Toshiba T5200

The Toshiba T5200 was a premium 386 portable with a 20 MHz processor, VGA-resolution gas-plasma display and substantial hard-disk and expansion options.

It was effectively a transportable desktop workstation, valued for its fast CPU and unusually clear built-in display before colour active-matrix laptops became practical.

Notable Features

• 20 MHz 80386DX
• VGA-resolution plasma panel
• Desktop expansion slots in a transportable chassis

Historical Significance

• It was effectively a transportable desktop workstation, valued for its fast CPU and unusually clear built-in display before colour active-matrix laptops became practical.

Collector’s Notes

• The complex power supply, plasma circuitry and ageing drives can require extensive restoration; configurations vary by suffix.
• Memory, storage, displays and expansion hardware should be documented because configurations often changed during a system’s working life.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Toshiba T5200
Manufacturer	Toshiba
Launched	Friday, January 1, 1988
Country	Japan
CPU	Intel 80386DX
Units Sold
Form Factor	Portable workstation
Power	Mains AC
Networking	Via expansion
Operating System	MS-DOS; OS/2 and UNIX variants supported
Expansion / I/O	Serial, parallel, VGA and internal ISA expansion
Keyboard	Integrated full-travel keyboard
Storage	1.44 MB floppy and 40 or 100 MB hard disk
Sound	PC speaker
Colours	16 grayscale intensities on plasma; external colour VGA
Graphics	640 x 480 VGA
Display	Built-in orange gas-plasma display
ROM	Toshiba 386 BIOS
RAM	2 MB standard; expandable to 8 MB or more
CPU Speed	20 MHz