Power64
infinite-loop.at
What it is
Power64 emulates the Commodore 64 for running C64 software on an Apple Macintosh. It models the MOS 6510 processor, including illegal opcodes, and provides cycle-precise VIC video features and SID sound with a reSID interface. Drive emulation covers 1541, 1571, and 1581 systems, alongside disk and tape images including D64, X64, G41, D71, D81, T64, TAP, and Lynx. Macintosh access supports C64 and P00 files. Input options include USB or mapped keyboard joysticks, mouse, paddles, and lightpen. Users can mount disks by drag and drop, copy files among disks, tapes, and the Mac hard disk, use the built-in monitor/debugger, and run multiple C64 instances. Version 4.9.5 targets PowerPC and runs on Intel Macs only through Rosetta; it does not work on OS X 10.7. The unregistered version allows ten-minute sessions. Registration costs $32, paid once.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- Power64 emulates a Commodore 64 on Apple Macintosh computers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Purpose
- Power64 emulates the Commodore 64 so users can run C64 software on an Apple Macintosh.Read 3 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Support
- The download page provides the author's support email and says he will try to help with download problems, including by sending Power64 by email.Read 3 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Headquarters
- Mödling, AustriaRead 28 Sep 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Founded
- 1996Read 28 Sep 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Cartridge limitation
- CRT images containing RAM or mixed RAM/ROM cartridges are unsupported; only ROM-only cartridge types work.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Company location
- The maker's contact and copyright information places Roland Lieger in Mödling, Austria.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Compatibility limit
- The download page says Power64 does not run on OS X 10.7 because Rosetta is unavailable there.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Compressed files
- Disk and tape images can be opened directly from ZIP, GZ and LHA archives.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Convenience features
- Features include drag-and-drop disk mounting, file copying between disks, tapes and the Mac hard disk, a built-in monitor/debugger, and support for running several C64 instances at once.Read 3 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- CPU emulation
- It emulates the MOS 6510 processor, including undocumented opcodes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Current downloadable version
- The download page offers Power64 4.9.5 in DMG and ZIP formats and also keeps the unsupported Classic Mac OS 4.9.3 build available.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Debugger
- A Macintosh-side monitor/debugger can inspect and modify C64 memory without consuming emulated C64 RAM.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Developer
- Independent C64-Wiki identifies Roland Lieger as Power64's developer.Read 15 Oct 2026 · c64-wiki.de
- Developer tools
- The monitor provides assembly, disassembly, memory search, comparison, editing and tracing commands.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Development origin
- The version history records the first working code in May 1996 and the first public release in October 1996.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Disk and tape support
- It supports 1541, 1571 and 1581 disk emulation, disk and tape image formats, and Macintosh file access for C64 and P00 files.Read 3 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Disk compatibility tradeoff
- Fast disk emulation can fail with software that accesses 1541 hardware directly, while complete emulation improves compatibility but loads at real-drive speed.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Documentation
- The online manual covers installation, media formats, devices, troubleshooting, monitor commands, BASIC, custom chips and file formats.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Extensibility
- Users can extend the Programs menu so essential software launches from one menu click.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- File management
- Users can mount media and copy files between emulated devices and the Mac using drag and drop.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Free use limit
- The unregistered version is fully functional but limits each emulator session to 10 minutes.Read 3 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Included software
- C64-Wiki lists SMON, NEW Magician, a joystick demo and the games Block Out, Serpentine and Quadromania as included additions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · c64-wiki.de
- Independent editorial recommendation
- MacLife called Power64 the recommendable Mac C64 emulator among otherwise poor Mac emulator choices in its 23 August 2007 article.Read 15 Oct 2026 · maclife.de
- Independent review price
- ATPM's February 2000 shareware roundup listed Power64 at $25 and required a PowerPC processor.Read 15 Oct 2026 · atpm.com
- Input devices
