tracked music files (modules). He began his career in the demoscene of the early ’90s, progressing to commercial games where he has worked on titles released by Konami and EA. 4-Mat’s latest work can be found on his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/4matofficial --- Video Links 8-bit Guy Commander X16 videos: Building my Dream Computer Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayh0qebfD2g Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg-6Cjzzg8s The Commander X16 has finally arrived: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcWqMGju7fk Commander X16 2023 update: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyByDNQuMMI Commander X16 forums: https://www.commanderx16.com/forum/index.php?/files/category/8-official-docs/ Commander X16 documentation and repos: https://github.com/orgs/X16Community/repositories https://github.com/X16Community/x16-docs/blob/master/Commander%20X16%20Programmer's%20Reference%20Guide.md VERA programmer's reference: https://github.com/X16Community/x16-docs/blob/master/VERA%20Programmer's%20Reference.md https://github.com/X16Community/vera-module Commander X16 emulator: (click on releases to get the most recent) https://github.com/X16Community/x16-emulator Adrian's 8-bit Dance Party for the Commander X16: https://cx16forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6556 Furnace Chiptune tracker: https://github.com/tildearrow/furnace Adrian's Digital Basement Merch store: https://my-store-c82bd2-2.creator-spring.com/ Adrian's Digital Basement ][ (Second Channel) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbtwi4wK1YXd9AyV_4UcE6g Support the channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/adriansdigitalbasement -- Tools Deoxit D5: https://amzn.to/2VvOKy1 http://store.caig.com/s.nl/it.A/id.1602/.f O-Ring Pick Set: (I use these to lift chips off boards) https://amzn.to/3a9x54J Elenco Electronics LP-560 Logic Probe: https://amzn.to/2VrT5lW Hakko FR301 Desoldering Iron: https://amzn.to/2ye6xC0 Rigol DS1054Z Four Channel Oscilloscope: https://www.rigolna.com/products/digital-oscilloscopes/1000z/ Head Worn Magnifying Goggles / Dual Lens Flip-In Head Magnifier: https://amzn.to/3adRbuy TL866II Plus Chip Tester and EPROM programmer: (The MiniPro) https://amzn.to/2wG4tlP https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33000308958.html TS100 Soldering Iron: https://amzn.to/2K36dJ5 https://www.ebay.com/itm/TS100-65W-MINI-Digital-OLED-Programmable-Soldering-Iron-Anti-static-Structure/113382669853 EEVBlog 121GW Multimeter: https://www.eevblog.com/product/121gw/ DSLogic Basic Logic Analyzer: https://amzn.to/2RDSDQw https://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-Logic-DSLogic-Basic-Analyzer-16Ch-100MHz-4Ch-400MHz-Xilinx-Spartan-6-FPGA/202543965672 Magnetic Screw Holder: https://amzn.to/3b8LOhG https://www.harborfreight.com/4-inch-magnetic-parts-tray-90566.html Universal ZIP sockets: (clones, used on my ZIF-64 test machine) https://www.ebay.com/itm/14-16-18-20-24-28-32-40-pin-IC-Test-Universal-ZIF-Socket-Fs/303206721971 RetroTink 2X Upconverter: (to hook up something like a C64 to HDMI) http://www.retrotink.com/ Plato (Clone) Side Cutters: (order five) https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-2-5-10PCS-Micro-Scissor-125mm-PLATO-170-Electronics-Cutter-Side-Cutting-Pliers/163458746184 Heat Sinks: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32537183709.html Little squeezy bottles: (available elsewhere too) https://amzn.to/3b8LOOI --- Links My GitHub repository: https://github.com/misterblack1?tab=repositories Commodore Computer Club / Vancouver, WA – Portland, OR – PDX Commodore Users Group https://www.commodorecomputerclub.com/ --- Instructional videos My video on damage-free chip removal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQVjwPsVFd8 --- Music Intro music and other tracks by: Nathan Divino @itsnathandivino