Philips VG-8010
.jpg) | |
| VG 8010/00 with the silver top panel and QWERTY keyboard | |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | La Radiotechnique, Le Mans, for Philips |
| Type | MSX home computer |
| Released | January 1984 or 1985 (sources differ) |
| Intro price | ƒ849 (Netherlands), 799 DM (Germany), 2990 FF (France) |
| CPU | Z80A |
| Memory | 32 KB RAM, 16 KB video RAM, 32 KB ROM |
| Storage | MSX cartridges, cassette |
| Display | TMS9129 |
| Sound | AY-3-8910 |
| Power | External VU-0022 supply, 220 V ±10 %, 50 Hz |
| OS / Firmware | — |
| Predecessor | Philips VG-8000 |
| Successor | Philips VG-8020 |
| Model no. | VG-8010/00, VG-8010/19 |
The Philips VG-8010 is an MSX1 home computer, the second MSX sold by Philips. Like the Philips VG-8000 it was built in France by La Radiotechnique at Le Mans, but it has 32 KB of RAM where the VG-8000 has 16 KB.[1] The case is marked "48K RAM"; that figure includes the 16 KB of video RAM.[1] Wikipedia dates the release to January 1984 and gives a French retail price of 2290 Fr in September 1985; the MSX Resource Center wiki gives 1985 and 2990 FF.[2] It was followed by the Philips VG-8020.[2]
The VG-8010 has no printer port, no expansion bus and no separate audio output, and it runs from the external VU-0022 power supply, which it shares with the Philips VG-5000.[1][3] A printer can be used through Philips's VU 0040 cartridge.[1]
Versions
[edit | edit source]| Version | Keyboard | Video board | Video outputs |
|---|---|---|---|
| /00 | QWERTY | PAL encoder | RF (UHF channel 32) and composite |
| /19 | AZERTY | RGB encoder | RGB |
The /19 has a black top case. The same machine was sold in France as the Radiola MK 180 and the Schneider MC 810, and the /00 in Italy as the Phonola VG-8010.[1]
Hardware
[edit | edit source]| Position | Part | Function |
|---|---|---|
| IC652 | Z80A | CPU |
| IC653 | TMS9129 | Video display processor |
| IC654 | MSM82C55A | Programmable peripheral interface (keyboard, slot select) |
| IC655 | AY-3-8910 | Sound generator, joystick ports |
| IC660, IC661 | TMS4416-20 | 16 KB video RAM |
| IC663 | 23256 | 32 KB BIOS and MSX BASIC ROM |
| IC698 | 74LS145 | Keyboard row decoder |
| IC714 | 74LS393 | DRAM refresh counter |
| X870 | 10.738635 MHz | VDP crystal |
The VG-8010's 32 KB of user RAM is on a separate 32K RAM board (four TMS4416-15 and a 74LS74), which takes the place of the two RAM chips IC657 and IC658 fitted to the VG-8000.[5][6] The video output comes from a separate encoder board: a PAL encoder built round a TDA2501 on the /00, or an RGB encoder on the /19. A UHF modulator sits beside it. The cassette input comparator (an LM311) is on the encoder board.[7]
Power supply
[edit | edit source]The VU-0022 is a switch-mode supply with a TEA1039 controller and a BUX84 switching transistor. It gives +5 V, +12 V and -12 V through a DIN plug; its only adjustment is R168, which sets 5 V across the output capacitor C201.[8] Philips's own service manual for the supply alone is hosted as File:Philips VU-0022 Power Supply Service Manual 4822 727 15121.pdf. Its rated outputs are 5 V at 1.55 A and 100 mA each at +12 V and -12 V.[3]
Documentation
[edit | edit source]The service manual for the VG 8000 and VG 8010 is hosted and described on Philips VG-8010 Documentation.
Maintenance and repair
[edit | edit source]- Philips VG-8010 General Maintenance: opening the case, the VU-0022 supply, adjustments.
- Philips VG-8010 Troubleshooting Guide: supply faults, black screen at switch-on, noisy video, loss of colour.
- Philips VG-8010 Capacitor Replacement Guide: the main board, encoder board and VU-0022 electrolytics from the service manual.
For general advice see Capacitor Failure Symptoms and Recommended Tools.
