emudore vs Power64

emudore is a Commodore 64 emulator for Linux, Windows, macOS, and browsers. Written in C++11 with SDL2, it can load PRG files and enter BASIC listings; its BASIC ROM runs, and most simple programs work without issues. Browser demos include one that starts in CBM BASIC and another that loads a Monopole PRG. Its VIC-II graphics support covers four of the five official modes, plus smooth scrolling, sprites, raster interrupts, and badlines. Screen refresh synchronizes to approximately 50 Hz for PAL. Debug builds on Linux and macOS can use radare2 to read and modify emulator memory. The project is free and open source under Apache 2.0. Some compatibility limits are explicit: special keys are unavailable for BASIC listings, undocumented MOS 6510 opcodes are unsupported, and incomplete hardware emulation and non-pixel-exact visuals can affect advanced games and demos. SID sound and VIC-1541 floppy drive support are among the maker’s stated future aims.

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.