VICE vs Z64K

VICE runs programs made for classic Commodore 8-bit computers by emulating eight systems: C64, C64DTV, C128, VIC20, PET, PLUS4, SCPU64 and CBM-II. It aims for cycle-accurate operation, with 6502/6510 emulation covering documented and undocumented opcodes and precise timing. For C64 software, its emulators reproduce VIC-II video and SID sound, including synchronization, ring modulation and filters. Disk support covers up to four external drives, using disk images, filesystem directories or compatible real devices; joystick input can come from a keyboard or a host-connected joystick. VICE is available on Android, Linux, macOS and Windows, and is free software under GNU GPL version 2 or later. The download page lists Windows builds and macOS builds for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs; the latter require macOS 12.0 or later. Android binaries are listed separately. The manual warns that six systems—the C64DTV, C128, PET, PLUS4, SCPU64 and CBM-II—remain under construction and may be less capable than the C64 or VIC20 emulators.

Z64K emulates the Commodore 128, Commodore 64, Spectrum 48/128K, VIC 20, and Atari 2600, with pixel-exact emulation described by its maker. It runs through Java on Windows, macOS, and Linux and requires JRE 8 or later. Downloads include the main JAR, command-line files, a changelog, and a quick guide. Controls include fullscreen, clipboard text copy and paste, reset, mouse capture, and warp mode. C128 controls include switching display modes and toggling the second display; extended keys and function-key mappings are also described. The built-in debugger and SID Analyzer provide additional tools, with the analyzer offering waveform, envelope, oscillator, and combined display modes. Supported disk and tape formats include D64, D71, G64, G71, IMD, and CRT. The Virtual FS device is experimental, and its scratch command simulates deletion without removing files from the host system. Linux users might need to adjust the JAR's permissions to allow execution. Z64K is free.