Gallery
[edit | edit source]-
VG 8010/19, the French version with an AZERTY keyboard and black top panel -
VG-8010/00 -
Inside: UHF modulator and PAL encoder board at the left, main board with the covered 32K RAM board at the right -
Exploded view from the service manual
.jpg)
.png)
Related pages
[edit | edit source]- Philips VG-8000
- Philips VG-8020
- Philips VG-5000, which uses the same VU-0022 supply
- Philips VG-8010 Documentation
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Philips VG-8010, MSX Resource Center wiki—link(accessed 2026-10-21) Community page: the second Philips MSX, made in France at Le Mans by La Radiotechnique; 32 KB of RAM, not the 48 KB printed on the box and case, which adds the video RAM; no Centronics port, no expansion bus, no separate audio output and a non-standard PAL connector; external VU 0022 power supply; VG-8010/00 with QWERTY keyboard and silver top case (Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany; Phonola VG-8010 in Italy) and VG-8010/19 or VG-8010F with AZERTY keyboard and black top case (also Radiola MK 180 and Schneider MC 810); GRAPH and CODE keys work as toggles; printer through the VU 0040 cartridge; year 1985; prices 799 DM, 2990 FF, ƒ849; RAM in slot 0; TMS9129NL; AY-3-8910; separate ICs; Z80 from SGS; RF and composite outputs on PAL models, RGB on the /19.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Philips VG 8000, Wikipedia—link(accessed 2026-10-21) Section "Philips VG 8010": released in January 1984 with 32 KB of RAM; built at Le Mans by Radiotechnique; 2290 Fr in September 1985; sold as the Phonola VG-8010, and with 48K as the Schneider MC 810 and Radiola MK 180; replaced by the VG-8020.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Philips VU 0022, MSX Resource Center wiki, 21 February 2024—link(accessed 2026-10-21) The VU-0022 external power supply was supplied with the Philips VG-8000 and VG-8010, the Phonola VG-8000 and VG-8010, the Radiola MK 180 and the Schneider MC 810, and with the non-MSX Philips, Radiola and Schneider VG-5000; proprietary DIN connector; input 220 V 50 Hz; outputs 5 V 1.55 A, +12 V 100 mA and -12 V 100 mA.
- ↑ Philips, Service Manual, Home computer VG 8000/00/19/20, VG 8010/00/19, PDF page 1, specification: Z80A; 32k ROM, 16k video RAM, 16k user RAM in the VG 8000 and 32k in the VG 8010; TMS9129; AY-3-8910; RF output 75 Ω on UHF channel E32, monitor output, audio cassette recorder, 2 joysticks, 2 cartridge slots; 72 keys, QWERTY on the /00 and /20, AZERTY on the /19; 220 V ±10 %, 50 Hz. Hosted as File:Philips VG-8000 VG-8010 Service Manual.pdf.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Philips, Service Manual, Home computer VG 8000/00/19/20, VG 8010/00/19, PDF pages 3 and 4, specification of ICs: positions, types and functions, including IC657 and IC658 (TMS4416-15, user RAM, VG 8000 only), IC665 (LM311N, cassette interface in) and the VG 8010 RAM board IC662 to IC665 (TMS4416-15, user RAM) and IC666 (74LS74AN, CAS1 and CAS2). PDF page 13 lists X870 as 10.738635 MHz. Hosted as File:Philips VG-8000 VG-8010 Service Manual.pdf.
- ↑ Philips, Service Manual, Home computer VG 8000/00/19/20, VG 8010/00/19, PDF page 14, "32k RAM (for VG8010 only)", part number 4822 212 10213; PDF page 15, connectors of the 32K RAM circuit; PDF page 20, note that IC657 and IC658 are not present in the VG 8010. Hosted as File:Philips VG-8000 VG-8010 Service Manual.pdf.
- ↑ Philips, Service Manual, Home computer VG 8000/00/19/20, VG 8010/00/19, PDF page 13, electrical parts lists: main board ICs, PAL encoder U100 (4822 212 10206) with IC665 LM311N, IC719 74LS74AN and IC721 TDA2501, trimmers C900 (8 to 25 pF) and C901 (8 to 40 pF), electrolytics C827, C847, C849 and C862 (10 µF 50 V); PDF page 14, RGB encoder U100 (4822 212 10207). PDF page 15, mechanical parts: UHF modulator 5.5 MHz/00 (4822 212 10204). Hosted as File:Philips VG-8000 VG-8010 Service Manual.pdf.
- ↑ Philips, Service Manual, Home computer VG 8000/00/19/20, VG 8010/00/19, PDF page 2, notes and adjustments, and PDF pages 11 and 12, external power supply unit circuit diagram (drawing 36498 C12) and parts list: mains through VL213 (630 mA T) and filter S207 to bridge D224 to D227 (BYW55) and reservoirs C196 and C197 (22 µF 385 V), about 310 V; IC192 TEA1039 driving TS190 (BUX84) on transformer T211; outputs 5 V through D189, C203 (4700 µF 10 V), S210 and C201, +12 V through D187, C200, S209 and C199, -12 V through D186, C204, R159 and C205; feedback through the CNX62 optocoupler U191 and R168 (47 Ω trimmer). The hatched printing on the supply board marks parts connected directly to the mains. Hosted as File:Philips VG-8000 VG-8010 Service Manual.pdf.