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2026-10-12 07:55:22 +02:00

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Thomson MO 5
Computers
name image logo company company_name tabs photos adverts hardware connectors screenshots emulators links videos comments related oc_id source
MO 5 /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5_1s.jpg /media/museum/logos/thomson_mo5_logo.gif /companies/thomson Thomson
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MO5 - RUBBER KEYBOARD /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5_1b.jpg
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LEFT SIDE /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5_leftside_1.jpg
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TOP /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5_top.jpg
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RIGHT SIDE Left : light-pen connector\ Right : tape recorder connector /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5_rightside_1.jpg
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REAR Not much here... Power in (small hole to the left of the video cable), SCART video cable and Expansion connector with its protective plastic cap. /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5_rear_1.jpg
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INSIDE **1** - RESET (soft) button\ **2** - BUS expansion connector\ **3** - MEMO5 cartridge slot\ **4** - Internal video connector\ **5** - 17v power in (12v for SCART + 5v for the mother board)\ **6** - Light pen connector\ **7** - Tape interface\ **8** - Keyboard connector\ **9** - 6821 chipset handling I/O\ **10** - ROM (4 KB monitor + 16 KB Basic)\ **11** - Specific Logical Gate Array chipset (EFGJ03L) handling, among other things, the video\ **12** - Motorola 6809 CPU (1 MHz)\ **13** - RAM chips (48 KB) /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5_mobo.jpg
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MOTHERBOARD CLOSE-UP Close-up on the main chips. From left to right :\ - 6821 chipset handling I/O\ - ROM (4 KB monitor + 16 KB Basic)\ - Specific Logical Gate Array chipset (EFGJ03L) handling, among other things, the video\ - Motorola 6809 CPU (1 MHz) /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5_mobo_2.jpg
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SPANISH MODEL This is a spanish model of the MO5. It has a QWERTY keyboard instead of the AZERTY one of the french models. The ROM has been modified to include Spanish characters and there are RF and RGB outputs at the back of the system instead of the SCART connector of the french model. Thanks to Vicente Simon for this picture /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5-esp_1.jpg
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THE BOX /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5-gomme_box.jpg
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RUBBER AND MECHANICAL MODELS /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5_comparatif_1.jpg
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MECHANICAL KEYBOARD MODEL This new model is exactly the same. Only the keyboard differs. /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5-2_1.jpg
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LEFT SIDE /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5-2_left-side.jpg
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REAR /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5-2_rear.jpg
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RIGHT SIDE /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5-2_right-side.jpg
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TOP /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5-2_top.jpg
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CLOSE UP Close-up on the Memo5 cartridge slot and Reset button. /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5-2_closeup_1.jpg
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KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5-2_closeup_2.jpg
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PROTOTYPE #1 We know only one model of this prototype with transparent plastic case and handy soldered mainboard. /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5_protot_1.jpg
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PROTOTYPE #2 /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5_proto_s2.jpg
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INSIDE THE PROTOTYPE Board design is the same as a standard version, but all the I.C. are socketted. /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5_prototinside_1.jpg
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MICHEL PLATINI EDITION This is a special edition named "Michel Platini" in honour of the famous french soccer player. It was sold with a sport bag (with an illustration of Michel Platini on it) and the "Numéro 10" soccer game on tape. Thanks to [Vintage Computer Rescue Project](http://www.vcrp.fr) for this picture /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5-platini.jpg
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FRENCH ADVERT. (1984) This is nearly a stupid scan ! The young boy says : ''In 1984, my father bought me a MO-5"\ And on his desk is a 1998 calendar... They meant that if you bought the MO-5 then (the advert is from 1984), you would be rich and clever 14 years later (in 1998). Ha ha ha !! It's funny to see how they tried to represent an office and a town of 1998. I really love this one ! /media/museum/pubs/thomson_mo5_pub_1998_2.jpg
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FRENCH ADVERT (DEC. 1985) "MO5. Adventure built-in"\ "All the world in a present" /media/museum/pubs/thomson_mo5_pub_aventure-comprise.jpg
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FRENCH ADVERT (JUNE 1985) "Thomson, you make me micro" /media/museum/pubs/thomson_mo5_tu-me-rends-micro_1.jpg
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FRENCH ADVERT (JUNE 1985) "Thomson, the micro capital" /media/museum/pubs/thomson_mo5_pub_capitale-micro.jpg
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TAPE-RECORDER /media/museum/hardware/thomson_mo5_taperecorder_1.jpg
