Just received my Elbox Fast ATA 4000 controller today. It is a newer version, version 3.
The hardware design look identical to version 2...the only immediate, noticeable difference is the socketed Bootrom chip...says V.3.0.
Unfortunately, it ships with no documentation...so I cannot tell what else Elbox claim is better with this version...
It ships with version V2.5 of the FastATA.driver, dated 22/04/2002..so nothing new there either.
Performance wise...on my aging Western Digital 4GB IDE drive (PIO mode4) I used to get 1.7MB a sec on the A4000 motherboard IDE controller; on the Fast ATA 4000 MK.3 I get 4.7MB a second. This is with no cpu time left...so they obviously haven't upgraded to a DMA version ;-)
I'll post updated info when I get time to put it through its paces with larger IDE drives...but that won't be until I transfer everything over to my A4000T which I should be getting sometime next week.
As a side note...it works okay with my Algor USB card / FlashROM / Norway combo, and the Picasso IV with Paloma TV Tuner, driven by a WarpEngine 4040.
I received an email from Elbox, when I queried why my order was taking so long, which I will include below...it may be of interest to V2 users...assuming that Elbox let people know what has changed with V3...
"The package for you with FastATA 4000 controller will be sent within the end of this week (tomorrow or after tomorrow).
You will received the new version (MK-III) of the FastATA 4000 controller. This version is not officially announced as yet.
This controller version and updates from previous versions to MK-III will officially be available from the middle of February."
So there you go...
BTW...for people ordering from Elbox to take advantage of their Free delivery option...beware of Customs...I was charges £14.80...on a £62 product, this seems a little steep (England delivery address).
