Emulator Pi1541-III Disk Drive 1541 + Epyx Fastload Cartridge, RPi3A+

The device is a 1541 disk drive emulator based on Raspberry Pi 3A+.

PCB color: black.

Functionality:

Pi1541 allows playback of disk images on Commodore computers using a 32GB microSD card. Compatible models include:

• Commodore 64
• Commodore 128
• Commodore VIC-20
• Commodore 16
• Commodore Plus/4

The set includes:

• Power cable with USB plug for the included 5V USB power adapter.
• 32Gb micro SD card.
• Serial IEC cable for the disk drive.
• Epyx Fastload Cartridge with reset button (button colors available: white, red, green, yellow, blue).
  The cartridge accelerates disk operations up to 8 times.
• Knob in gold, black, silver, red, and blue colors, to choose from.

Technical highlights without fluff:

• Top-notch compatibility:
  Nearly 100% compatibility with the original, including support for many fast loaders (even those with copied originals and demoscene gems). Unlike SD2IEC, this uses a 6502 code running in full cycle-exact mode, just like in 1982.
• Operating modes straight out of sci-fi:
  • Minimal SD2IEC mode (for browsing PRG and D64 files).
  • Full 1541/1581 emulation after loading a disk image.
  • Support for reading and writing, multiple channels, and sequential files.
• Classy hardware:
  • Mounting on Raspberry Pi 3A+ (version without RJ45 and 3 USB ports compared to Raspberry Pi 3B/3B+).
  • PCB with logic level converter (5V CBM → 3.3V Pi).
  • IEC connectors and chain option (ability to daisy-chain with other drives – real or emulated).
  • Version III equipped with a 1.3" OLED display and rotary encoder – folder navigation like on a smartphone, without cumbersome joystick controls.
• Media support:
  • Ability to store hundreds of D64 files on an SD card (up to 32GB+).
  • File browsing via the Pi keyboard/screen or C64 commands (LOAD "*",8, LOAD"*",8,1 or simply pressing Commodore + Run/Stop – only possible with the Epyx Fastload cartridge).
  • Write support – remember, though, this is retro! Always back up your data before your cat sits on the card.
• Power and assembly:
  • 5V power supply from the included 5V adapter.
  • Compact casing.

Based on the project:

https://github.com/tebl/C64-Pi1541-III

Watch the video:

YouTube video