Many modern Commodore 64 games and releases use the Easyflash format and the software is distributed as an EasyFlash .crt file. In order to play EasyFlash releases on a real Commodore 64/128, you need an Easyflash cartridge or a cartridge that can act like an EasyFlash cartridge. In some cases you want to store many games on a cartridge. In such cases solutions as the 1541 Ultimate II+, Kung Fu Flash or EasyFlash 3 are the way to go. However, in many cases you want dedicated cartridge for the game. In these cases the original EasyFlash1 is the way to go.

The EasyFlash 1CR is a cartridge from the Commodore 64/128, that is functionally equivalent to the EasyFlash 1 by Thomas Giesel, but has been redesigned so it can be built from less components and make it compatible with more cartridge cases. Allthough it contains less components, no corners have been cut and the functionality is exactly identical as the original. (The reset button has been removed though.) The lower amount of components reduces the component cost, but also reduces the amount of work to build the cartridge and even the lower weight reduces the cost to ship it, making it possibly the most affordable EasyFlash cartridge yet.

This cartridge is compatible with the large library of available EasyFlash releases and all of those releases are suitable to be installed on the cartridge. EasyFlash cartridges can also be used as so called "multicarts". In a multicart, multiple standard C64 cartridges, which can be either 8K, 16K or Ultimax cartridges, are combined on a single cartridge with a menu interface.

The cartridge has two mounting holes, which makes it compatible with a range of available cartridge cases. The following C64 cartridge cases are compatible:

• Individual Computers
• The Future was 8-bit
• Protoparts

More information can be found on the web page of the cartridge.

You can install software into an EasyFlash cartridge with the EasyProg utility. EasyFlash cartridges are 1MB in size. It is highly recommended that you have a C64 storage medium at your disposal that can handle 1MB files. Examples of such storage media are the SD2IEC and 1541 Ultimate.

This is version of the EasyFlash 1CR is for narrow 0.3" SRAM chips. There is also a version for 0.6" wide SRAM chips.

Recommended manufacturing parameters:

• Single pieces
• Thinkness: 1.6mm
• Material: FR-4
• Surface finnish: HASL lead-free
• Via process: Tenting vias
• Copper weight: 1 oz Cu

Many thanks to Thomas Giesel for the original EasyFlash design.

BOM note: Capacitor C1 (33pF), Diode D3 (BAV21), resistors R2&R3 (10k) and MOSFET Q1 (2N700) are critical components for timing, using components with slightly different specifications may cause malfunction.

Jumper note: There are jumper pads on the backside of the PCB to select between 6116 or 6264/62256 SRAM chips. By default the jumper is wired to 6116, therefore if you use 6264 or 62256 then you will have to cut the connection, or otherwise the cartridge will not work.