The VIC (Video Interface Chip), specifically known as the MOS Technology 6560 (NTSC version) / 6561 (PAL version), is the integrated circuit chip responsible for generating video graphics and sound in the Commodore VIC-20 home computer. It was originally designed for applications such as low cost CRTterminals, biomedical monitors, control system displays and arcade or home video game consoles.
Its features include:
16 KB address space for screen, character and color memory (only 5 KB points to RAM on the VIC-20 without a hardware modification)
16 colors (the upper 8 can only be used in the global background and auxilary colors)
two selectable character sizes (88 or 816 bits; the pixel width is 1 bit for "hires" characters and 2 bits for "multicolor" characters)
maximum video resolution depends on the television system (176 184 is the standard for the VIC-20 firmware, although at least 224 256 is possible on the PAL machine)
sound system (4 channels (3 square wave + "white" noise) + global volume setting)
The VIC was programmed by manipulating its 16 control registers, memory mapped to the range $9000–$900F in the VIC-20 address space. The on-chip A/D converters were used for dual paddle position readings by the VIC-20, which also used the VIC's lightpen facility. The VIC preceded the much more advanced VIC-II, used by the VIC-20's successors, the C64 and C128.
The Western Design Center designed and produced the 65816 processor, a 16-bit successor to the 65C02 as well as a hybrid offshoot called the 65802 which was a 65816 with a 64 KB address space in a 65(C)02 pin-compatible package.
Mitsubishi (now Renesas Technology) made a line of 16-bit microcontrollers with an architecture very similar to the 65816, though it was not 100% compatible.
MOS 6510 (and 7501, 8500, 8501) ● MOS8502 ● MOS 65CE02 ● WDC 65802 ● WDC 65816 ● Ricoh 5A22 ● Nintendo SA-1
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