# MOS Technology 6510

> 8-bit microprocessor

**Wikidata**: [Q378246](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q378246)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOS_Technology_6510)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mos-technology-6510

## Summary
The MOS Technology 6510 is an 8-bit microprocessor that served as the central processing unit in the Commodore 64 home computer. It is a variant of the MOS 6502 processor with an integrated 6-bit I/O port for memory banking control.

## Key Facts
- 8-bit microprocessor with 16-bit address bus
- Manufactured by MOS Technology, Rockwell International, and Synertek
- Used as the CPU in the Commodore 64 and Commodore 128 computers
- Features an integrated 6-bit I/O port for memory banking control
- Successor to the MOS 6502 processor
- Has 17 Wikipedia sitelinks across multiple languages
- Freebase ID: /m/0531t

## FAQs

### Q: What computers used the MOS 6510 processor?
A: The MOS 6510 was primarily used in the Commodore 64 and Commodore 128 home computers as their central processing unit.

### Q: How is the MOS 6510 different from the MOS 6502?
A: The MOS 6510 is a modified version of the MOS 6502 that includes an integrated 6-bit I/O port for memory banking control, which the 6502 lacks.

### Q: What is the data size of the MOS 6510 processor?
A: The MOS 6510 is an 8-bit microprocessor, meaning it processes data in 8-bit chunks.

## Why It Matters
The MOS Technology 6510 played a crucial role in the home computer revolution of the 1980s as the brain of the Commodore 64, which became one of the best-selling single personal computer models of all time. Its integration of an I/O port for memory banking allowed the Commodore 64 to efficiently manage its memory architecture, enabling the system to access more memory than would normally be possible with a 16-bit address bus. This innovation helped make the Commodore 64 both powerful and cost-effective, contributing to its widespread adoption in homes and schools. The 6510's design influenced subsequent computer architectures and demonstrated how specialized modifications to existing processor designs could solve specific system-level challenges.

## Notable For
- Served as the CPU in the Commodore 64, one of the most successful home computers ever sold
- First widely-used processor to integrate an I/O port for memory banking control
- Enabled the Commodore 64 to access more memory than its 16-bit address bus would typically allow
- Manufactured by multiple companies including MOS Technology, Rockwell International, and Synertek
- Maintained backward compatibility with 6502 software while adding new capabilities

## Body
### Technical Specifications
The MOS Technology 6510 operates as an 8-bit processor with a 16-bit address bus, allowing it to address up to 64KB of memory directly. It runs at approximately 1 MHz in the Commodore 64 configuration. The processor includes an integrated 6-bit I/O port that can be used for various control functions, most notably for memory banking in the Commodore 64 architecture.

### Memory Banking Architecture
The integrated I/O port on the 6510 allows for sophisticated memory management through bank switching. In the Commodore 64, this feature enables the system to switch between ROM and RAM at specific memory locations, effectively allowing the computer to access more than 64KB of total memory by swapping different memory banks into the addressable space.

### Manufacturing and Variants
The 6510 was produced by MOS Technology as the original manufacturer, with additional production by Rockwell International and Synertek under license. A variant called the 6510A was also produced, offering minor improvements or variations in manufacturing process.

### Software Compatibility
The 6510 maintains full hardware compatibility with 6502 software, making it a seamless upgrade for systems designed around the earlier processor. This compatibility ensured a large library of existing software could run on 6510-based systems without modification, while also allowing developers to leverage the new I/O capabilities when needed.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013