Fast ATA 1200 questions :D

[Astral]

Just thinking of a little project...and have just a few questions to help me sort it out

Is there a FAST ATA model (or similar product) that only attaches to the kickstart sockets, and not with the other Gayle (?) chip adaptor as well?

Does the FAST ATA *COMPLETELY* disable the on-board IDE by *COMPLETELY* replacing it, being a complete controller within itself?

Help would be great!

[Lurch]

Fast ATA uses both the kickstart sockets and Gayle.

There is an adapter wire that connects to the onboard IDE so makes it impossible to use the onboard.

Anyway why would you want to use the onboard if you have a Fast ATA? :-)

[Astral]

Do you know if it HAS to connect to the Gayle to work? Is their a model of FAST ATA that doesn't or a similar product?

Isn't the wire going to the standard IDE header just for the LED indicator?

Can't answer your last question as it's top secret

[Lurch]

Needs to be connected to the Gayle, once connected the onboard is disabled.

The other options also connect to the Gayle chip or with the 4-Device Buffered IDE Interface it connects only to the onboard ide.

Ohhh secret.. Maybe a bribe to find out why? ;-)

[psxphill]

Does the FAST ATA *COMPLETELY* disable the on-board IDE by *COMPLETELY* replacing it, being a complete controller within itself?

You can't use fast ata as well as on board ide, because it uses the same address space.
 
"32-bit access
The computer recognises the controller as a 32-bit device configured in the motherboard IDE port space. Full 32-bit operation of the controller combined with very efficient software guarantee significant increase in the speed of your computer."

Without knowing what you're trying to do, it's difficult to recommend anything. If you need more than 4 ide devices then the pcmcia or scsi might help.

[paul1981]

There really is no need to use the onboard IDE once you have the FastATA in place. The FastATA controller works exactly like the onboard IDE until the FastATA driver is run - which then gives you the other ports and the FastATA speed.