reichert@motcid.UUCP (Chuck KD9JQ) (02/22/91)
FYI
I have a Toshiba MK-234-FCH 104M IDE Drive which "can be low level
formatted" per Toshiba. Their hardware design allows for low level format
without screwing up the tables. Not all manufacturers have this capability!
Generally, I wouldn't low level format unless I absolutely had to. The current
1 to 1 interleave gives 920 - 970kbs transfer rate. Using CHECKIT I get only
540kbs average (1989 AMI Bios timing Problem) but get 13.7Mbs rate with
SMARTDRV.SYS installed. New 1990 AMI Bios I'm waiting for should increase base
rate back to the 920-970kbs rate.
For this drive set Cyl = 844 Heads = 7 Sectors = 35 LZ = 845 Comp = 65535 or
Off.
IDE Drives are generally quieter and faster. CHECKIT indicates 23.4ms Transfer
Rate, 4.7ms Track-Track Rate.
Controller Hardware is mounted at the HD and the Controller Card (Paddle Board)
is actually just an interface to the motherboard with FD Controllers.
In General, Don't Low Level Format unless you have to or the HD Vendor says you
can. If you have to clean up your drive due to a virus just do a Format, not
a Low Level. The pre 4-09-90 AMI ROM BIOS set (4 chip) has a timing problem
that causes IDE Drive Hangups. Ontracks DiskManager will format the drive and
provide useable drive speeds. DRIVE=C:\DMDRVR.BIN /R1=5 will make the bus thinkyou have a different type of controller.
I have no connection with Toshiba other than an "End User".
Chuck Reichert KD9JQrreiner@yunexus.YorkU.CA (Richard Reiner) (02/22/91)
reichert@motcid.UUCP (Chuck KD9JQ) writes: >a Low Level. The pre 4-09-90 AMI ROM BIOS set (4 chip) has a timing problem >that causes IDE Drive Hangups. Can you provide some more details on tihs please? What's the bug, what are the symptoms, under what conditions do they appear? I'm using an IDE drive with an '89 AMI BIOS, so I need to know.
rafiq@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Salik "slick" Rafiq) (02/23/91)
In article <21729@yunexus.YorkU.CA> rreiner@yunexus.YorkU.CA (Richard Reiner) writes: >reichert@motcid.UUCP (Chuck KD9JQ) writes: > >>a Low Level. The pre 4-09-90 AMI ROM BIOS set (4 chip) has a timing problem >>that causes IDE Drive Hangups. > >Can you provide some more details on tihs please? What's the bug, >what are the symptoms, under what conditions do they appear? > >I'm using an IDE drive with an '89 AMI BIOS, so I need to know. I'm having problem with an IDE drive and the '89 AMI BIOS , so I too would like to know. -- Salik Rafiq internet: rafiq@ccu.UManitoba.CA Department of Computer Science rafiq@gold.cs.UManitoba.CA University of Manitoba BITNET: rafiq@UOFMCC Winnipeg,Manitoba
gw1e+@andrew.cmu.edu (Gabriel M. Wachob) (02/28/91)
If I have this older BIOS, where can I get an update BIOS, how hard is it to replace myself, and how much money would it cost? -gmw (I have AMI BIOSES now, and an IDE drive)