The Epyx Fast Load Cartridge (1984) was a revolutionary accessory for the Commodore 64, released in 1984 and programmed by Scott Nelson—formerly of Starpath and later the architect behind Epyx’s Vorpal fastloading system. Designed to dramatically reduce loading times from the notoriously slow 1541 disk drive, the cartridge delivered data at approximately 2,500 bytes per second—up to five times faster than the default rate. What made the Fast Load so popular was its simplicity: no hardware modifications were needed. Users simply inserted the cartridge and immediately benefited from faster load speeds. It also included a built-in Commodore DOS Wedge to streamline file and disk operations, reducing command keystrokes significantly. Beyond speed enhancements, the cartridge offered advanced utilities such as a machine language monitor (with disassembler, single-step execution, and a code relocator) and a hex+ASCII disk editor useful for debugging, cheat code injection, and basic ROM hacking. If a program proved incompatible, users could disable the cartridge via software—no need to physically remove it. While the original Fast Load isn’t compatible with modern SD2IEC devices, later variants added this support. The cartridge quickly became a staple among Commodore 64 owners and remains one of the most beloved peripherals of the era.

While revered by everybody who had one, this piece of hardware engineering magic is best left alongside vintage Commodore 64s in museums.  It does make you wonder though… is there any room in this Mac/PC world where a new product could emerge and capture our hearts the way the original Commodore 64 did?