Best storage I can get? FastATA MK-VI 4000 CF/SATA

[Heiroglyph]

I've got an A4000 with a Cyberstorm 060 MKII (no SCSI module) and a Mediator.

Those MKII SCSI modules are rare, so I'm looking for options.

Is a FastATA MK-VI 4000 CF/SATA the best I can do for storage?

What are your experiences? Other suggestions?

Thanks,
John

[Heiroglyph]

Good Question. I have Cyberstorm MkIII and UWide SCSI drives or SATA converters for them are not easy to come by.

Chris

I've got plenty of SCSI drives, even 10k and 15k RPM ones, but only old ZorroII cards.

I'm looking for something to replace my onboard IDE that performs as well possible for around the price of that FastATA.

I'd just like to hear from some actual owners before I buy.

I've felt like my only other Elbox product, my Mediator, is really not that good but there's not a good alternative to it either.

[Heiroglyph]

Keep in mind that I'm not going to spend $1000+ for a new 060 card.

I have over 200MB of RAM between my 060 card and Radeon and could get a brand new 128MB or 256MB Zoram/BigRam for $99-$130.

I have no problem with IDE drives and I already have an unused SSD if SATA can be made to work.

And most of all, I have to actually be able to purchase this storage controller. Hens teeth rare isn't really an option.

I just want to feel out my reasonable options.

[Heiroglyph]

So basically you're just looking for ideas?  Hrm.  How 'bout the A4091?  Doesn't offer ram expansion (you said you don't need it), not as rare as hen's teeth, still supposed to be able to do 8-9MB/sec.  How's that?

That's realistic, I think since I don't know the price, especially if anyone has one for sale or knows where to find one.

[Heiroglyph]

So in my case it's, will a 15000 RPM UW SCSI be faster or a SATA drive W/converter be better?
Those SCSI drives are getting a bit old now.

Chris

I would think an SSD would be faster than even a 15k drive, assuming the controller and converter were even remotely decent.

It would be like a CF on onboard IDE. The access time would be amazing for the small files we tend to use and the transfer rate would be well above that of the controller.

[Heiroglyph]

the Cyberstorm MKIII/PPC ultrawide scsi will walk off and leave all these behind.

So fast they'll burn a hole in your wallet! :flame:

It sounds like nobody actually likes their FastATA? Someone has to own one to have first person experience.

Guess I'm back to the wrecking yard for parts again, huh?

[Heiroglyph]

I wouldnt call the CS mkII SCSI module rare.
Just put a wanted ad on Amibay & you'll get one in no time.

I haven't seen one in a while, but maybe you're right. I've just been scanning through all the for sale sites I know of.

I usually don't like to post wanted because I feel like it drives the price up.

[Heiroglyph]

Not my auction just saw it and posting for the sake of the conversation:

Fastlane Z3:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Phase-5-Fastlane-Z3-48MB-RAM-SCSI-controller-Commodore-Amiga-3000-4000-works-/271733869211?pt=US_Vintage_Computing_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f4499ca9b

@danbeaver - any way of telling from photos what version ROM these things have?

Thanks for the heads up, I appreciate that.

I have one already in shipping, should hopefully be here Monday with the 8.5 ROM already installed.

I've still got my feelers out for a MKII SCSI module though.

BTW, I've got my other 4000 with a Warp Engine 040/40 reinstalling on it's new 10k RPM Hitachi 73GB.  That drive actually tested a consistent 0.5MB faster than a Seagate 15K RPM 36GB drive for some reason. Possibly the size/density gave it an edge.

I only had SysSpeed to test with until I get it all installed again, but it was showing a solid 8.8 to 9.3 MB/s on both the read and write tests.