CommodoreSam’s latest video takes a close look at Corei64.com’s TurboMaster V3, a modern reproduction of the original TurboMaster CPU by Schnedler Systems.
A Look Back at the TurboMaster CPU
The original TurboMaster was released in the 1980s by Schnedler Systems, designed as an accelerator for the Commodore 64. While the standard C64 runs on a 6510 CPU clocked at just over 1 MHz, the TurboMaster swapped that out for a 65C02 running at over 4 MHz, providing a fourfold speed increase. Various ROM options, including a modified version of JiffyDOS, were available to enhance functionality. Though the TurboMaster had a short production run, it remains a sought-after piece of hardware for enthusiasts.
Corei64’s TurboMaster V3: A Modern Revival
Corei64 has reverse-engineered the TurboMaster, bringing it back with refinements. The prototype showcased in the video functions identically to the production version, with the main difference being that the final product comes in a sleek metal case with a black circuit board and gold-traced contacts.
The TurboMaster plugs into the C64’s cartridge port, instantly boosting performance. Basic programs run four times faster, and software like GEOS benefits from the acceleration. Users can toggle the accelerator on and off via switches, allowing compatibility adjustments when needed.
Expanding Capabilities with RAM Expansion
Back in the day, most C64 users didn’t have RAM expansions, but modern users often pair accelerators with memory expansions like NeoRAM or GeoRAM. The TurboMaster supports these expansions, though it does not work directly with a standard Commodore REU unless an adapter is used. To address this, Schnedler Systems originally developed the Master Adapter, allowing users to run both an REU and the TurboMaster simultaneously. Corei64 has recreated this adapter as well, featuring switches to toggle between NeoRAM/GeoRAM and REU configurations.
Demonstrations and Performance Testing
CommodoreSam’s video features a series of tests to showcase the TurboMaster’s impact.
- REU World Globe Demo – Without the TurboMaster, the world globe animation loads and plays at a standard pace. With the TurboMaster enabled, loading times are cut in half, and the animation runs significantly faster.
- Basic Loop Speed Test – A simple BASIC program counting to 1000 takes about 2700 time units without acceleration. With the TurboMaster enabled, it completes in just 825 time units—demonstrating a nearly fourfold speed increase.
- Speed Switch Demo – This program, included with the TurboMaster, alternates between normal and accelerated modes while drawing colored lines on the screen. The difference is immediately noticeable, as the lines appear much faster in turbo mode.
Compatibility and Future Software
Currently, there isn’t an extensive compatibility list for the TurboMaster V3, but as more users adopt the hardware, software developers may start optimizing their programs for it. The next part of CommodoreSam’s video series will explore software compatibility in more depth.
Corei64’s recreation of the TurboMaster is an impressive revival of an underrated piece of hardware. By making this accelerator available again, they’re giving Commodore 64 users a powerful tool to push the system beyond its original limitations.
