Task: Purchase and Install a Kawari Replacement for the Commodore 64 VIC-II Video Chip
Needed: A Kawari VIC-II replacement and a working Commodore 64
Time: 15-30 minutes
Introduction
The Commodore 64 used a video chip called the VIC-II that was the successor to the VIC chip used in the VIC-20. This was a capable video chip but is prone to failure in its old age. Unfortunately, the VIC-IIs are in high demand and short supply resulting in eBay prices of $75 to over $100 for replacements. The good news is that there is a modern FPGA replacement called the Kawari. This is a plug and play replacement that you can drop right into the VIC-II socket. Features include the ability to switch between NTSC and PAL formats and the ability to generate the clock signal thus replacing that circuitry. There is also 80-column support and more video RAM. The larger and more expensive Kawari also has HDMI output. I purchased my first Kawari mini and have been very happy with it. The upside is that these are more plentiful than the original VIC-IIs. The downside is that it is not any cheaper. Nonetheless, a great solution for replacing a failed VIC-II and much more reliable for the future than an original replacement.
Instructions
The Kiwari can be purchased in the U.S. from an approved seller on eBay. The mini version is currently around $105 while the larger version with HDMI out run about $145. These can also be purchased in the UK and Europe for a bit cheaper. Note that it is only designed for 250407, 326298, 250425 & KU-14194HB motherboards.
Installation is easy. Simply remove your failed VIC-II and insert the Kawari into the socket noting the correct orientation.
You may also want to download and run some of the utilities and demos for the Kawari on your Commodore 64. These allow you to change settings, for example.
Comments
A great option for replacing a failed VIC-II. A major advantage is that it will last a lot longer than an original VIC-II chip that can fail any time.
The screenshots are from my Kiwari mini on a 250407 Rev C board with S-Video out from the modern RF replacement designed by the Retro Channel.
I am thankful for this FPGA device. Thanks to the developers. However, I would love to see a cheaper Raspberry Pi Pico solution for this like we have for the SID.
