ned@pebbles.cad.mcc.com (CME Ned Nowotny) (07/01/89)
I have a Miniscribe 3085 (a 5-1/4" half-height "fixed" disk with 7
heads and 1170 cylinders) and can get a WD2010 disk controller chip.
However, I have a few questions.
First, I called the local electronic supply houses and at least one
responded to my query about the WD2010 with something like:
"DO you want the PLO-5 or the ALO-5 version?"
While I do not clearly recall the version (part?) numbers given, they only
differed in the first character (A or P). What, if any, differences are
there and which, if it matters, do I want?
Next, are there any hardware modifications necessary to upgrade to a WD2010
and to access all 1170 cylinders of my MS 3085 other than popping the old
WD1010 out of its socket and replacing it with the WD2010?
Finally, what if any software do I need to complete this transformation and
where can I get it? In particular, I gather that I may need a modified
diagnostics disk to fully format the MS 3085. Is this the case? Is there
more to it than that?
Any and all helpful responses will be greatly appreciated.
(Others will be received somewhat less enthusiastically.)
Ned Nowotny, MCC CAD Program, Box 200195, Austin, TX 78720 Ph: (512) 338-3715
ARPA: ned@mcc.com UUCP: ...!cs.utexas.edu!milano!cadillac!ned
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"We have ways to make you scream." - Intel advertisement in the June 1989 DDJ.thad@cup.portal.com (Thad P Floryan) (07/02/89)
Re: Ned Nowotny's questions about the WD2010 ...
The chip comes in (at least) plastic and ceramic 40-pin DIP packaging; it
may also be available in other packages, thus the question from the person
you called.
"We" are making a group buy of the WD2010 chip in the very near future (see
my posting earlier to this newsgroup) and the "part" is "BJM05" which is the
plastic 40-pin DIP. The chip itself bears these markings:
(c) WDC'84
WD2010B-PL
05-02 xxxx
where the "xxxx" is the date code.
As far as "changes" to your system ...
one simply unplugs the existing WD1010 chip and replaces it with the WD2010.
Using a new diagnostics disk, one can then format out beyond 1224 cylinders.
If you want a HD with more than 8 heads, you need the P5.1 motherboard mod.
Additional details have appeared in postings to unix-pc.general and comp.sys.att
over the past 4-7 days; look for them at a newsfeed near you! :-)
Thad Floryan [ thad@cup.portal.com (OR) ..!sun!portal!cup.portal.com!thad ]