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1541 for the C64? Any differences, versions, other things I should look for?

Abmvk

Abmvk

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So I have a C64 now, and today obtained a 1701 monitor. Now I will be looking for a floppy drive. Just to make sure I don’t make mistakes: do I understand correctly that I will be needing a 1541? And if so, are there different versions that I should care about? Any other things I should look out for?
 
Basically you have roughly three versions, the 1541, 1541C and the 1541-II. The 1541 is big and brown, the 1541C is big and beige, the 1541-II is small and beige and has an external power supply. My personal experiences: go for the 1541-II. The drives of the 1541 aren't always the best ones. The 1541C can, in short, have compatibility problems with the 1541.
 
Don't buy an "untested" drive with Mitsumi/Newtronics mechanisms, they often have bad R/W heads. Get a known tested one or the one with the push-down flap if you want to feel lucky.

If you're interested in modern addons you can buy or build a Pi1541 drive emulator.
 
powerlot said:
Don't buy an "untested" drive with Mitsumi/Newtronics mechanisms, they often have bad R/W heads. Get a known tested one or the one with the push-down flap if you want to feel lucky.

If you're interested in modern addons you can buy or build a Pi1541 drive emulator.
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could you elaborate on that? Sounds like based on a raspberry pi?
 
Abmvk said:
could you elaborate on that? Sounds like based on a raspberry pi?
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The Pi1541 is a PCB that connects to a Raspberry Pi3 (multiple versions) via the expansion header. Instead of running an operating system on the Pi, you run the Pi1541 software which emulates a 1541 and supplies a basic filesystem for storing C64 disk images of floppy disks. There are newer PCBs designed to work with a Pi Zero, but I have not used those.

The Pi1541 is a cycle exact emulator meaning its timing is the same as a real disk drive. I enjoy using real floppy disks for retro computing, but I typically use emulation for day-to-day stuff. It just makes things so much easier and it avoids putting more ware on the real hardware.

If you want a Pi1541 there are always people on eBay selling PCBs. You will find several varieties with different features. I would get one with the small LCD screen which allows you to navigate the file system and mount disk images using the buttons on the Pi1541 instead of having to do it via the C64 and Basic commands.

Hope this helps. ~ Marvin
 
Ruud said:
Basically you have roughly three versions, the 1541, 1541C and the 1541-II. The 1541 is big and brown, the 1541C is big and beige, the 1541-II is small and beige and has an external power supply.
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That's not fully correct. It's a never-dying myth that beige 1541 are all 1541C - they are not. In fact, most are not. Buying a beige 1541 and getting a 1541C is unlikely to happen. Only a single version of the 1541 used the brown case between 1983 and 1984. After that, Commodore used the beige case for every 1541. You can really only spot a 1541C by the metal shield around the connectors on the back. Only the 1541C has this.

Compatibility issues are pretty much non-existent with the 1541C. It only broke compatibility with hardware-fastloaders using parallel data transfer, as one input of the CIA was reused for the track 0 sensor. And speaking of that, the 1541C is the only variant that does not bang the heads when seeking track 0. That's a big plus.

Now I would also recommend the 1541-II, but that had two versions as well. And one used the failing Mitsumi/Newtronics mechanisms...
 
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There is also the VIC-1541, but that difference is just cosmetic as far as I know.

Here is mine: IMG_5120 (3).jpeg
 
Abmvk said:
I don’t think I will get a 128 someday :) First a ZX 81 and ZX Spectrum again
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If you are not going to get a C128, then I recommend getting a 1541-ii. The issue with the read heads was resolved and the power supply is external so it won't have the heat issues, and there is a small number of original software titles that don't run on a 1571 in 1541 mode (Very VERY small, but they are there).

A 1571 is a good drive as well, but it really shines on a C128.
 
That is actually one of the few I lack. I have several 1541's, a 1571 and even a 1581. Glad you are liking it, I have not heard lot of bad things about the 1541-ii. But I also do recommend you get a modern data reader like a SD2IEC just for ease of modern titles.
 
Ruud said:
Basically you have roughly three versions, the 1541, 1541C and the 1541-II. The 1541 is big and brown, the 1541C is big and beige, the 1541-II is small and beige and has an external power supply. My personal experiences: go for the 1541-II. The drives of the 1541 aren't always the best ones. The 1541C can, in short, have compatibility problems with the 1541.
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I'll second the motion for the 1541 II drive, save for a big fat * next to it.

When I got my 1541 II drive, I had to rebuild the power supply because it was dead. I don't know anyone who makes aftermarket replacements for the power supply. But then again, I don't know of anyone who makes aftermarket replacements for the internal power supply in the original 1541 either.

So if the original poster hasn't any problem potentially repairing the external power supply, then I wholly recommend the 1541 II drive. I love mine.


(all I did to fix mine was scavenge a couple of wall warts at the correct voltage and solder them into the original power supply housing after gutting out the old broken stuff)
 
br44 said:
But then again, I don't know of anyone who makes aftermarket replacements for the internal power supply in the original 1541 either.
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Ray Carlsen sells modern PSUs for 1541-ii's (and the 1581's since they use the same PSU), and you can find them on eBay new as well.
 
Any real reason to get a 1581 these days (expensive)? I have a couple 1571's on my C128 and a bunch of 1541's for my C64/C64C's.
 
Not really. I have 2, one from Commodore and one I built for fun. I like to use them for database storage (I have all the books I owned catalogued) and...that is about it.
 
Just worth mentioning there is a 1540 Floppy drive.. Which was released for the Vic20 (ie. Vic 1540) and it can have a rom that is incompatible with the C64. These are very uncommon as Commodore quickly changed the ROM when the C64 was released and many early adopters had the option to change out the rom. These unmodified originals are selling on ebay in the $300's if they have the original ROM: https://dfarq.homeip.net/commodore-1540-vs-1541/

I found one of these by chance earlier this year.
 
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