Freedom251 › Commodore 64 Emulators
Power64
What Power64 is
Power64 is a macOS emulator for running Commodore 64 software on an Apple Macintosh. It emulates the MOS 6510 CPU, including illegal opcodes, and provides cycle-precise VIC video features and SID sound, with an interface to the reSID library. Disk emulation covers 1541, 1571, and 1581 drives, while supported disk and tape formats include D64, X64, G41, D71, D81, ZipCoded, T64, TAP, and Lynx. Macintosh file access supports C64 and P00 files. Users can map USB joysticks to controls and use a keyboard, mouse, paddles, or lightpen. Power64 includes drag-and-drop disk mounting, file copying between media and the Mac hard disk, a monitor/debugger, and multiple simultaneous C64 instances. The unregistered version is functional but limits sessions to 10 minutes. A single-user license costs $32, paid once. Version 4.9.5 is optimized for PowerPC Macs and uses Rosetta on Intel Macs.
Who it suits
It suits Mac users who want to run Commodore 64 software with period-style disk, tape, video, sound, and input emulation. Users of unsupported macOS versions or cartridge images should check the stated limits first.
What it does well
- Emulates MOS 6510 illegal opcodes
- Supports several C64 disk and tape formats
- Built-in monitor and debugger
- Runs multiple C64 instances
- Includes joystick, mouse, paddle, and lightpen input
What to know first
- Unregistered sessions stop after 10 minutes
- Intel Macs require Rosetta with version 4.9.5
- Does not work on OS X 10.7
- RAM cartridge images are unsupported
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Power64 registration | one-time registration fee · single-user shareware registration · unregistered sessions limited to 10 minutes | $30, paid once |
| Power64 single user license | One-time shareware registration fee, including Kagi's share · Single user license · unregistered sessions limited to 10 minutes | $32, paid once |
As infinite-loop.at lists them, read 15 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Power64 offers detailed Commodore 64 emulation with broad media support and useful file-management tools. The session limit, Rosetta requirement, and unsupported cartridge types are important when choosing it.
Facts from Power64's own pages
- Cartridge limitation
- CRT images containing RAM or mixed RAM/ROM cartridges are unsupported; only ROM-only cartridge types work. · infinite-loop.at, 15 Oct 2026
- Company location
- The maker's contact and copyright information places Roland Lieger in Mödling, Austria. · infinite-loop.at, 15 Oct 2026
- Compatibility limit
- The download page says Power64 does not run on OS X 10.7 because Rosetta is unavailable there. · infinite-loop.at, 15 Oct 2026
- Compressed files
- Disk and tape images can be opened directly from ZIP, GZ and LHA archives. · infinite-loop.at, 15 Oct 2026
- Convenience features
- Features include drag-and-drop disk mounting, file copying between disks, tapes and the Mac hard disk, a built-in monitor/debugger, and support for running several C64 instances at once. · infinite-loop.at, 3 Oct 2026
- CPU emulation
- It emulates the MOS 6510 processor, including undocumented opcodes. · infinite-loop.at, 15 Oct 2026
- Current downloadable version
- The download page offers Power64 4.9.5 in DMG and ZIP formats and also keeps the unsupported Classic Mac OS 4.9.3 build available. · infinite-loop.at, 15 Oct 2026
- Debugger
- A Macintosh-side monitor/debugger can inspect and modify C64 memory without consuming emulated C64 RAM. · infinite-loop.at, 15 Oct 2026
- Developer
- Independent C64-Wiki identifies Roland Lieger as Power64's developer. · c64-wiki.de, 15 Oct 2026
- Developer tools
- The monitor provides assembly, disassembly, memory search, comparison, editing and tracing commands. · infinite-loop.at, 15 Oct 2026
- Development origin
- The version history records the first working code in May 1996 and the first public release in October 1996. · infinite-loop.at, 15 Oct 2026
- Disk and tape support
- It supports 1541, 1571 and 1581 disk emulation, disk and tape image formats, and Macintosh file access for C64 and P00 files. · infinite-loop.at, 3 Oct 2026
- Disk compatibility tradeoff
- Fast disk emulation can fail with software that accesses 1541 hardware directly, while complete emulation improves compatibility but loads at real-drive speed. · infinite-loop.at, 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- The online manual covers installation, media formats, devices, troubleshooting, monitor commands, BASIC, custom chips and file formats. · infinite-loop.at, 15 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- Users can extend the Programs menu so essential software launches from one menu click. · infinite-loop.at, 15 Oct 2026
- File management
- Users can mount media and copy files between emulated devices and the Mac using drag and drop. · infinite-loop.at, 15 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 1996 · infinite-loop.at, 28 Sept 2026
- Free use limit
- The unregistered version is fully functional but limits each emulator session to 10 minutes. · infinite-loop.at, 3 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Mödling, Austria · infinite-loop.at, 28 Sept 2026
- Included software
- C64-Wiki lists SMON, NEW Magician, a joystick demo and the games Block Out, Serpentine and Quadromania as included additions. · c64-wiki.de, 15 Oct 2026
- Independent editorial recommendation
- MacLife called Power64 the recommendable Mac C64 emulator among otherwise poor Mac emulator choices in its 23 August 2007 article. · maclife.de, 15 Oct 2026
- Independent review price
- ATPM's February 2000 shareware roundup listed Power64 at $25 and required a PowerPC processor. · atpm.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Input devices
- The emulator supports keyboard mapping, USB joysticks, mouse, paddles, lightpen and gamepads. · infinite-loop.at, 15 Oct 2026
- Installation
- Installation requires copying the application to a hard-disk location; ROM files are bundled and no extra files are required. · infinite-loop.at, 15 Oct 2026
Where Power64 stands on Freedom251
- Commodore 64 Emulators#17 of 31