CF Card HD for Amiga

[pan1k]

So, I was talking to Omnicron and he suggested I use a CF card as a hard drive in my Amigas, how long should they last? How much speed increases have you guys seen over a stock say 5400RPM laptop drive? I know the A1200 only supports PIO0, would you recommend a IDE FIX Express or something similar? This is going to be a portable machine, in a sense so I can take it to AmiWest or club meetings, and the idea of no moving parts (or less) really appeals to me..

[Jope]

So, I was talking to Omnicron and he suggested I use a CF card as a hard drive in my Amigas, how long should they last?

It will probably outlive the Amiga.

How much speed increases have you guys seen over a stock say 5400RPM laptop drive?

The speed increase is quite profound, as the Amiga loads lots of small files off the drive. You can't beat instant seek times.

I know the A1200 only supports PIO0, would you recommend a IDE FIX Express or something similar? This is going to be a portable machine, in a sense so I can take it to AmiWest or club meetings, and the idea of no moving parts (or less) really appeals to me..

If you have the express adapter, then why not, but it is by no means necessary to notice a speed difference.

[TheGoose]

I have moved on from CF cards to these modules:

http://ec.transcendusa.com/product/product_memory.asp?Cid=60&indexnum=4

I can tell you they are way faster than the ScanDisk CF card I was using.

Another plus is that there is no cable/bracket and physicaly works perfect
with Indivision AGA. Fits great on the A1200 IDE header.

Was recognized by Harddisk Setup fine. I'm using a 2GB module, AOS / Work partitions.

[pan1k]

That is the coolest thing I have seen! A bit more expensive. Does it just plug right onto the 44 pins? Does it fit in the case fine?

[TheGoose]

They really do fit great, not too tall, grab on to the ide header pins snug. I will try to send some pics tonight, I've been holding back about my pizza box G1200 mod that uses one of these.

The 44 pin (2.5 in) ones are small. Have a master / slave slider on the top too.

YOU DO NOT WANT THIS ARRANGEMENT:

http://www.amiga.org/gallery/images/986/1_P5230065.JPG

[skurk]

YOU DO NOT WANT THIS ARRANGEMENT:

http://www.amiga.org/gallery/images/986/1_P5230065.JPG

Ouch.  Use one of these instead: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.19494

Connect to motherboard with HD cable.  Voila.

[balrogsoft]

I have a CF to IDE adapter, but on my A600, and is notable slower than the old hard disk i had before, maybe the CF card is slow, but on my A600 system it works slower than a real hard disk.

[TheGoose]

Is there a simple app to test HD read write? SYSinfo do this pretty well? I want to test mine...

[Damion]

Is there a simple app to test HD read write? SYSinfo do this pretty well? I want to test mine...

SysSpeed (SysInfo is crap) or RSCP work pretty well.

[NovaCoder]

I have moved on from CF cards to these modules:

http://ec.transcendusa.com/product/product_memory.asp?Cid=60&indexnum=4

I can tell you they are way faster than the ScanDisk CF card I was using.

Another plus is that there is no cable/bracket and physicaly works perfect
with Indivision AGA. Fits great on the A1200 IDE header.

Was recognized by Harddisk Setup fine. I'm using a 2GB module, AOS / Work partitions.

Does it also correctly light up the HD LED?

There is also another IndivsionAGA friendly option....

mrmkl

[TheGoose]

Ohhh, that is a slick solution, nice. Yes, the LEDs work just fine.

[TheGoose]

Ummm, after looking at in again, I'm not sure it will fit in the original case? Maybe?

I put up some pics on my blog - link on the avatar thingy.

[trip6]

@NovaCoder

Are those still available? Where can I get one two of those angled CF adapters? I really need them...

[NovaCoder]

@NovaCoder

Are those still available? Where can I get one two of those angled CF adapters? I really need them...

Check the link in my post

[AmigaNow]

Ouch.  Use one of these instead: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.19494

Connect to motherboard with HD cable.  Voila.

I opened up my Ami and the IDE cable has only 43 holes? Will I need to get another cable or do I need to cut off that pin from the CF adapter?

Thanks,
AmigaNow