Easyflash 1cr Cartridge For Commodore 64

Made by daniel-mantione / Games & Gaming / Retro Tech

About the project

The EasyFlash 1CR is a cartridge for the Commodore 64 that implements the EasyFlash format. Many modern Commodore 64 titles are released in the EasyFlash format and the EasyFlash1CR allows you to build a dedicated cartridge for a game. It can be built from industry standard through-hole components.

Project info

Difficulty: Easy

Platforms: Commodore 8-bit

Estimated time: 1 hour

License: Apache License 2.0 (Apache-2.0)

Items used in this project

Hardware components

	2N7000 MOSFET This one should be mounted in position Q1. It is possible to use a BS170 MOSFET instead of a 2N7000, that case you should decrease resistor R3 to 3.9 KΩ. The pinout of the BS170 exactly the reverse of the 2N7000, so mount it 180° rotated.	x 1
	10K ohm Resistor 1/4 Watt These should be mounted in position R2 and R3. If you decide to mount a BS170 MOSFET instead of a 2N7000, decrease the value of R3 to 3.9KΩ.	x 2
	BAV21 diode These diodes need to be installed in positions/ D1, D2 and D3. Diode position D3 is critical, do not use a diode there with different properties (a Schottky diode will fail).	x 3
	Ceramic capacitor 33pF This capacitor should be mounted in position C1. The capacitor value is important for timing, installing capacitors with a different capacity will cause failure.	x 1
	Capacitor Ceramic 0.1uF These capacitors should be installed in positions C2, C3, and C4.	x 3
	Resistor 1.5KΩ This resistor should be installed in position R1.	x 1
	3mm light emitting diode Install the led into position LED1. You can use a led in any colour you like. In case you only have a 5mm led: It will fit but isn't optimal.	x 1
	Slider switch 3 pin SPST 2.54mm The switch should be mounted in position S1. If you don't have a switch, you can also mount a standard 3 pin header and use jumpers to select the cartridge boot mode.	x 1
	PLCC IC socket 32 pin THT These sockets should be installed in positions IC5 and IC6 and will carry the flash ROMs.	x 2
	SST39SF040, AM29F040B or M29F040B flash ROM, PLCC32 These integrated circuits are installed into position IC5 and IC6. Allthough many vendors have produced a 512Kx8 flash RAM, because games write to EasyFlash cartridges to store save games, the actual list of flash types that can be used is restricted by what is supported by the EasyFlash EAPI. Usuable types are the Microchip SST39SF040, Spansion AM29F040B and ST Micro M29F040B.	x 2
$DIP Sockets Solder Tail - 16-Pin 0.3\"$	DIP Sockets Solder Tail - 16-Pin 0.3\" These sockets should be mounted in positions IC1 and IC2 and will carry the 74x174 and 74x175 integrated circuits. The wide SRAM version of the board uses 2 socket. If you are using the narrow SRAM version of the PCB, you will need 3 pieces rather than 2.	x 2
	24 pin DIP IC socket 0.3" or 0.6" This IC socket will be used to install the SRAM chip. If you are using an 6116 SRAM, you should use a 24 pin IC socket. However, if you are using a 6164 or 61256 SRAM chip, then you should install an 28 pin IC socket instead. The PCB is availble in a version for wide SRAM chips (0.6" pin spacing) and narrow SRAM chips (0.3" pin spacing). Therefore if you use the narrow SRAM version, use a 0.3" DIP socket rather than a 0.6" socket.	x 1
	74x175 quad D-type flip-flops with clear DIP16 This integrated circuit will be mounted into position IC2. You can use any 74x175, both TTL and CMOS logic levels will work.	x 1
	74x139 dual 2-line to 4-line decoders/demultiplexer DIP16 This integrated circuit will be mounted into position IC3. You should select a 74x139 that uses TTL logic levels, for example you can use 74LS139, 74HCT139, 74F139, but not 74HC139. If you are using the wide SRAM version of the board, this integrated circuit is installed without IC socket. In the narrow version of the board, it is recommended to use a socket.	x 1
	74x174 hex D-type flip-flops with clear DIP16 This integrated circuit will be mounted into position IC2. You can use any 74x174, both TTL and CMOS logic levels will work.	x 1
	6116 or 6164 or 61256 or 6264 or 62256 SRAM This integrated circuit will be installed into position IC4. It is an industry standard 2Kx8, 8Kx8 or 32Kx8 static RAM. These SRAMs have been produced by a very large amount of manufacturers, often with their own proprietary part numbers. However, commonly these are known as 6116, 6164 and 61256 SRAMs and many manufacturers use this in their part numbering. These ICs are sold in two widths: 0.6" and 0.3" and there are two versions to accommodate either of them. Select the PCB type that matches your SRAM. Compatible SRAMs are still being produced by Renesas, Alliance Semiconductor, Lyontek and JSC Integral, however, it is often easier/more economical to buy this SRAM chip on the secondary market.	x 1