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5.25'' DISK DRIVE 320 KB model This 5.25'' disk-drive offers a 320 KB capacity (40 tracks > 16 sectors > 256 bytes) and a built-in controller. /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to7_diskdrive_2.jpg
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DISK CONTROLLER CD 90-351 This interface was used to connect a disk drive or a Quick Disc Drive (QDD) to a TO-7, TO-7/70, MO5 or MO6. /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to7_disk-interface.jpg
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JOYSTICK MODULE Dual Atari compatible joysticks module /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to9_joymodule_1.jpg
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MUSIC & GAME MODULE CM 90-112 This module offers two joystick connectors (Videopac joysticks can be used) and adds three channels to the TO-7 or MO-5 (resulting in a total of 4 voices). Sadly, these new sound features were scarcely used in games... /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to7_joy-interface.jpg
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MUSIC & GAME MODULE #2 /media/museum/hardware/thomson_mo5_musicetjeu_s1.jpg
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ORDI 94 Joystick Interface This interface enables Atari joysticks to be used with TO-7, TO-7/70 and MO5. It was sold by Ordivisuel under the name Ordi 94. /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to7_joy-atari.jpg
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PRINTER PR-90 080 80 columns dot-matrix printer which was a rebadged version of the Seikosha GP-80 /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to7_imp_pr90-080.jpg
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PRINTER PR-90 600 80-column 9-pin dot matrix printer. A rebadged version of the Seikosha SP-1000 with graphics capabilities /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to9_imppr90_600_1.jpg
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PICTURE #1 This impressive expansion adds many thing to the MO5 : a Quick Disk Drive (2.8", 50 KB per side), three expansion slots and one Centronics port. The disk operating system (Q-DOS) itself offers a bunch of new Basic statements such as CIRCLE, PAINT (to fill shapes), DRAW, GET, PUT, etc. All in all, it is an excellent expansion which corrects most of the limitations of the MO5. Price = 428 Euros (France, november 1985) /media/museum/hardware/thomson_mo5_expansion_1.jpg
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PICTURE #2 Thanks to [Musepat](http://perso.club-internet.fr/musepat/) for this picture. /media/museum/hardware/thomson_mo5_qdd-expansion_2.jpg
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CLOSE-UP ON THE QUICK DISK DRIVE Thanks to [Musepat](http://perso.club-internet.fr/musepat/) for this picture. /media/museum/hardware/thomson_mo5_qdd-expansion_3.jpg
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EXPANSION CONNECTOR Top contacts: 1 - ground\ 2 - ...\ 3 - E7C\ 4 - CSE\ 5 - A11\ 6 - A10\ 7 - A9\ 8 - A8\ 9 - A7\ 10 - A6\ 11 - A5\ 12 - A4\ 13 - A3\ 14 - A2\ 15 - A1\ 16 - A0\ 17 - CSO\ 18 - CSC\ 19 - +5v Bottom contacts: 1 - +12v\ 2 - ground\ 3 - audio\ 4 - R/W\ 5 - E\ 6 - D7\ 7 - D6\ 8 - D5\ 9 - D4\ 10 - D3\ 11 - D2\ 12 - D1\ 13 - D0\ 14 - RST\ 15 - FIRQ\ 16 - NMI\ 17 - IRQ\ 18 - VIDEO\ 19 - -5v /media/museum/connectors/connecteur_plat_38.gif
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JOYSTICK CONNECTORS These are the connectors found on the Game & Music expansion: 1 - Fire button\ 2 - Down\ 3 - Ground\ 4 - Left\ 5 - Up\ 6 - Right /media/museum/connectors/din6.gif
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TAPE INTERFACE CONNECTOR The drawing is looking at the connector itself (right side of the system): **1** - Analog audio output\ **2** - Ground\ **3** - Engine/motor control\ **4** - DATA input (record)\ **5** - DATA output (read) Pinout N°3 is used to control the tape recorder (play/stop)\ Pinout N°4 is used by the MO5 to identify a valid tape recorder. It expects +5v on this pin. /media/museum/connectors/din5.gif
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TITLE SCREEN /media/museum/software/thomson_mo5_ss_androides_1.gif
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SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/thomson_mo5_ss_androides_2.gif
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LEVEL 1 Screenshot /media/museum/software/thomson_to7_arkanoid_ss.gif
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SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/thomson_mo5_ss_arkanoid_1.gif
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TITLE SCREEN /media/museum/software/thomson_mo5_ss_asterix_1.gif
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SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/thomson_mo5_ss_asterix_2.gif
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SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/thomson_mo5_ss_avenger_1.gif
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MAP /media/museum/software/thomson_mo5_ss_beach-head_1.gif
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CANAL CROSSING /media/museum/software/thomson_mo5_ss_beach-head_2.gif
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SEA BATTLE /media/museum/software/thomson_mo5_ss_beach-head_3.gif
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TANK LEVEL /media/museum/software/thomson_mo5_ss_beach-head_4.gif
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FINAL STAGE /media/museum/software/thomson_mo5_ss_beach-head_5.gif
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SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/thomson_mo5_ss_boot.jpg.gif
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SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/thomson_to7_coliseum_ss.gif
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SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/thomson_mo5_ss_crocky2_1.gif
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SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/thomson_mo5_ss_dakar4x4_1.gif
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SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/thomson_mo5_ss_eliminator_1.gif
