Commodore 64 Capacitor Reference Guide

Target: ASSY 250407, 250425, 250466, and 250469 (64C) Motherboards

Bench Tips & Recapping Safety

Verify PCB Assembly Number First:

Always check the silkscreen assembly number printed directly on the mainboard near the cartridge port before ordering parts or desoldering. Component designations (e.g., C13 vs C201) vary significantly across board revisions.
Voltage Ratings:

You can safely use capacitors with higher voltage ratings than original stock (e.g., replacing a 10V or 16V capacitor with a 25V or 35V rated equivalent). Never downgrade voltage ratings.
Low-ESR & 105°C Rating:

Use high-quality, 105°C-rated low-ESR electrolytic capacitors (such as Panasonic FR/FC series or Nichicon PW/HE) to minimize ripple noise on video and audio outputs.
Mind the Polarity:

Always align the negative band stripe on the capacitor body with the negative (-) marking printed on the C64 PCB. Note that on some early Commodore revisions, silkscreen markings can occasionally be reversed or ambiguous—always double-check against trace connections (ground plane) before soldering.
Power Supply Warning:

Recapping will not protect your system from an original fault-prone Commodore "black wedge" or beige power supply brick that fails high on the 5V rail. Always use a modern regulated power supply.

Designator	Value	Min Voltage	Type	Primary Function / Rail
C13	10 µF	25V	Radial	Audio Output / SID Filter
C14	10 µF	25V	Radial	SID Audio Path
C15	470 µF	16V	Radial	VIC-II Video / 12V Supply Line
C19	470 µF	25V	Radial	9V AC Unregulated Input Filter
C33	10 µF	25V	Radial	Reset / Clock Circuit
C88	4700 µF	16V	Axial / Radial	Main 5V DC Filter Input
C90	100 µF	16V	Radial	Power Supply Line Filter

Designator	Value	Min Voltage	Type	Primary Function / Rail
C13	10 µF	25V	Radial	Audio Output / SID Line
C14	10 µF	25V	Radial	Audio Circuitry
C15	470 µF	16V	Radial	VIC-II Video Line Filter
C19	470 µF	25V	Radial	9V AC Input Filter
C33	10 µF	25V	Radial	System Reset Delay
C62	10 µF	25V	Radial	Video RF Modulator / Composite Output
C88	4700 µF	16V	Axial / Radial	Main 5V DC Input Filter
C90	100 µF	16V	Radial	Power Rail Decoupling

Note: The 250469 uses the HMOS 8580 SID (which runs on 9V DC rather than 12V DC) and features a consolidated PCB layout.

Hum / Buzz on Audio: Replace C13 / C14 (Long boards) or C202 (Short board).
Vertical Jailbars / Heavy Video Noise: Replace C15 / C62 (Long boards) or C201 (Short board).
Random Boot Crashes / Brownouts: Replace main power caps C88 / C19 (Long boards) or C238 / C232 (Short board).