Power64 vs TRX64
Power64
infinite-loop.atTRX64
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Power64 | TRX64 |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 2 |
| Spec score · Commodore 64 Emulators | 8.3 (#4) | 8.4 (#2) |
| Documentation | The online manual covers installation, media formats, devices, troubleshooting, monitor commands, BASIC, custom chips and file formats. | The repository includes a README, a 228-line monitor reference and a separate CLI README. |
| Extensibility | Users can extend the Programs menu so essential software launches from one menu click. | Hosts can attach custom IEC devices and disk controllers through documented Rust interfaces. |
| Installation | Installation requires copying the application to a hard-disk location; ROM files are bundled and no extra files are required. | Prebuilt archives target macOS, Linux and Windows on x86_64 and arm64; Homebrew and cargo source builds are also documented. |
| Purpose | Power64 emulates the Commodore 64 so users can run C64 software on an Apple Macintosh. | TRX64 is a cycle-accurate Commodore 64, 1541, and 1581 emulation runtime written in Rust. |
| 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. | The maker directs users to GitHub issues and says they cannot provide real support. |
| System requirement | Version 4.9.5 is optimized for PowerPC Macs and runs on Intel Macs only through Apple Rosetta. | Users must provide Commodore ROM files because releases do not bundle them. |
| What it does | Power64 emulates a Commodore 64 on Apple Macintosh computers. | TRX64 is a Rust runtime for cycle-accurate Commodore 64, 1541 and 1581 emulation. |
Plans
Power64
- Power64 registration$30, paid once
- Power64 single user license$32, paid once
In their own words
Power64
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.
TRX64
TRX64 is a free, open-source Rust runtime for cycle-accurate emulation of the Commodore 64, 1541, and 1581. Its reverse-engineering tools include rewind, byte-exact reverse stepping, write tracking, observers, traces, marks, and sandboxes. A daemon exposes JSON-RPC 2.0 over WebSocket, with project capabilities available through JSON-RPC methods. Users can work with trx64cli, a terminal cockpit with an optional native emulator window, or C64RE, a browser-based reverse-engineering workbench. The daemon supports c64, u64, and 128 machine selections, with PAL and NTSC C64 models documented. Media and hardware support includes D64/G64 disks in 1541 drives, D81 disks in 1581 drives, cartridge types, REU, GeoRAM, and the Ultimate Command Interface. It also supports machine snapshots, reverse-debug buffers, trace logs, and VICE .vsf snapshot conversion. Releases are available for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with builds for x86_64 and arm64 where listed. C64 ROMs, including the 1581 DOS ROM, are not included and must be supplied separately.