Commodore 128 vs 128D vs 128DCR and why you need one now

I have 128D (cleaning it right now...) and I have ordered boxed 128DCR (never opened, will not open it). I do not have normal 128 and not sure I'll ever get one cause I do not like its design. I do not have C64C either for the same "looks too much like an Amiga" reason, bread bin is the best computer design ever... but only after all Atari computers obviously :D In 128D the first thing I did was remove the fan. I intend to put some quiet Noctua in there with some resistor but I really doubt I am putting computer in any kind of danger using it without the fan. Maybe if I was copying floppy disks all day long while mining coins on both 6502 and Z80 ;) More important issue to solve in my 128'D are jailbars for which I ordered Lumafix128. Other than that 128D looks absolutely amazing. You can have it on your desk with CRT on top and it looks as PROFESSIONAL as you can image any computer to look. Really amazing computer... except ridiculously strong jailbars... which I hope can be fixed.

Nice video!

I had a flat 128 with an 8580 SID. It was the revision that nearly eliminated the volume register click, which made sample playback very quiet. It also had the VIC-IIe revision that produced sub-pixel white dots when changing the border/background color registers, causing a lot of "snow" in games and demos that used raster effects.

What is that computer behind you on rhe top shelf with the spiderman on it?? It looks like a weird combination of VIC20, 64c, and 128.

In the C128D you can replace the fan with a Noctua fan and a voltage reducer, will get the benefits and very low noise. Or even at 12v you have the Noctua NF-A6x25 FLX, quite silent at 19dB.

I have the C128 and the C128Dcr.

I have a 128DCR with the warranty sticker still in it. Have not opened it yet. Got the German Keyboard for it. I hope to get to it one of these days. (Gee Son someday this will all be yours)

There was also a paint program that used the full 64k VDC memory. I had a DCR back in the day (sad I sold it) but I have a flat one now and it’s fine.

have a 128 wedge with the 64k ram VDC upgrade, good PSU looking for a good disk emulator, have SD2IEC and doesn't support 128. would love a video on what to use..

Hi, thanks for the awesome video! do you think MSSIAH cardridge would fit DCR?

The flat one is mine favourite.

I don't. None.
It amazes me when people instead of "I" (ab)use "you" 😂

COMMODORE RULES! You have a nice collection. I have always collected those

The story is as simple CR (cost reduced). They redesigned the main board to reduce cost and needed to change the case to accomodate it.

Love the video showing the difference. Does anyone know if the D and the DCR models have the same/different plastic faceplates? I have a DCR with a cracked plastic faceplate. I have a 128D case on the way for a separate restoration, but will likely have to buy another parts box for that one. If they're the same it'll save me a couple bucks but I was just curious.

The C-128D and DCR also had more RAM available for the misbegotten 80-column chip, allowing for a richer color palate in 80-column mode. The flat c-128 can be upgraded with more video memory if you're handy with the ol' soldering iron.

I had a 1084 monitor with my Amiga and I deeple, deeply regret doing it away. Still got the Amiga though, along with 2 C64s (83 & 84), a VIC-20 and a 32k Mitsubishi MSX machine.

I owned the Commodore 128 D metal box case model made and bought here in the USA

My dude, very cool video. However, FYI, you have an unfortunate spelling mistake on your thumbnail.

Just thought you might appreciate the info. Cheers.

i just bagged a C128 Flat with the PSU off ebay for $150 all that was wrong was Bad Basic ROMS

swop the fan out with a new low noise Noctua and it only needs that cassette port for power

I owned a commodore 128, I loved the thing. computers were so new and exciting back then.

I bought my C128 (flat) in 1993, it was the first thing I worked and saved for and still have it today. At the time I had two breadbins that both had different problems, so I basically just wanted a C128 because it was a C64 that looked like an Amiga. 😀

I bought another one with a 1571 at the markets a few years later (late '90s I think) for about $5. Circa 2005 I needed space and sold it with a bunch of games for next to nothing. 😫

I also had picked up a C128D at the markets cheap too (don't remember how much exactly, probably under $10). It wasn't getting much use and was more of a museum piece. It was in the shed at one point and got water damage. I sold it about 10 years ago not working, wouldn't even power up. Even though it didn't work I regret selling it.

There are many various sd2iec designs.The one I have allow external power source (like from any USB charger), some use joystick port for power. Once I've even seen battery powered one.

128 was designed for business. but x86 with dos had that on lock.

You have 2 things wrong.
1. The 128d had a metal body, and
2. They were widely available in the US.
I owned a 128d when I was a teenager in the 80s. Until now, I've never heard of a 128dcr.

Lack of a built in auto boot DOS, lack of a hard drive, and slow processor speed is what killed the Commodore line. Those three things killed it. The PC AT and Mac got them right and thereafter it became an infinite race of CPU speed increases, hard drive size increases, and OS upgrades.

interesting video and what is the problem with the power supply so it makes a little noise it is no more then an air conditioner WOW it will not bother most normal people

This is a need to have for all my MoFi vinyls with digital masters.

I own two 128DCR machines and one C128. In my opinion, the 128DCR with its metal case was the best unit made. I added a quiet fan and JiffyDos and it makes the perfect retro computer.

That 64k of video RAM was used by BASIC-8 software. Also used by various software protection removers such as... damn, gotta get back to you, Software Support International does not appear to exist on the internet. But I have an old catalog at home. Ah! Maverick 5.0! By SSI.