View all

Software apps and online services

EasyProg You can flash EasyFlash1CR cartridges with an EPROM programmer, but also from the Commodore 64 itself. In order to do so you can use the EasyProg program. Note that EasyFlash cartridges are 1MB in size and this is a lot of data for a Commodore 64. Traditional storage devices such as the 1541 floppy drive aren't very usefull to flash EasyFlash cartridges. However, with a modern storage device like an SD2IEC, you can flash the EasyFlash 1CR from your Commodore 64 without any additional equipment.

Hand tools and fabrication machines

	Soldering iron Because the EasyFlash 1CR uses all through-hole parts, it doesn't have merit to use high-end soldering equipment. You can build the EasyFlash 1CR perfectly with simple, basic soldering iron.	x 1
	Flush cutter In order to cut away the excess length of the legs of components, you need a cutter. Ideally you use a so called side or flush cutter.	x 1

Story

Introduction

Many modern Commodore 64 games and releases use the Easyflash format and the software is distributed as an EasyFlash .crt file. In order to play EasyFlash releases on a real Commodore 64/128, you need an Easyflash cartridge or a cartridge that can act like an EasyFlash cartridge. In some cases you want to store many games on a cartridge. In such cases solutions as the 1541 Ultimate II+, Kung Fu Flash or EasyFlash 3 are the way to go. However, in many cases you want dedicated cartridge for the game. In these cases the original EasyFlash 1 is the way to go.

The EasyFlash 1CR is a cartridge for the Commodore 64/128, that is functionally equivalent to the EasyFlash 1 by Thomas Giesel, but has been redesigned so it can be built from less components and make it compatible with more cartridge cases. Although it contains less components, no corners have been cut and the functionality is exactly identical as the original. (The reset button has been removed though.) The lower amount of components reduces the component cost, but also reduces the amount of work to build the cartridge and even the lower weight reduces the cost to ship it, making it possibly the most affordable Easyflash cartridge yet.

Compatibility

This cartridge is compatible with the large library of available EasyFlash releases and all of those releases are suitable to be installed on the cartridge. EasyFlash cartridges can also be used as so called "multicarts". In a multicart, multiple standard C64 cartridges, which can be either 8K, 16K or Ultimax cartridges, are combined on a single cartridge with a menu interface.

When do you need an EasyFlash 1CR?

The idea use case for an EasyFlash 1CR is when you want to build a dedicated cartridge for a game or other piece of software, that you have downloaded digitally. You build a dedicated cartridge, so that you can plug a cartridge in your Commodore 64, turn on the machine, and play.

Who needs an EasyFlash 1CR?

The EasyFlash format is so popular nowadays that any active Commodore 64 owner in 2022, needs a way to use the EasyFlash format. Allthough this doesn't necessarily have to be an EasyFlash 1CR, building a few EasyFlash 1CR cartridges for games you like, is a great and recommended experience.

