cmv@looney.UUCP (11/24/87)
I just got a bunch of spec sheets from Miniscribe that talk about their line of ST-412/506 5 1/4" Winchester Hard disk drives (there's a good trivia question, why is it called the ST412/506 standard?? I've no idea!) and thought some folks would be interested in the results, so here they are! Miniscribe Model Height Size (fmtted) Ave Seek Heads: Recording formatted time Cylinders Method ========================================================================= 3212+ Half 12.75MBytes 53msec 2:615 MFM 3425+ Half 21.40MBytes 53msec 4:615 MFM 3438+ Half 32.70MBytes 53msec 4:615 2,7RLL 3650 Half 42.25MBytes 61msec 6:809 MFM 6032 Full 26.70MBytes 28msec 3:1024 MFM 6053 Full 44.60MBytes 28msec 5:1024 MFM 6079 Full 68.80MBytes 28msec 5:1024 2,7RLL 6085 Full 71.30Mbytes 28msec 8:1024 MFM 6128 Full 110.1Mbytes 28msec 8:1024 2,7RLL Now, a few questions to any guru's out there in general. As I understand things (which isn't saying much) the Modified Frequency Modulated (MFM) encoding that is used for recording the information on the disk, is being replaced by the 2,7 Run Length Limited (RLL) coding to boost the capacity of the hard disk (I got this information from EDN magazine p57 September 3, 1987). My question is what does this mean to us unix-pc folks? Can I go out and buy a Miniscribe 3438+ and simply install it in my stock 7300 and it will work? If not, can I get it to work by simply exchanging the WD1010 chip with a WD2010 chip, or is there more to it than that? I really don't understand the impact of this 2,7RLL enough to know what to do, any help is much appreciated. Craig Votava [ihnp4!]looney!cmv chip
cmv@looney.UUCP (11/25/87)
As usual, right after I typed this in, I got a bunch of additional information on other drives, so here's an updated list with more info... Model Height Size Ave Seek Heads: Recording unformatted time Cylinders Method ========================================================================= ----------------------------CONTROL DATA--------------------------------- FWCDC48 Full 48.20MBytes 28msec 5:925 MFM FWCDC85 Full 85.30MBytes 28msec 8:1024 MFM -------------------------------MAXTOR------------------------------------ XT1085 Full 85.30MBytes 28msec 8:1024 MFM XT1120 Full 127.9MBytes 28msec 8:1024 2,7RLL XT1140 Full 143.5MBytes 27msec 15:918 MFM XT2190 Full 191.2MBytes 30msec 15:1224 MFM -----------------------------MICROPOLIS---------------------------------- 1333A Full 53.30MBytes 30msec 5:1024 MFM 1335 Full 85.30MBytes 30msec 8:1024 MFM -----------------------------MINISCRIBE---------------------------------- **formatted** *****size**** 3212+ Half 12.75MBytes 53msec 2:615 MFM 3425+ Half 21.40MBytes 53msec 4:615 MFM 3438+ Half 32.70MBytes 53msec 4:615 2,7RLL 3650 Half 42.25MBytes 61msec 6:809 MFM 6032 Full 26.70MBytes 28msec 3:1024 MFM 6053 Full 44.60MBytes 28msec 5:1024 MFM 6079 Full 68.80MBytes 28msec 5:1024 2,7RLL 6085 Full 71.30Mbytes 28msec 8:1024 MFM 6128 Full 110.1Mbytes 28msec 8:1024 2,7RLL --------------------------------PRIAM------------------------------------ ID40 Full 51.10MBytes 28msec 5:981 MFM ID45H Half 53.20MBytes 28msec 5:1024 MFM ID60 Full 71.50MBytes 28msec 7:981 MFM ID130 Full 159.9MBytes 28msec 15:1024 MFM -------------------------------SEAGATE----------------------------------- ST225 Half 25.60MBytes 20msec 4:615 MFM ST238R Half 38.40MBytes 20msec 4:615 2,7RLL ST251 Half 51.20MBytes 40msec 6:820 MFM ST277R Half 76.90MBytes 40msec 6:829 2,7RLL ST4038 Full 38.20MBytes 40msec 5:733 MFM ST4053 Full 50.90MBytes 40msec 5:1024 MFM ST4096 Full 96.00MBytes 28msec 9:1024 MFM =========================================================================
cmv@looney.UUCP (12/03/87)
