dpm@k.gp.cs.cmu.edu (David Maynard) (01/14/90)
While installing an expansion card in my Packard Bell AT clone, I discovered that the system uses a 3.5" hard disk drive (40M) manufactured by Western Digital. Instead of the ST-506 control and data cables I was expecting, there was a single 40-pin ribbon cable running from the motherboard to the drive. The drive itself has a 50pin header with 10 of the pins unused. What interface is this? The 50pin header would lead me to suspect SCSI, but the 10 unused pins make me wonder. The only hint in the manual is that the system uses an "IDE" disk controller. I tried calling Packard Bell Technical Support with NO LUCK! I sat on hold for 45 minutes each on 2 days and never got anyone to pick up the phone! At least they have a toll-free number. I'm happy with the Packard Bell system, but hope that I never really NEED technical support. Thanks, -David --- David P. Maynard (dpm@cs.cmu.edu) Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 --- Any opinions expressed are mine only. I haven't asked the ECE department or CMU what they think. ---
scjones@sdrc.UUCP (Larry Jones) (01/14/90)
In article <7558@pt.cs.cmu.edu>, dpm@k.gp.cs.cmu.edu (David Maynard) writes: > > While installing an expansion card in my Packard Bell AT clone, I discovered > that the system uses a 3.5" hard disk drive (40M) manufactured by Western > Digital. Instead of the ST-506 control and data cables I was expecting, > there was a single 40-pin ribbon cable running from the motherboard to the > drive. The drive itself has a 50pin header with 10 of the pins unused. > > What interface is this? The 50pin header would lead me to suspect SCSI, but > the 10 unused pins make me wonder. The only hint in the manual is that the > system uses an "IDE" disk controller. Strangely enough, it's an IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) interface. It's similar to SCSI in that the entire disk controller is an integral part of the drive itself rather than having a separate controller. Good for reliablility and simplicity of installation, but not so good for the pocketbook if you want multiple drives since you have to buy multiple controllers as well. ---- Larry Jones UUCP: uunet!sdrc!scjones SDRC scjones@SDRC.UU.NET 2000 Eastman Dr. BIX: ltl Milford, OH 45150-2789 AT&T: (513) 576-2070 "You know how Einstein got bad grades as a kid? Well MINE are even WORSE!" -Calvin