Let's test the Philips VG-5000 that I bought on eBay? The seller stated that it works. In addition to the vintage computer, in the purchased lot there is also the manual in French, the box and... the Philips VU-0022 power supply, which can also be useful for me Philips VG-8010.
This computer was manufactured by Philips from 1984 to 1986. It was intended for the French market, so it has an AZERTY keyboard and not QWERTY, as we are used to seeing them. It is equipped with 24 KB of RAM, although in reality only 16 are intended for the program and 8 for video memory. In addition, it has 18 KB ROM.
The Philips VG5000, sometimes also called VG5K, is not an MSX-compatible computer, so it needs specific software. However, you can find, on the internet, emulators and software in abundance!
In this video, I had done the unboxing.
Power supply Philips VU0022
As I said before, together with the computer, I also bought a Philips VG-0022 power supply that allows me to power both the VG5000 and the VG8010, an MSX computer that I own in collection. When it comes to vintage computers, the first thing I do is check the supply voltages of the power supply, because, if a power supply is damaged and gives a wrong voltage, it could damage the electronics of the computer.
The pinout of the power supply connector is shown below and is seen from the solder side of the connector, or from the back of the computer. To test the voltages on the contact side of the DIN connector, the arrangement of the mirror feet must be considered.
Fortunately, the voltages of the power supply are correct.
Test of the Philips VG-5000
Once the supply voltages were checked, I connected the VG5000 to the monitor to see if it works. Fortunately, the seller, on eBay, had stated the truth: the computer is tested and working. A DIN to SCART video cable is required to connect the Philips VG-5000. I can't use the one of the Philips VG8010, because that model has a composite video output, while the VG5000 has an RGB output.
I was not satisfied with just turning on the computer: I also tried the keyboard keys and I wrote a simple program in BASIC.
Philips Power Supply VU0022 for MSX Computer Philips VG8010
Finally, I connected the VU 0022 power supply to the Philips VG8010 as well. Finally, even that computer I have in my collection got its power supply!
To connect the Philips VG8010 you use a Composite video cable.
The first test with the black LG TV didn't go well... the TV is not perfectly compatible and, from time to time, shows distorted screens. For this, I connected a second TV, Sharp LC20, which shows a perfect screen.
In short, not all LCD TVs are compatible with our vintage computers!
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