Fast ATA MK IV question (A1200)

[bbond007]

I have a A1200 with 68030/40 mhz Subway USB with 4 ports, exIDE with CF (or 2.5" SATA drive, can't remember which I have installed without opening the case) adapter and SATA adapter one external SATA port.

Anyway I bought this Fast ATA MK IV thinking it was going to be smaller. Anyway, now I'm having second thoughts if I even want to try install it. It just seems like maybe something that would be better in a towered A1200. I read the instructions and it looks like the RF shielding has to go, which means my current strategy where everything is attached to the RF shielding via Velcro has to change. Also, just forgot, I don't know what I did with the stock IDE mount. I just know its lost.

Elbox only has info about the on the FastATA 1200 MK-III on their page which does not inspire confidence in and of itself.

*** The recommended configuration is: Amiga 1200 in the Mirage 1200 tower case, any 68060 (or PPC with 68060) turbo card with 32MB RAM ***

Does anyone have one of these things? Is it going to be a PIA to make this fit?

Is it that much better than stock on a slow CPU? The only requirement I meet is that I do have 64MB RAM

Can it really support larger HDs? Could I use the whole 8GB of my SSD?

Is it flaky like most elbox stuff?

Is it going to interfere with an Indivision AGA if I can ever get my hands one on of those?

Does it disable the existing IDE interface?

What is the difference between this and the Fast ATA MK III?

Was the Fast ATA MK III any good?

Should I sell it? I could use the money something else...

Did I ask too many questions?

Thanks,

-nate

[bbond007]

Thanks Franko!

Can't answer the question "does it disable the existing motherboard IDE header" as I've never really tested it, not sure why you would want to use the motherboard IDE header when you have four high speed connections on the FastATA anyway...

I actually asked the wrong question but you gave me the answer I was looking for. I was really wondering if the FastATA becomes the primary controller or if you were still required to boot off of the on-board IDE to load a driver for the FastATA

Even on a stock 020 A1200 HD read/write access should be at least twice the speed of the motherboard IDE header, on an 030 A1200 expect at least 5.6MB/s transfer speeds at PIO4...

That is much better. Right now I know I only get about 1MB/sec with my CF and around 900K/sec with my SSD. Strangely enough, my BluRay writer on the SATA port gets around 1.6MB/sec.

Like I say the FastATA is in my opinion one of the best pieces of kit you can ever add to an A1200, the only difference between the MKIII & MIV as far as I can tell is, even faster read/write speeds and PIO5 is now stable...

I'll hang on to it for now and see if I can arrange the innards so everything fits. I will say that if it comes down to a decision between the FastATA and the Indivision AGA (if I ever get one), I'll pick the Indivision. Right now I don't use the 1200 much because I have some vision issues and even with the AmigaManiac SVIDEO adapter its way too stressful on my eyes.

Thanks,
-nate

[bbond007]

They are a bit of a pain in the ass to install, and can also be a pain in the ass to get working a decent speed.   The easy option is to either grab an IdeFix Express (>4.5 mb/s) or wait for the new SATA enabled IdeFix Express which should be even faster  

Is that different from the adapter I'm currently using?

4xEIDE'99 interface

http://www.buy.elbox.com/cgibin/shop?info=510EX4

Thanks
-nate

[bbond007]

I actually killed an A1200 mobo because of the thing.

So...

Its not designed well for a tower OR desktop A1200 and I'll need to get rid of the RF (a clear violation of the FCC)  AND it potentially is "picky" about the drives.

As long as I'm setting my self for EPIC FAIL I may as well install it in my extremely flaky NTSC CD32. At least it has a Indivision AGA.

Well, I'm off to The Shack(the store formally known as RADIO SHACK) for supplies as I'll need an 150 watt soldering iron and possibly some other stuff. Next, he Tavern for drinks and finally I'll get started around midnight.