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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: tlgrooms on February 02, 2017, 02:49:44 PM
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Hi all,
I hope to get my 3000T going again soon (has a power supply problem and I'm waiting for the parts to fix it) and would like to get some suggestions for when I do this regarding storage and speed options.
I have a Picasso IV and Cyberstorm 060/PPC with 128 mb of memory. I did have OS 3.9 installed with a 4 gb scsi drive when I last used it. I purchased OS 4.0 for the Cyberstorm a few years and was going to install it when my 3000T quit booting.
I'd like to get it up and running with OS 4.0 and everything functioning. What would be the best storage solution today as far as speed and size for the $? I know there are compact flash adapters, SCSI to MicroSD adapters and zorro ide cards. I'm guessing using something like that would be much slower than using a SCSI drive connected to the Cyberstorm?
If you were going to do something like this (or have done something like this), what would you use?
Also, if using compact flash or something like that, are there images that can be had to get it up and going or at least a tutorial somewhere on how to start with them? I own legal copies of 3.9 and 4.0 powerpc on cdrom but it's been a while and not sure where to start.
Many thanks for any suggestions/ideas you can offer.
Tim
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Speed wise the controller will be the bottleneck. I'd be surprised if there's a single storage medium (new) today that isn't held back by the ide/SCSI controller of any piece of classic Amiga hardware. Even a slow (in modern terms) solid state cf or sdcard would be capable of more than the fastest SCSI controller available for the Amiga.
That being said, best bang per buck option would be a standard sata hard drive running off an adaptor. You might squeeze a few hundred KBps extra out of a faster ssd, but you pay a lot more for your storage space (and before anyone with OCD, or just a general compulsion to state the obvious about solid state storage being cheap today Im speaking in relative terms).
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I think most SD/CF solutions top out around 2.5MB/sec. A very few handful might go to 5-6MB/sec., but I can't recall off-hand what those were. If you're just looking for the "fastest possible", there's a few folks on the forum who've gotten 35-40MB/sec. out of their CyberStorm controllers with fast SCSI drives (or maybe it was with SCSI-to-SATA adapters). You might try seeking out one of them and asking about their hardware combos. Good luck! :)
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Strange, I typed a response, had it show up, but then after going back to the sites home page it vanished.
Couldn't be bothered typing the entire response again (on a tablet at the moment), but the short of it is that any new storage device, be it a slower solid state device like an sdcard or cf card, or a standard sata drive will be capable of more than the fastest ide/SCSI controller available for classic Amigas. That being said if storage space per buck is important to you, you may as well just get a standard sata hard drive plus SCSI adaptor. Speed will be much the same as a fast ssd on an Amiga, but its considerably cheaper per GB (and before anyone with a compulsion to state the obvious feels the urge to point out that solid state storage can be cheap these days I'm speaking in relative terms).
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Nah, a new cf or sdcard (633x) can do about 100MBps.
Slow compared to a "proper" ssd over sata and especially PCI express, but more than a match for any Amiga drive controller.
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Seems I'm wrong, there's also 1000x models which do about 150MBps.
Been a while since I've bought an sdcard. Didn't realize there was 1000x variants tbh.
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FastATA works well.
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@ tlgrooms
I'm going through the same thing with my A4000 now and I can tell you that if you want the fastest solution then stick with the wide scsi that's on your Cyberstorm! I just installed a SCSI2SD-v5.0a board on my scsi train with my CS-MKIII and it seems to work nice & quick when transferring files back & forth from my real scsci drive but checking speeds it's 3.5 X slower than the real thing. Now in reality can you really notice this speed difference in your day to day activities..probably not and let me tell you it's a lot less noisy and a trillion times cooler than a high speed scsi drive:)
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I'm using an Acard 2000SUP (68 pin version) on the Cyberstorm, get around 25mps with an OWC SATA 3 SSD.
Wouldn't play with anything else...
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Hi Tim,
The best option is the Acard 2000SUP (68 pin version) and an SSD on the cyberstorm.
It fits the 3000 perfectly, as the acard is a case that holds the ssd making the case the size of a hard disk drive. Since the card converts to 68 pin, it connects directly to cyberstorm. Be careful not to buy the 50 pin 2000SUP.
I get 25mps with an OWC SATA 3 SSD. For speed and long term reliability, this would be my choice. Price wise, the Acard is about $175 and small SSD's are dirt cheap.
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Hmmm... One issue might be, AmigaOS 4 is not quick on non-PPC Amiga68k. I know you have PPC fitted, but will take time to get that version going well, on Classic Amigas. Be prepared for some failed attempts.
Still, 25MB P/S is VERY fast for Amiga controller. That will help a lot. :)
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AmigaOS 4 is not quick on non-PPC Amiga68k
If by "not quick" you mean "AmigaOS 4 doesn't run at all on non-PPC classic systems." :laughing:
http://blog.hyperion-entertainment.biz/?p=138
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Thanks guys for the suggestions. Do you know if the Acard 2000SUP 68 pin version is still available anywhere matt3k?
Is this the one?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/68-Pin-ACARD-ARS-2160-Ultra160-SCSI-to-SATA-II-adapter-for-2-5-SATA-HDD-/262472224560
Hi Tim,
The best option is the Acard 2000SUP (68 pin version) and an SSD on the cyberstorm.
It fits the 3000 perfectly, as the acard is a case that holds the ssd making the case the size of a hard disk drive. Since the card converts to 68 pin, it connects directly to cyberstorm. Be careful not to buy the 50 pin 2000SUP.
I get 25mps with an OWC SATA 3 SSD. For speed and long term reliability, this would be my choice. Price wise, the Acard is about $175 and small SSD's are dirt cheap.
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Thanks guys for the suggestions. Do you know if the Acard 2000SUP 68 pin version is still available anywhere matt3k?
If you want maximum throughput, all got to go at that speed. Controller, drive and converter from one to the other.
SCSI-2 Single ended, 40MB/S is the upper limit.
LVD SCSI will clock down and run at single ended speed if it detects a single ended controller or device.
A lot of the SCSI-SD or CF cards I see do not run any near as fast, 2.5MB second is the limit. They don't even do single ended very well.
Do check compatibility of SSD with SUPA2000 68 pin convertor, I'm told not all work properly. Although I am not sure who you would ask.
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Thanks guys for the suggestions. Do you know if the Acard 2000SUP 68 pin version is still available anywhere matt3k?
Is this the one?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/68-Pin-ACARD-ARS-2160-Ultra160-SCSI-to-SATA-II-adapter-for-2-5-SATA-HDD-/262472224560
Hi Tim,
I didn't see them on Ebay. I'm not sure if the Ultra160 is backwards compatible to the ultra on the cyberstorm. The 2000 SUP has/had two versions a 50 pin and a 68 pin, the controller is a direct match to the 2000 so it is a good solution. I will do a bit of searching to see if I can find you one...
Matt
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Thanks Matt, appreciate it!