- The emulator supports keyboard mapping, USB joysticks, mouse, paddles, lightpen and gamepads.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Installation
- Installation requires copying the application to a hard-disk location; ROM files are bundled and no extra files are required.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Latest release date
- The documentation identifies version 4.9.5 as a February 2008 bugfix release.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Legacy platform limit
- Version 4.9.3 was the last release supporting Classic MacOS, and it is no longer officially supported.Read 3 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Limit: reSID hardware
- Zophar's Domain reported that the high-precision reSID sound component required a Macintosh faster than 200 MHz and was limited to earlier Mac OS versions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zophar.net
- Limit: session cutoff
- ATPM identified the ten-minute unregistered-use cutoff as the product's biggest drawback.Read 15 Oct 2026 · atpm.com
- Multiple instances
- Several emulated C64 machines can run at once, limited by available memory.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- OpenGL
- OpenGL can render resizable C64 windows with filtering and antialiasing options.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Performance tradeoff
- Complete 1541 floppy emulation improves compatibility but can take several minutes to load a game at original drive speed.Read 3 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Praise: multiple machines
- Zophar's Domain highlighted that multiple Commodore 64 processes can run simultaneously.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zophar.net
- Praise: programming and data transfer
- ATPM reported that Power64 could copy and paste text and graphics and included SMON and NEW Magician for C64 programming.Read 15 Oct 2026 · atpm.com
- Praise: speed and compatibility
- Zophar's Domain described Power64 as extremely fast on PowerPC Macs and having very good compatibility.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zophar.net
- Printer emulation
- Printer output is text-only in C64 mode and supports text and graphics under GEOS.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Security and warranty
- The author provides Power64 as-is, says to use it at the user's own risk, and disclaims responsibility for damages or lost profits caused by hidden code errors.Read 3 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Shareware licence
- Power64 is proprietary shareware rather than open source, with redistribution allowed only for unchanged copies and without charge beyond a small copying fee.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Sound emulation
- Its SID emulation includes envelopes, waveforms, filters, resonance, ring modulation, synchronization and samples.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Storage formats
- Supported media formats include D64, X64, G41, D71, D81, T64, TAP, Lynx, PRG, C64, CBM and P00.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Supported Mac versions
- Version 4.9.5 is optimized for PowerPC Macs and runs on Intel Macs only with Rosetta; the download page says it does not work on OS X 10.7 because Rosetta is unavailable there.Read 3 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- System requirement
- Version 4.9.5 is optimized for PowerPC Macs and runs on Intel Macs only through Apple Rosetta.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Video and sound
- Its listed emulation includes cycle-precise VIC video features and SID sound, with an interface to the reSID library for more precise SID emulation.Read 3 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
- Video emulation
- Its VIC emulation covers cycle timing, video modes, sprites, raster effects, scrolling, collisions and border tricks.Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
Plans and prices
Power64 registration $30, paid once one-time registration fee single-user shareware registration · unregistered sessions limited to 10 minutes Read 15 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
Power64 single user license $32, paid once One-time shareware registration fee, including Kagi's share Single user license · unregistered sessions limited to 10 minutes Read 3 Oct 2026 · infinite-loop.at
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Emulates MOS 6510 illegal opcodes
- Supports multiple C64 disk systems
- Built-in monitor and debugger
- Runs several C64 instances
- Supports varied disk and tape images
Limits
- Unregistered sessions limited to 10 minutes
- Intel Macs require Rosetta
- Does not work on OS X 10.7
- Cartridge image support is incomplete
Who it suits
It suits Macintosh users who need to run Commodore 64 software with disk, tape, input, and debugging support. Users of newer Intel Macs should account for the Rosetta requirement.
Verdict
Power64 offers detailed C64 emulation and practical file-management tools for Macintosh. The session limit, legacy macOS constraints, and unsupported cartridge types should guide purchase decisions.
Where Specifiction places it
- Commodore 64 Emulators#4 of 318.3