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TITLE SCREEN Screenshot /media/museum/software/thomson_to7_enduroracer_ss.gif
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JUMPING IS DANGEROUS Screenshot /media/museum/software/thomson_to7_enduroracer_ss2.gif
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SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/thomson_mo5_ss_flipper_1.gif
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SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/thomson_mo5_ss_fox_1.gif
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JUMPING OVER RUSSIANS IS FUN Screenshot /media/museum/software/thomson_to7_greenberet_ss.gif
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TITLE SCREEN Screenshot /media/museum/software/thomson_to7_jamesdebug-grandsaut_ss.gif
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I THINK I WILL HAVE TO SWIM... Screenshot /media/museum/software/thomson_to770_jamesdebug-grandsaut_ss.gif
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IN THE CASTLE Screenshot /media/museum/software/thomson_to7_aigledor_ss2.gif
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TITLE SCREEN /media/museum/software/thomson_mo5_ss_aigle-dor_1.gif
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SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/thomson_mo5_ss_aigle-dor_2.gif
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Marcel O Cinq http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/FETIS_Gilles/mo5/mo5.html MS DOS works also on macintosh
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DCMO5 http://dcmo5.free.fr/ Windows Thomson MO5 emulator for PC
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DCMO5 Gamer Edition HTTP://DCMO5.FREE.FR Windows Easy to use emulator, to run MO5 games without knowing MO5 commands
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DCMO6 http://dcmo6.free.fr/ Windows Thomson MO5NR, Thomson MO6 and Olivetti Prodest PC128 emulator for PC
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DCMOTO http://dcmoto.free.fr/ Windows Universal 8-bit Thomson emulator for Windows. Emulates Thomson MO5, MO5E, MO5NR, MO6, T9000, TO7/70, TO8, TO8D, TO9, TO9+ and Olivetti Prodest PC128 !
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DCTO7 and DCTO8 http://dcto7.free.fr/ Windows Thomson T9000, TO7/70, TO8, TO8D emulator for Windows
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Emul5 http://emul5.thomsonistes.org/ Windows works also with linux and msdos
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MO5 http://www.bannister.org/software/mo5.htm Apple MO5 emu for mac OS
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TODC http://www.jplang.fr.st/ Other platform No, you are not dreaming. This is a TO-7/70 emulator for the Dreamcast game system !
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AmiTO8 http://membres.lycos.fr/amito8/data/Accueil.html Amiga / Thomson dedicated site. Some original stuff there!
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Christophe's Lair http://lair.thomsonistes.org/ Lot of stuff here, a must see site (french)
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Collection Thomson http://gfournier.free.fr/ Another great site with tons of documentation
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DCMOTO http://dcmoto.free.fr/ Excellent site !! Home of the DCMOTO emulator. Lot od documentations and software to download. A must see !
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Forum Thomson http://forumthomson2001.free.fr/forum01.htm Get in contact with other Thomson fans (in french)
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M05.FREE.FR http://MO5.FREE.FR Emulators, Games, Documentations, educational software, amateur programs and more. Excellent! A must see.
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MOTO, le site Des micros Thomsons http://www.multimania.com/tonews/ Some info about the Thomson computers (french)
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Nostalgies Thomsonistes http://nostalgies.thomsonistes.org/ Excellent site dedicated to Thomson computers (french)
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Thomatoes http://wiki.forler.ch Thomson Wiki
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www.logicielsmoto.com http://www.logicielsmoto.com/home.php Fantastic site! Very big software library and much more!
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MO5 french TV commercial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPr7NeqMobc Length: 31 s
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Ralf Schmid (Germany) Thursday 17th July 2014 Ive got two of Games for the MO5. Its Categoric and Flipper. I want to buy this. Please help me.
/museum/olivetti-prodest-pc-128
/museum/thomson-mo-6
/museum/thomson-mo5-e
/museum/thomson-mo5-nr
/museum/thomson-to-7
/museum/thomson-to-7-70
/museum/thomson-to-8-to-8d
/museum/thomson-to-9
/museum/thomson-to-9-plus
12
url date
https://web.archive.org/web/20230601001323/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=12 2023-06-01

The MO-5 was presented alongside the TO 7/70, in march 1984. While the TO-7/70 follows and enhances the TO-7 philosophy, the MO-5 is more a cut-down version of the TO-7/70. The idea was to design a coherent french home computer, able to compete with such systems as the ZX Spectrum or the Commodore 64.

The case of the MO-5 is elegant with its anthracit colour and pleasant lines. The keyboard, though made of rubber keys, is an improvement over the flat membrane keyboard of the TO-7. Most BASIC statements are engraved onto the keys and can be directly entered by pressing a special BASIC key and the key matching the desire statement. But the Basic commands can also be typed in letter by letter. The keyboard layout is AZERTY which is normal as the MO-5 is a french system. Accentuated letters can directly be accessed by pressing the ACC key, followed by the desired key (6 for é, 7 for è, 8 for ù, 9 for ç and 0 for à). There are also four arrow keys, INS to insert a space, EFF to delete the pointed character, STOP to pause a program, CNT to resume a program stoped and RAZ (remise à zéro) to clear the screen.