# Commodore 1581

> 3.5" floppy disk drive for C64/C128

**Wikidata**: [Q337278](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q337278)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore_1581)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/commodore-1581

## Summary
The Commodore 1581 is a 3.5" floppy disk drive designed for the Commodore 64 and Commodore 128 home computers. It was manufactured by Commodore International and used Commodore DOS as its operating system. Released as a successor to the Commodore 1571, it provided improved storage capacity for users of these systems.

## Key Facts
- **Manufacturer**: Commodore International  
- **Type**: Floppy disk drive (3.5")  
- **Compatible Systems**: Commodore 64 and Commodore 128  
- **Operating System**: Commodore DOS  
- **CPU**: MOS Technology 6502  
- **Discontinuation Date**: 1990  
- **Preceded by**: Commodore 1571  
- **Storage Medium**: 3.5" floppy disks  

## FAQs
### Q: What computers was the Commodore 1581 compatible with?  
A: The Commodore 1581 was designed for use with the Commodore 64 and Commodore 128 home computers.  

### Q: What was the storage capacity of the Commodore 1581?  
A: The drive used 3.5" floppy disks, offering improved storage compared to earlier Commodore disk drives, though exact capacity isn't specified in the source material.  

### Q: When was the Commodore 1581 discontinued?  
A: Production of the Commodore 1581 ended in 1990.  

## Why It Matters  
The Commodore 1581 was significant as one of the few 3.5" floppy disk drives officially released by Commodore for its 8-bit home computers. It provided users with a more modern storage solution compared to the older 5.25" drives like the 1571, aligning with the industry shift toward 3.5" media. While not as widely adopted as its predecessors, it represented an important step in Commodore's peripheral lineup, offering improved reliability and storage density for enthusiasts and power users. Its compatibility with the C64 and C128 ensured continued utility for those systems in the late 1980s and early 1990s.  

## Notable For  
- One of the few 3.5" floppy drives officially supported by Commodore for the C64/C128.  
- Used the MOS Technology 6502 CPU, a common processor in Commodore's hardware ecosystem.  
- Succeeded the Commodore 1571, offering a newer storage format.  

## Body  
### Technical Specifications  
- **CPU**: MOS Technology 6502  
- **Operating System**: Commodore DOS  
- **Drive Type**: 3.5" floppy disk  

### Compatibility  
- Designed for the Commodore 64 and Commodore 128.  
- Required Commodore DOS for operation.  

### Historical Context  
- **Preceded by**: Commodore 1571 (5.25" floppy drive).  
- **Discontinued**: 1990, marking the end of its production cycle.  

### Design and Features  
- Featured a compact form factor compared to earlier 5.25" drives.  
- Utilized 3.5" disks, which were becoming the industry standard in the late 1980s.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013