Obtaining the parts

The EasyFlash 1CR consists of industry standard parts, therefore it should be very easy to obtain suitable parts at any place that sells electronic components, and you have quite a bit of freedom in the selection of parts. Please check the bill of materials above for what to order and which alternatives are suitable.

Of course, you need a PCB. You can find links to the Gerber files of the PCB below. You can upload these files at the website of a PCB manufacturer such as Eurocircuits to order the PCBs. You can use any PCB manufacturer of your choice.

Besides PCB and electronic components, you will also want a cartridge case for your EasyFlash 1CR cartridge. The EasyFlash 1CR has two mounting holes, which makes it compatible with a range of available cartridge cases. The following C64 cartridge cases are compatible:

How to build

The EasyFlash 1CR uses industry standard components that can be bought anyware. All components are through-hole and therefore the cartridge is very easy to build in an amateur environment at home. The PCB has been designed in a way that it explains itself and describes which component should be installed where.

Therefore you don't need to look at the bill of materials to build the EasyFlash 1CR, you know which part to install where by just looking at the PCB. This makes building an EasyFlash 1CR very easy, with few instructions needed.

However... instructions how to build an EasyFlash1CR are available and even in several languages: Dutch, English, German and Italian. Please look at the attachments below for the assembly instructions in PDF format.

Lastly, the following video shows how to build and program an EasyFlash 1CR cartridge:

Programming

An unique feature of EasyFlash is that you can install software into an EasyFlash cartridge on the C64 itself using the EasyProg utility. EasyFlash cartridges are 1MB in size. It is highly recommended that you have a C64 storage medium at your disposal that can handle 1MB files. Examples of such storage media are the SD2IEC and 1541 Ultimate.

Alternatively, if you have an EPROM programmer, you can also program software into the EasyFlash with that. You can use the CRT2CHIP utility to convert .crt files into .bin files that your EPROM programmer can flash into the ROMs.

Made in Europe

Semiconductor independence is a hot topic nowadays. The EasyFlash 1CR brings us into the 8-bit computer era and... the 8-bit era tells us a lot about the, unfortunately, former European computer industry. Thanks to the Eurocircuits PCB Contest we now have PCBs of the EasyFlash 1CR made in Europe. But a circuit is more than a PCB! Can we make a fully European EasyFlash 1CR?

Web page of the EasyFlash 1CR

More information can be found on the web page of the cartridge.

Schematics, diagrams and documents

EasyFlash 1CR Anweisungen für Zusammenbau Deutsch

Anweisungen für den Zusammenbau der EasyFlash 1CR-Cartridge auf Deutsch.

EasyFlash 1CR assemblage-instructies Nederlands

Instructies hoe de EasyFlash 1CR-cartridge geassembleerd dient te worden in het Nederlands.

EasyFlash 1CR background information

Some background information about the EasyFlash 1CR.

Electronic schematics

The electronic schematics of the EasyFlash 1CR.

EasyFlash 1CR istruzioni per l'assemblaggio Italiano

Istruzioni per l'assemblaggio della cartuccia EasyFlash 1CR in italiano.

EasyFlash 1CR assembly instructions English

The instructions how to build an EasyFlash 1CR cartridge in English

CAD, enclosures and custom parts

EasyFlash 1CR Gerber files - Narrow SRAM version

These are the Gerber files for the EasyFlash 1CR PCB. You need these files to get the PCB manufactured. This is the version of the PCB for narrow 0.3" SRAM chips.

Go to download

EasyFlash 1CR Gerber files - Wide SRAM version

These are the Gerber files for the EasyFlash 1CR PCB. You need these files to get the PCB manufactured. This is the version of the PCB for wide 0.6" SRAM chips.

Go to download

Shop

Project Hub

Video

Blog

Shop home

3D printing

Single Board Computers

Development kits

Sensors

Internet of things

Robotics

Accessories

Product of the Week

Electromaker Educator

The Electromaker Show

The Electromaker Podcast