Once again, I'm updating my list of ST-506 hard disk drives. This new info came out of a table from Mini-Micro Systems Magazine (p111, November 1987). One thing to note, if you look at this table, there are a lot of listings for drives with something greater than 191.2 MBytes. As far as I can tell, these products really are drives from other companies that are modified in some way (i.e. a different controller) to squeeze out the extra space. This type of product will not work with the Western Digital controller in the unix-pc, so take the information in table with a grain of salt. Before I start, there are 2 things. First, I still don't understand much about how 2,7RLL encoding affects the st-506 interface. Can I drop a drive into a stock unix-pc that has 2,7RLL encoding and have it work without any other modification or not? Any help here would be appreciated! Secondly, I want to mention that I don't if any of these drives actually work with the unix-pc other than the fact that they are advertised as ST-506 copmatible. If you KNOW that they work, let me know and I'll post results when appropriate. By the way, the ST-506 drive that wins the capacity prize is Priam Corp's model 519 drive weighing in at 191.2MBytes (San Jose CA 408/946-4600), any experience out in netland with this baby? Anyway, here is the most complete list I can compile right now: Model Height Size Ave Seek Heads: Recording unformatted time Cylinders Method ========================================================================= ----------------------------CONTROL DATA--------------------------------- FWCDC48 Full 48.20MBytes 28msec 5:925 MFM 94205-51 Half 51.__MBytes 28msec ? ? FWCDC85 Full 85.30MBytes 28msec 8:1024 MFM 94155-86 Full 86.__MBytes 28msec 9:925 MFM -------------------------DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORP-------------------------- RD32 Half 51.__MBytes 48msec ? ? RD53 Full 85.__MBytes 38msec ? ? RD54 Full 191._MBytes 38msec ? ? -------------------------------FUJITSU----------------------------------- M2243R Half 129._MBytes 29msec ? ? -------------------------------HITACHI----------------------------------- DK521 Half 51.40MBytes 25msec ? ? -------------------------------MAXTOR------------------------------------ XT1085 Full 85.30MBytes 28msec 8:1024 MFM XT1120 Full 127.9MBytes 28msec 8:1024 2,7RLL XT1140 Full 143.5MBytes 27msec 15:918 MFM XT2190 Full 191.2MBytes 30msec 15:1224 MFM -----------------------------MICROPOLIS---------------------------------- 1333A Full 53.30MBytes 30msec 5:1024 MFM 1335 Full 85.30MBytes 30msec 8:1024 MFM ----------------------------MICROSCIENCE--------------------------------- HH-1050 Full 53.35MBytes 28msec ? ? HH-4050 Full 53.35MBytes 18msec ? ? -----------------------------MINISCRIBE---------------------------------- **formatted** *****size**** 3212+ Half 12.75MBytes 53msec 2:615 MFM 3425+ Half 21.40MBytes 53msec 4:615 MFM 3438+ Half 32.70MBytes 53msec 4:615 2,7RLL 3650 Half 42.25MBytes 61msec 6:809 MFM 6032 Full 26.70MBytes 28msec 3:1024 MFM 6053 Full 44.60MBytes 28msec 5:1024 MFM 6079 Full 68.80MBytes 28msec 5:1024 2,7RLL 6085 Full 71.30MBytes 28msec 8:1024 MFM 6128 Full 110.1MBytes 28msec 8:1024 2,7RLL ---------------------------NEWBURY DATA INC------------------------------ NDR1000 Full 65.__MBytes 25msec ? ? NDR2000 Full 190._MBytes 28msec ? ? --------------------------------PRIAM------------------------------------ ID40 Full 51.10MBytes 28msec 5:981 MFM ID45H Half 53.20MBytes 28msec 5:1024 MFM ID60 Full 71.50MBytes 28msec 7:981 MFM ID130 Full 159.9MBytes 28msec 15:1024 MFM 519 Full 191.2MBytes 22msec ? ? -----------------------------RODIME INC---------------------------------- RO5090 Full 89.__MBytes 28msec ? ? -------------------------------SEAGATE----------------------------------- ST225 Half 25.60MBytes 20msec 4:615 MFM ST238R Half 38.40MBytes 20msec 4:615 2,7RLL ST251 Half 51.20MBytes 40msec 6:820 MFM ST277R Half 76.90MBytes 40msec 6:829 2,7RLL ST4038 Full 38.20MBytes 40msec 5:733 MFM ST4053 Full 50.90MBytes 40msec 5:1024 MFM ST4096 Full 96.00MBytes 28msec 9:1024 MFM -------------------------------TOSHIBA----------------------------------- MK-56FB Full 86.__MBytes 25msec ? 2,7RLL ========================================================================= Please send comments, questions, and updates to [ihnp4!]looney!cmv
cmv@looney (12/16/87)
