Cyberstorm MK2 SCSI: What do you need?

[Flashlab]

I'm going to get the SCSI module for my CS MK2 because IDE just doesn't cut it for me. Slow file transfer and no audio cd support in ShapeShifter bugs me.

However I'm totally new to SCSI and all the horror sories about termination and different SCSI standards make me nervous.

I want a HD with about 10 Gb and a simple CD-Rom drive (12x speed?).

So what parts do I need besides the SCSI board and the drives? Also where can you get Amiga/CS MK2 SCSI compatible drives? I don't know which ones work and deliver maximum performance with this SCSI solution...

Any help is appreciated!!

[amigagr]

take a look here for the original drivers: http://phase5.a1k.org/

if the scsi has an 25 pin socket you will need an adaptor 25 to xx where xx is the number of pins of the hard drive/cd-rom etc... for this look at ebay or http://europe.amigakit.com/

the scsi id and termination is another kind of pain :cry:
you have to search in the net for specific configuration of your disks, as i did with the internal scsi of a3000.

[doctorq]

However I'm totally new to SCSI and all the horror sories about termination and different SCSI standards make me nervous.

Don't let this scare you, as it is in fact pretty simply. Termination can most times be fixed with a simple jumper, other times with a dongle to connect to the cable. SCSI standards aren't difficult either. You can get 50, 68 and 80 pins drives, but all can have adaptors attached so they can go to the needed interface.

As for the MK2 SCSI module; it uses 50 pins drives, so this would be the easiest thing to look for. You can get a 68 pin drive though, and buy the needed adaptor for it, as the 68 pins will most likely give you a bit more performance.

SCSI is a more expensive option, but for most people the money is well spend.

Going to install a new hdd on my own CSMK2 SCSI controller this weekend :-)

[X-ray]

@ Flashlab

If you browse my photos in the photo album you will find pictures of the CSMKII SCSI module (it is in two components) and a description of the jumpers. Make sure you are sold both components and the ribbon cable that connects them. The external connector is Micro-D and the internal ones are 50 pin. You'll have a jumper for selecting termination, so don't worry about that. I used to set mine to 'auto-sensing.'
Just get 50-pin devices and you can't go wrong.

[tonyvdb]

The 50 pin older SCSI drives are the cheapest although they are not easy to find in larger sizes. Segate Cheetah (10K rpm)or Baracudah 7200rpm) drives are the best overall but price can be a bit steep, used maybe around $60 for a 10 gig. They use either the 68 pin or 80 pin cables so make sure you have the right adapter. SCSI is definatly the way to go for the Amiga. And gives you up to 3 times the speed over IDE.

[Hyperspeed]

I didn't like the Seagate Barracuda AT ALL!

It got very hot indeed and I don't like the idea of a magnetic disk getting as hot as a CPU.

I'd go for the old faithful - Quantum Fireball range.

Make sure for SCSI-2 (Synchronous mode) that your total cable length is no more than 3 metres and that there is as few adaptors in this as possible (adaptors and connectors cause RF reflection).

Choose the expensive, fat, shielded SCSI cables and make sure the end of your chain has an ACTIVE terminator at the end (passive termination is the old SCSI-1 standard). The SCSI-IV and the Cyberstorm SCSI will have onboard active term for this end, you will need to match this at the other end. A lot of CD-ROM drives and hard disks offer this in a simple jumper. Term power is also essential.

[Argus]

Do you have to re-flash the Mark2 board to make the scsi module work?  I thought I read somewhere this is risky, as someone reflashed and it went horribly wrong, making the whole 68060 board useless.

Point is: Phase 5 isn't exactly in business anymore.

[Hyperspeed]

I bet there are one or two flashers in our midst...

:-)

[Flashlab]

I bought an IBM DNES-309170. This has I think a 68 pin connector. So I now need a 50 pin cable and a 50-68 pin convertor? If I use this cd-rom: Panasonic CR-507 as second device, do I still need a terminator? I also don;t know how many pins this drive has...

[amigagr]

maybe the pins for termination is on the cd and you only have to set the jumbers on or off. search at google to find the manual of the cdrom, this kind of search help me a lot to find out what is going on with (at least) my scsi disk and cdrom on the a3000  :-)

[Flashlab]

According to Vesalia (they stock that drive) it has a 50 pin connection and the option of termination.

Now I bought a HD with 68 pins. So I need a 50 pin cable and a 50 to 68 pin convertor, I guess. Where do I get those? Vesalia doesn't have that cable I think. They do have a convertor but I don't know if that's ok with the female/male connection.

[amigagr]

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=27&osCsid=39bc4b861515e3466a241522aeb0cb3f

[Flashlab]

Thanks! Missed those adapters!

[doctorq]

Sorry for hijacking this thread a bit...

Was just wondering if the MK2 SCSI module was plug and play, or something needs to be done to the CS MK2 board (jumper settings or such)? I'm asking because my CSMK2 + SCSI didn't come with a manual...