Remember those beige boxes from the 90s that promised vast storage for your Commodore 64? We’re talking about the CMD HD, of course. While the original used spinning SCSI drives, COREI64 has brought this classic back to life with a modern twist. Their reproduction, the HD4000, offers the same functionality but with some clever updates.
This new version stays true to the original design, but COREI64 has added its own touch with an all-black case. Inside, you won’t find a spinning drive. Instead, it uses a SCSI drive emulator, like the BlueSCSI, which utilizes SD cards for storage. This offers a more reliable and convenient way to manage your files.
The HD4000 connects to your Commodore 64 or 128 via the serial port. It also includes the auxiliary port found on the original, though it remains unused. The standard power connector is there, along with the large port for connecting a RAMLink via parallel. This allows for faster data transfer, but the drive works well even without it, thanks to the built-in JiffyDOS or CMD’s operating system.
One of the most practical improvements is the external SD card access. While the original had a 25-pin SCSI port for external drives, COREI64 offers an optional SD card extension. This lets you easily swap SD cards without opening the case. This is a big plus for backing up your data or using different configurations.
The CMD HD uses a different file management system than devices like the GFD4000. It emulates a SCSI drive, so you work with partitions and directories rather than individual disk images. You can have up to 255 partitions, each potentially emulating a different Commodore disk format. JiffyDOS commands let you navigate these partitions and directories.
The SD card itself contains image files, typically a single large file (HD0.IMG) representing the entire hard drive. This file holds all your partitions and data. While this might make it a bit trickier to access individual files from a PC, it simplifies backups. Just copy the image file to your computer, and you have a complete backup of your CMD HD. This is a great way to protect your data and experiment with different setups.
The COREI64 CMD HD offers a fantastic blend of classic hardware and modern convenience. It’s a great way to expand the storage of your Commodore system and enjoy the benefits of solid-state storage.