I have, and am in the process of restoring a C128 Flat, but I'm really looking to get my hands on the DCR someday.

I have a 128DCR, it has the space to add the fan and I added it with a good quality Sunon but I made a circuit that automatically regulates the fan rpm according to the ambient temperature, it takes a little regular work because you have to do it when they happen a few hours using it but once regulated it does not bother or reach the maximum rpm.

The power supply in your 128 DCR does not seem to be the original, can you tell me what you put in it? Greetings from Argentina and congratulations for such a good explanatory video.😃

I feel that the C128 "doorstopper" is the second best looking 8bit PC right after Atari 1200XL.

There is at least one C128D CR with a 1581 replacing the 1571...

The SD2IEC only plugs into the cassette port to tap into a 5V power connection. You can mod the connector on an existing SD2IEC to tap into another source or build your own and power it with a cell phone charger. Or... if you're fortunate enough to have an SD2IEC where the cassette connector isn't part of the housing you could take a Dremel tool to it.

On my 128D, I replaced the fan with a Noctua fan and used the in line noise reduction cable. It's now quieter than my PC.

It's lucky that the fan power connector still compliment modern fans. But make sure you get the fan with the right voltage.

I used: Noctua NF-A6x25 FLX

For every 40 or so C64's i come across, i find one C128 "Flat". Ive read there were 6 or so million 128's sold and over 20 million C64's... Considering the 128 was only on sale for a couple of years (if that) and it came out at the beginning of the 16bit era, i really doubt these figures.
Ive never even seen one 128D in the wild. The 128 i bought i still have it but yet to see its potential - being 4 computers in one (if you include GEOS) is very unique for any computer of any era really.

I have a flat one and a DCR, the latter one being my daily driver. I like the form factor and that it's more silent than the plastic D, but also much more sturdy. It's also great with the 1541U2, which causes some trouble on the flat C128. I like to use the virtual drive 9 and write disks directly onto floppy. As far as games go, I've never encountered any problem so far, everything works smooth. And even a nice amount of demos, also newer ones, work with it. By far not all of them, but enough to keep me amazed. Together with the 1901, this is the perfect Commodore-setup for me personally.

Thanks for comparing the three models and differences, great video!

When explaining the metal case you said "the late Bill Herd".......last I checked, Bill Herd is very much still alive.....

Back in the early 80's these were heaven, but today, they are so rancid I couldn't even stand to look at mine.. which I haven't touched in 25 years and got free as trash along with a pet, c-64's, vics, and a whole garage full of other 8bits.

I went from a 64 to a Macintosh Se, which was like going from an abandoned obsolete system to almost absolute Nirvana..t he only thing better was a Macintosh II or IIfx.


Yeah, I can't stand to watch this video any longer... lol...

too much heartbreak, too many memories, too many dead end roads and shattered dreams.

I had the flat. Back when this was released, pretty much all desks had a type of mini-hutch that your monitor would sit on. Every computer for home was flat. The TI Color, TI 99/4A, Atari 800, Coleco Adam, etc. So desks were all accommodating. I was hoping to hear more about the Z-80B on all the units. I spent half my time in CP/M mode. At 2MHz vs. 1MHz for the 6510, it was just fun to play with. I thought the D and DCR would be more business, and at the time there was a transition from big and bulky TRS-80 systems to something smaller for business. I would think the metal case was driven not by FCC, but either business rules or ISO rules. A metal case has more shielding to protect from outside magnetic, solar flares, and other radio interference that causes errata. FCC is typically only concerned with outbound (generated) radio interference. I didn't see a crystal on the board. I overclocked my PC-AT from 6 MHz to 8 MHz by going to radio shack and getting a crystal. I wonder if this could be done to these systems.

Why not just get an Amiga? The 500 would do everything those will and has some substantial upgrades over those machines. The fan problem can be fixed by finding a quieter fan.

I only have a 128 Flat I bought from Germany and it’s a great machine, I would never part with it. I fitted a SIDFX board to mine and now it has dual 6581’s so you can play some of the stereo tracks people have written.

I didn't know it was called the 128DCR. I always thought it was called the 128D.

Actually the design of the c128 flat as you call it, was designed longer so the monitor can actually sit on it and only the keyboard would be showing, see Bill Herd videos about the C=64 40th birthday he teslls us all about it.

Great video. Thanks. I've just got my 128 out and have been tinkering with it which led me to your channel. I've liked and subscribed :)

Would like to see an FPGA C128 or THEC128 released because spare parts are hard to find for 128's. Prefer the C128DCR and thanks for the video.

got a 128d

The flat is the original Commodore wedge. Such a classy look!

I Had the 128 flat. I didn't do it, but the answer for where to put the monitor is to make a stand that will fit over the 128, 3 pieces of MDF or some such will do it, and you could, at a pinch make it accommodate the disk drive too. Like you I sold my system, boo hoo, it was a 1 x C128 flat, Phillips 80 col green screen, rs232 adapter, star DM printer, 2 x 1541 FDD and 1 x SFD1001 FDD with 110 to 240 power supply and interface, Superbase128 and Superscript 128. I have never stopped regretting selling it and all I could get (at the time) was £45 on eBay. Sigh. Even my shiny new iMac and 2010 MacPro cheese grater and Dell machines haven't taken the pain away. Poor me :).

Buying a D model is much and much more expensive compared to a flat model. Also it is fun to "setup" your c128 flat, connect drives, power supplies, monitors etc. It's part of the deal ... c128 time for daddy!