umsametz@ccu.umanitoba.ca (10/18/89)
I have a AMIGA 2000 with 020/881 and a 2090 hard drive controller with a 20 meg hard drive. I need a lot of space for graphics video work, and I want to purchase a larger HARD DRIVE 80-105 megs. SO, I want to know what would be faster: 1) a standard st 506/412 drive slaped on the 2090 OR 2) a st 296n 85 meg "SCSI" drive pluged into the SCSI port of the 2090 WHICH IS FASTER, and will the ST296n work ??? IS a ESDI drive+controller even faster ??? , who makes a ESDI CONTROLLER???
filbo@gorn.santa-cruz.ca.us (Bela Lubkin) (10/27/89)
In article <1989Oct17.173236.1876@ccu.umanitoba.ca> umsametz@ccu.umanitoba.ca writes: > SO, I want to know what would be faster: > 1) a standard st 506/412 drive slaped on the 2090 OR > 2) a st 296n 85 meg "SCSI" drive pluged into the SCSI port of the 2090 > WHICH IS FASTER, and will the ST296n work ??? Both will work; neither is as fast as a native SCSI drive would be from anyone but Seagate. What you want, if you have the money, is a CDC or Maxtor native SCSI drive. See if you can find a CDC Wren III 94xxx-106 (90MB/18ms) or Wren III 94xxx-182 (155MB/16.5ms). (I think the "xxx" is "166", but could be wrong). These should be in the $900 and $1500 range, respectively. I happen to know that Corporate Systems Center in the San Jose area (call 415 information) has particularly good prices on these drives, when they are in stock. (I'm not affiliated with them; in fact have never bought anything from them, but am in the process of finding a drive for a friend). > IS a ESDI drive+controller even faster ??? , who makes a ESDI CONTROLLER??? Adaptec makes a SCSI-to-ESDI controller, the 4520A. I have one, and an ESDI drive, and am waiting for a Kronos-1000 so I can use 'em. Unless you have been offered an ESDI drive at an incredible price (like I was) I wouldn't recommend this route. It just adds another potential source of compatibility hassles. SCSI and ESDI factions both claim their side is faster, but I tend to believe the SCSI side. SCSI-2 is undoubtably faster but I don't think there's an Amiga interface that supports it. (I don't think real SCSI-2 drives are shipping yet, for that matter). I also have grave doubts about the 4520A's performance -- its sibling, the 4000A, is dog slow compared to its SMS/OMTI competitors. You can buy the 4520A for $98 from the Computer Surplus Store in Milpitas, (408) 434-0168. Again, no affiliation except as an occasional (satisfied) customer. Bela Lubkin * * // filbo@gorn.santa-cruz.ca.us CompuServe: 73047,1112 @ * * // ....ucbvax!ucscc!gorn!filbo ^^^-VERY slow [months] R Pentomino * \X/ Filbo @ Pyrzqxgl +408-476-4633 & XBBS +408-476-4945