Hi guys.
One of my C64s (a C64 C new motherboard model) stopped producing sound one day, just like that, while everything else is working perfectly. I suspect the SID chip is broken.
My questions are

1. Can I replace the SID chip without any special tools, soldering etc ?
2. What SID is being used in the C new motherboard model and what can it be replaced with?

Before I even bothered googling this issue, I decided to throw out the question here, I'm sure you guys know these things.

Scifo
Helsinki, Finland

What youre looking for if its the C model is the 8580 chip, thats the SID and in my own personal experience is normally socketed so its a quick pull out and pop in job

If you have checked and it really is the narrow board (there are C64C with older board version as well) didn't you see which SID was in it?

It's either 6581 or more likely the newer 8580 - open it up and check.

You'll also notice if it's in a socket or not, if it's in a socket all you need to do is to pry it out and replace it. It would be a good idea to figure out why it broke - if it's broken.

Have you checked your cables, are you running via RF, composite or chroma+luma?

I'll open up the computer and will report back. I'm using RF, but I also have a video-scart cable (or whatever it's called) that I actually never have tried but which suppose to produce much better graphics.

I'd try that cable or adjusting the channel on the TV before trying to find and replace the SID chip. They aren't that easy to find and it may be cheaper to get a whole C64C to pull the chip from.

There's a 8580 SID chip in this computer.
I'll try the video cable now.

If the cable doesn't help, try pulling the SID out half way and press it back again, a couple of times, just in case there's oxidation.

There's a transistor as well between the SID and the output, it's also something that can break. It requires soldering though...

I have sound! To be sure that I wasn't mixing up my C64s, I tested both of them (i have two C64C with new motherboard).
Both of them work well, both graphic and sound.
What I will try now is to see if the sound is working with the RF-cable.

I love these random happenings withing the 64 world. My Final Cartridge 3 didn't work in one of the C64s a year ago. Today it's working. I guess both the slot and the cartridge can need some electric CRC dustcleaning here and there, now and then.

I'll let u know if the RF-cable will produce sound.

We have sound using the RF-cable on both computers.
Random rules.
False alarm, guys. For now.
Thanx for all the help. It was actually the first time I opened up a C64. I'll open up the other one as well, just to check what SID chip sits in that one.