Hello,
I'm a bit new here but it seems like the best place to ask these questions. I just picked up a vic-20 from the local pawn shop for $50 and i purchased it because i had not seen this style of box before so is it rare at all? I also opened up the computer and it seems to be of early production but other than that i am a total newby here... any help is appreciated.
Have not tested it yet as my newer tv doesn't have the right connections so a direct DIN to RCA cable is in the mail and i will update if it works or not when i get it.
eslapion wrote:Most early VIC-20s that were made in Japan had that box.
Take a photo near the userport and see the orientation of the 6522 ICs.
I took a photo of the two that had 6522 on them, hopefully that helps. Interesting to know about the box! It was just hard to find photos of one online.
It's usually hard to judge exactly when the Japanese made VIC-20s were actually manufactured. As you may know, the computer was launched first in Japan as the VIC-1001 in September 1980, but wasn't out in the US until about April 1981. Judging it purely by chip dates is not possible, because the Japan factory still had stock left over from the VIC-1001 production. I have to admit, for your computer, that's far more certain because of the manufacture stamp!
The VIC-20 box here is the same art style used for the VIC-1001. The first run in the US had these boxes before swapping to the colour photo type that we are more used to seeing. Didn't apply to Europe (see below).
There are a few other near-certainties: all the Japanese made VIC-20s have serial numbers that start 5xxxxx; they made both NTSC and PAL units (my PAL VIC-20 is a made in Japan model but comes in the later colour box); they tend to use the older, earlier metal box style power transformer (you don't show yours in your photos); and gold case label (again, no photo).
Mayhem wrote:There are a few other near-certainties: [...]
Just by the look of the rectifier/regulator heat sink (bottom photo in OP) and the 'arrangement' of the VIAs (horizontal rather than vertical), this identifies it as the first mainboard revision of the VIC-1001 and very early NTSC VIC-20s.
Well everything sounds like good news to me! It does have the large metal box style power adapter and I believe the badge is silver? Hard to tell in the light. Thanks guys for the help I posted it here because I looked at that vic 20 registry site and it was earlier than any of them so i was curious.
I'll take some more complete photos inside and out tonight!
From those photos, and the bag as well, and the ties, makes you wonder if the computer has ever been used. I forgot to mention PET style keyboard above for the early US units, but you've got that as well heh.
eslapion wrote:@johnrh
The datecode on the 6522s is 4480 (44th week of 1980) making these VIAs the oldest ones I have ever seen.
I'll open my VIC-1001 and recheck the insides, I'd imagine the 6522s in there could be older
Mayhem wrote:From those photos, and the bag as well, and the ties, makes you wonder if the computer has ever been used. I forgot to mention PET style keyboard above for the early US units, but you've got that as well heh.
eslapion wrote:@johnrh
The datecode on the 6522s is 4480 (44th week of 1980) making these VIAs the oldest ones I have ever seen.
I'll open my VIC-1001 and recheck the insides, I'd imagine the 6522s in there could be older
Would love to see how old they are Mayhem! Interesting to be learning more about the date codes.
Well i got my DIN to RCA cord in and vic appears to be in good working condition! It starts up well showing the correct 2583 bytes free to use and when i tried a copy of 'Choplifter' that i bought and it worked great! Having a lot of fun with this computer and i thank you all for the help figuring out just how old this sucker is. Do you fellas have any guess at value in this condition w/ box etc though? I was thinking about it as i'm at my limit room wise in my house and don't know if i will be keeping this vic... Thanks.