First of all, thanks to everyone responding to me about 2,7RLL encoding on hard disks. As it turns out, to install it in the unix-pc, you'd have to change the WD1010 (or WD2010) hard disk controller chip to one that understands 2,7RLL encoding. I don't know if WD has a pin-compatible sub for these chips or not. In any case I went ahead and deleted these drives from the list. I also got an update on some of the DEC drives (thanks Gary!) which I've included here. If you can add any information to this list, or even confirm to me that a particular drive works with the unix-pc, please let me know so I can update this list some more. Once again, here it is... Model Height Size Ave Sk Heads: Recording unformatted time Cylinders Method Comments ============================================================================= ----------------------------CONTROL DATA------------------------------------- FWCDC48 Full 48.20MBytes 28msec 5:925 MFM 94205-51 Half 51.__MBytes 28msec ? ? FWCDC85 Full 85.30MBytes 28msec 8:1024 MFM 94155-86 Full 86.__MBytes 28msec 9:925 MFM -------------------------DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORP------------------------------ RD32 Half 51.__MBytes 48msec ? ? RD52 Full 33.__MBytes 38msec 8:512 MFM (Quantum) RD53 Full 85.__MBytes 38msec 8:1024 MFM (Micropolis1335) RD54 Full 191._MBytes 38msec ? ? (Maxtor2190??) -------------------------------FUJITSU--------------------------------------- M2243R Half 129._MBytes 29msec ? ? -------------------------------HITACHI--------------------------------------- DK521 Half 51.40MBytes 25msec ? ? -------------------------------MAXTOR---------------------------------------- XT1085 Full 85.30MBytes 28msec 8:1024 MFM XT1140 Full 143.5MBytes 27msec 15:918 MFM XT2190 Full 191.2MBytes 30msec 15:1224 MFM -----------------------------MICROPOLIS-------------------------------------- 1333A Full 53.30MBytes 30msec 5:1024 MFM 1335 Full 85.30MBytes 30msec 8:1024 MFM ----------------------------MICROSCIENCE------------------------------------- HH-1050 Full 53.35MBytes 28msec ? ? HH-4050 Full 53.35MBytes 18msec ? ? -----------------------------MINISCRIBE-------------------------------------- **formatted** *****size**** 3212+ Half 12.75MBytes 53msec 2:615 MFM 3425+ Half 21.40MBytes 53msec 4:615 MFM 3650 Half 42.25MBytes 61msec 6:809 MFM 6032 Full 26.70MBytes 28msec 3:1024 MFM 6053 Full 44.60MBytes 28msec 5:1024 MFM 6085 Full 71.30MBytes 28msec 8:1024 MFM ---------------------------NEWBURY DATA INC---------------------------------- NDR1000 Full 65.__MBytes 25msec ? ? NDR2000 Full 190._MBytes 28msec ? ? --------------------------------PRIAM---------------------------------------- ID40 Full 51.10MBytes 28msec 5:981 MFM ID45H Half 53.20MBytes 28msec 5:1024 MFM ID60 Full 71.50MBytes 28msec 7:981 MFM ID130 Full 159.9MBytes 28msec 15:1024 MFM 519 Full 191.2MBytes 22msec ? ? -----------------------------RODIME INC-------------------------------------- RO5090 Full 89.__MBytes 28msec ? ? -------------------------------SEAGATE--------------------------------------- ST225 Half 25.60MBytes 20msec 4:615 MFM ST251 Half 51.20MBytes 40msec 6:820 MFM ST4038 Full 38.20MBytes 40msec 5:733 MFM ST4053 Full 50.90MBytes 40msec 5:1024 MFM ST4096 Full 96.00MBytes 28msec 9:1024 MFM ============================================================================= Please send comments, questions, and updates to [ihnp4!]looney!cmv
hoffman@pitt.UUCP (Bob Hoffman) (12/22/87)
Thanks to Craig Votava <cmv@looney> for the comprehensive list of disk drives. One entry in particular intrigues me: >Model Height Size Ave Sk Heads: Recording > unformatted time Cylinders Method Comments >============================================================================= >-------------------------------FUJITSU--------------------------------------- >M2243R Half 129._MBytes 29msec ? ? I checked the Mini-Micro Systems article just to verify, and they indeed list this drive as half-height. We have a couple of Sun workstations here with Fujitsu M2243AS drives in them and they are definitely full- height drives. If this drive is *really* half-height, it sounds like a winner for the 7300 users that don't want to replace their top cover. I just hope it's not RLL. ---Bob -- Bob Hoffman, N3CVL {allegra, bellcore, cadre, idis, psuvax1}!pitt!hoffman Pitt Computer Science hoffman%pitt@relay.cs.net