May 25, 2026
Old computer, fresh comment war
Tidy PSU – PD-64 C64 PSU Brings USB PD to Commodore 64
Tiny new C64 power fix looks slick, but commenters are already yelling about whether it’s really open
TLDR: The PD-64 is a small new power supply that lets Commodore 64 owners replace the old bulky brick with a modern USB charger setup. But the biggest reaction wasn’t excitement — it was commenters complaining that the project isn’t truly open source, turning a neat upgrade into a mini drama fest.
Retro computer fans just got a flashy new toy: the PD-64 is a tiny replacement for the famously chunky Commodore 64 power brick, and on paper it sounds like a dream. Instead of relying on the old heavy box that has worried owners for years, this new gadget uses a modern USB wall charger and plugs straight into the beloved 1980s machine. It promises the right kind of power, safety protections, and a much neater setup. For anyone who’s ever stared suspiciously at an aging beige brick, that’s a very easy sell.
But of course, the real show started in the comments. The loudest reaction wasn’t even about the clever design — it was about the license. One commenter instantly pounced on the project’s “Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivative” terms and translated it into the internet’s favorite insult: “not Open Source. What a shame.” And just like that, the vibe shifted from “wow, neat little fix” to “here we go again.” It’s classic maker-community drama: some people just want a safer, smaller power supply for their old computer, while others see any closed-off design as a betrayal of the DIY spirit.
There weren’t pages of meme warfare here, but the mood was unmistakable: admiration with a side of side-eye. The project’s compact look and modern convenience drew interest, while the licensing complaint delivered the thread’s sharpest sting. In other words, the gadget may be tidy, but the comment section absolutely is not.
Key Points
- •The article presents PD-64 as a compact USB PD-based replacement PSU for the Commodore 64.
- •The Commodore 64 requires both 5V DC and 9V AC, with the AC frequency used for the machine’s internal time-of-day clock.
- •PD-64 requests 12V DC from a USB PD adapter, converts it to 5V DC, and generates isolated 9V AC using a high-frequency transformer path and class D amplifier.
- •The unit includes protection features such as electronic fuses, short-circuit protection, under-voltage protection, over-voltage protection, and thermal shutdown.
- •The GitHub page lists outputs of 5V DC at 2A and galvanically insulated 9V AC at 1A, with schematics and 3D case files available but not the full design.