Amiga.org

Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: BIG-IRON on July 13, 2004, 02:56:54 AM

Title: External HD disk drive for A3000 wanted where to find?
Post by: BIG-IRON on July 13, 2004, 02:56:54 AM

I need an external HD disk drive for my 3000 who makes or made one and what are they going for?

Title: Re: External HD disk drive for A3000 wanted where to find?
Post by: Azryl on July 13, 2004, 05:30:27 AM

 Any external scsi housing will suffice for the drive. The A3000 has a db25 connector and most external scsi cases have a 50pin centronics interface. So a db25 to centronics cable is the easiest method of connecting the drive/case and cost approx $10

 The internal scsi drive ID for the A3000 is usually set to either 0 or 6 so make the external drive ID 2 or 3 before connecting. Scsi termination on the internal ribbon cable or drive has to be active, as the external will also need termination either on the drive or use a passive style terminator on the daisy chain passthru on most cases. Both ends of a scsi chain need termination.

Scsi termination causes most headaches, so read up on tutorials on the net before tackling this.

Also the max capacity of the drive depends on the kickstart version you have installed. Kickstart 2.04/Workbench 2.1 will allow 2.1gig size while kickstart/Workbench 3.1 will allow upto 4.2gig capacity. OS3.5 and OS3.9 should allow greater capacity but I have never tried this.

I got my external scsi case from eBay, approx $50 Australian. Hope this helps.

Title: Re: External HD disk drive for A3000 wanted where to find?
Post by: N7VQM on July 13, 2004, 05:33:30 AM

The best course of action here is the do-it-yourself route.  Scrounge an old SCSI-1 drive, an external 3.5" enclosure and a SCSI cable.  The hard disk will take some looking in your local computer surplus shops.  Fry's might still carry the external enclosures.  I'm sure that Fry's has the cable.

Title: Re: External HD disk drive for A3000 wanted where to find?
Post by: N7VQM on July 13, 2004, 05:37:53 AM

Oy!  Scratch that...I saw HD and thought hard disk when it comes to me now that you probably mean High Density!  I have an external HD 3.5" floppy drive branded "Power Computing" if that's any help.  As for cost, I got mine free. Well...on on "extended loan" TBH.  I also once heard that Dell sold an external HD floppy drive for Amigas.  That could be false, tho.

Title: Re: External HD disk drive for A3000 wanted where to find?
Post by: odin on July 13, 2004, 10:18:00 AM

What about the KCS Dual HD drive (http://www.amiga-hardware.com/kcsdualhd.html)? I think Computer City (http://www.compcity.nl) acquired the remainder of the KCS stock. You could try asking if they have anything left.

However: In order to use the drives in high density mode, a driver supplied with the drives should be added to the startup-sequence :-/.