SCSI DRIVE COMPATIBILITY

[DGB]

Hi All,
          I am trying to find and buy some SCSI drives on ebay for my old 2000's.  I have noticed that it is getting increasingly harder to find the old 50 pin connector type SCSI drives.  I am wondering about compatibility issues between 50 and 68 pin drives.  I have some 68 to 50 pin adapters but I am not sure that is all that is needed.  I would like to hear from those of you that have had experience with adapting to the 68 pin or even the 80 pin drives and if it is possible what is required to do so and make them work.  In searching Ebay I have noticed that the availability of the older and smaller, (10GB ans less), drives are getting harder to find.  I am compelled to start collecting before it's too late.   I have several SCSI controllers for the 2000's.  I have a Blizzard '060 combo, a GVP '040 combo with GURU, a GVP '030 combo and two Commodore controllers.  Any and all advice and information regarding this subject would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

Dave

[Stew]

  I have used the adapters on both 68 & 80 pin drives with no problems. I have even used a 68 pin cdrw on my 4000t. Some of the adapters come with termination provision and some don't.

Stew

[DGB]

Hi Stew,
         Thanks for the reply.  That will help a lot.  I will endeavor to acquire more drives.  The 10GB and less are getting harder to find as time goes by.  I suppose one could use bigger drives but what's the point if the computer can't see them?  Thanks again

Dave

[melott]

I've had some experience with 68 pin drives.
Most of it 'NOT GOOD'.
The only drive I was able to get working on my
A3k is a 68 pin Quantum Atlas V 9 gig.

I also have 2 (new) Fujitsu 4.2 gig 68 pin drives
that I am unable to get to work on my A3k or
my PC (Adaptec scsi).
The best I can say from my limited experience
is stay away from 'OEM' drives. It seems that
the standard 'run of the mill' drives work the best.
And I stay away from 'IBM' drives. I prefer Conner,
or Maxtor, ect.
Thats just my opinion, I'm sure others will differ.

 

[Corrie]

DGB wrote:
Hi Stew,
         Thanks for the reply.  That will help a lot.  I will endeavor to acquire more drives.  The 10GB and less are getting harder to find as time goes by.  I suppose one could use bigger drives but what's the point if the computer can't see them?  Thanks again

Dave

I am running a 147gig SCSI drive without any problems so far. I have two 65gig partitions and a 10gig partition. Seems to run fine. I am running them from the Cyberstorm MKIII ultrawide controller, but the newer drives (like mine U320) is backward compatible with the older interfaces.

[Neo]

68 and 80pin drives are UWSCSI (16bit wide datatransfers) compared to
the 50pins which usually are FASTSCSI (8bit wide datatransfers).

I would guess that many UWSCSI drives only works on UWSCSI
controllers. So get a 68pin controller card!

When using UWSCSI drives you have to use active terminators at the
cable ends. (Note, a cable has two ends)

If you use a 68 to 50pin converter, ensure that it terminates those
datalines that are not wired through.

You know you have terminated your system properly when you spent about
100$ in scsi utilities. :-D

[Dragster]

Hi,

I have a 68 pin drive connected to my BPPC scsi controller using a 68 -> 50 pin converter/adapter (see signature) and it works fine.. I had to set a jumper in the drive for the controller to recognize it (enable narrow)...

Cheers

Dragster

[FlagshipAmigaLover]

Hi Dave,

I do not recommend any of the "combo" controllers, especially the GVP controller.  People are always having problems with the combo boards.  The Commodore A2091 SCSI controller would be your best bet.  The Amiga 2000 uses the same SCSI hard drives as the older Macintoshes did.  You should be able to find lots of the older Macs at you local Goodwill for less then $20.00 each.  If you are using Workbench 3.1 or lower, then you can not use a hard drive larger then 4 gigs.  If you are using Workbench 3.5 or 3.9 then you can use hard drives larger then 4 gigs.  NEW 1 and 2 Gig SCSI hard drives are readily available on eBay often.  I see them all the time and have even bought a few to keep as spares.     :-D

[Lemmink]

I managed to connect an old serverHD over an 68->50 adapter to an Oktagon 2008. Just works fine, while the onboard SCSI of my A3000 doesn`t like it.
I`d say it`s no Problem to have this kind of setup wehn you use a more modern SCSI-controller like all P5 Modells. I was asstouned that the Oktagon 2008 did take it, but maybe is was due to the latest ROM. Older controllers like the GVPs or Commodore modells (apart from the A4091) seem to have problems with those modern drives.

When it comes to properly terminateing those 8 high-bits some controllers are more forgiveing then others if you use just as simple 68->50 converter.

Just buy one of those 68 SCSI-drives and an adapter und try it with all of your SCSI-cortrollers to see where it works and where not. as you have a Blizzard 2060 you won`t buy it for nothing, as with this card it will work definetely.

[McTrinsic]

@FlagshipAmigaLover
You don't happen to recommend to use German or Japanese RAMs for the A2000 ??

Is the GVP bad because it does not have military spec chips??


(if you dont know what I mean, just ignore this)


Have fun,
McTrinsic

[Abou27]

IS it Doomy?

Certainly a lot of posts in short time...

 :-o

[Framiga]

Hi . . .FlagshipAmigaLover,  

....wellcome back, Doomy :-D and Happy X-Mas too.



Ciao

[FlagshipAmigaLover]

Hi Framiga,

....wellcome back, Doomy  and Happy X-Mas too.

I am NOT the famous DoomMaster.  That guy is very knowledgeable and knows his stuff.  He has been working with computers since 1983.  I have a lot of respect the guy.  I have met the DoomMaster in person.  He is actually a very nice guy.     :-D

[FlagshipAmigaLover]

Hi Abou27,

IS it Doomy?

No it is not Doomy.

Certainly a lot of posts in short time...

8 posts is not a lot of posts.  I like to help other folks with their Amiga problems.     :-D

[Framiga]

. . . .Doomy!!. . . please!!!. .. "biricchino"!!!

If you aren't DoomMaster, i'll eats one of my ball, tomorrow early in the morning . . .i swear.

Ciao