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Commodore 64C Capacitor Replacement Guide

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Revision as of 21:59, 21 September 2026 by Josh (talk | contribs) (Rewrite from Commodore's 250469-01 parts list: previous page listed C88/C89/C90 as electrolytics, but those are ceramics on this board. Banner removed; fully cited.)

Recapping a Commodore 64C — and any Commodore 64 built on the 250469 "short board" — restores stable supply rails and removes a common source of audio and video noise.

Every value on this page is taken from Commodore's own parts list for PCB assembly 250469-01 in the C64 / C64C Service Manual (March 1992).[1]

⚠️ A correction, and an important one

An earlier version of this page listed the short board's electrolytics as C88 2200 µF, C89 1000 µF, C90 330 µF with C91 "not fitted".

Those designators are not electrolytic capacitors on this board at all. In Commodore's parts list for 250469-01, C86–C88 are 220 pF ceramics and C90 is a 470 pF ceramic.[1] The old page appears to have carried the long-board designators across to the short board and attached invented values to them.

The short board uses a completely different numbering scheme from the long boards. If you worked from this page before September 2026, check what you fitted and where.

Which board is this?

The 250469 short board is the one used in the C64C slim case, and in late "bread bin" machines. The assembly number is silkscreened on the board. For the earlier long boards — 326298, 250407, 250425 and 250466 — see Commodore 64 Capacitor Replacement Guide, which lists a different and non-overlapping set of parts.

Electrolytic capacitors — 250469-01

250469-01 (C64-E / 64C) electrolytics[1]
Ref Value Rating Package Commodore part no.
C63 1000 µF 16 V Axial 900101-52
C63 (second entry — see note) 2200 µF 16 V Axial 900101-33
C66 470 µF 35 V Radial 900301-35
C43 220 µF 16 V Radial 900100-18
C65 220 µF 25 V Radial 900100-03
C58 100 µF 16 V Radial 900100-40
C36 47 µF 16 V Radial 900100-33
C44 22 µF 50 V Radial 251079-06
C77 10 µF 25 V Radial 900100-01
C59 4.7 µF 25 V Radial 900100-11

Note on C63. Commodore's printed parts list for this assembly contains two entries for C63 — 1000 µF 16 V (900101-52) and 2200 µF 16 V (900101-33).[1] This wiki has not been able to determine whether that reflects a running change or an error in the manual. Read the value off your own board and fit like for like; either part is physically and electrically reasonable in that position, and the higher value will not do harm.

What is not an electrolytic on this board

Worth stating plainly, because the previous version of this page got it wrong:[1]

Ref What it actually is
C2–C4, C6, C76, C90 Ceramic, 470 pF 50 V
C74 Ceramic, 1000 pF 50 V
C80, C81 Ceramic, 1800 pF 50 V / 2200 pF 25 V depending on the list
C86–C88 Ceramic, 220 pF 50 V
C94 Ceramic, 150 pF 50 V
C70, C71 Ceramic, 22000 pF
C1, C7, C28–C30 Ceramic, 0.1 µF 25 V

Ceramics of this type do not age the way aluminium electrolytics do and are not part of a routine recap.

Before you start

  • Work from your own board's silkscreen. The assembly number tells you which list applies; the board itself is the final authority.
  • Anti-static precautions throughout. The 8500, 8565/8562 VIC-II, 8580 SID and the Super PLA are the parts you cannot casually replace.
  • See Capacitor Failure Symptoms for recognising a failed part and Recommended Tools for the workshop kit.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Commodore Business Machines, C64 / C64C Service Manual, March 1992, hosted at Commodore C64 Service Manual. Parts list for PCB assembly 250469-01 (C64-E), giving capacitance, voltage rating, package and Commodore part number for every capacitor on the short board.
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