The VIC-20 was intended to be more economical than the PET computer. It was equipped with 5 KB of static RAM and used the same MOS 6502 CPU as the PET. The VIC-20’s video chip, the MOS Technology VIC, was a general-purpose color video chip designed by Al Charpentier in 1977 and intended for use in inexpensive display terminals and game consoles, but Commodore could not find a market for the chip.

Technical Specifications
CPU : 6502a @ 1 MHz
ROM : 16 Kb
RAM : 5 Kb (expandable up to 32 Kb)
Display : Television or Monitor
Text display : 23 Rows x 22 Columns
Graphics display : 184 x 176
Colours : 8 Colours, plus 8 background / border colours
Sound : 3 Voices / 3 Octaves
Keyboard : 66 Key Full Stroke keyboard with 4 function keys.
Interface : 1 user port, 1 joystick port, 1 serial port, 1 cartrige port, Composite video output,
Interface : Cassette tape interface
Data Storage : Cassette tape, 5.25” disk drive could also be connected to the serial port.
Power Supply : External power pack