Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!apple!oliveb!bu-cs!encore!chansw!chan
From: chan@chansw.UUCP (Jerry H. Chan)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Comparison of ACB2372 vs WD1006V [was Re: Disk controllers for AT]
Summary: ACB2372/WD1006V spec sheet info
Keywords: RLL, ESDI, SCSI
Message-ID: <1190@chansw.UUCP>
Date: 18 Jul 89 04:09:29 GMT
References: <579@holin.ATT.COM> <11250083@hpldola.HP.COM> <[4172.3]comp.ibmpc;1@ddsw1.MCS.COM>
Organization: Chan SmartWare Computers, Worcester, MA
Lines: 97

In article <[4172.3]comp.ibmpc;1@ddsw1.MCS.COM>, karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Karl Denninger) writes:
> >Response 2 of 2 (4172) by ppa at hpldola.HP.COM on Thu 13 Jul 89 21:33
> >[Paul P. Austgen]
> >
> >I just started using an Adaptec 2372 controller with 1:1
> >interleaving.  I am really impressed with the performance.  I
> >wouldn't buy anything less now that I've seen it.
> 
> Try using that board with SCO Xenix and watch the performance disappear.

Performance is pretty good on Interactive Systems 386/ix 2.0.x w/HPDD (High
Performance Disk Driver -- Fast File System optimizations).  Maybe you need
a change in OS's, eh? ;-).

> Try using the WD1006-V/SR2 and watch all that performance come back and
> more, and in addition watch the controller work flawlessly with more drives
> for a longer time.  

Implied in your statement is that you've had trouble w/the WD1006 as well
as the ACB2372, only that the trouble was deferred for a longer period of
time.  More detail about failures you've seen would be appreciated.

Well, I'm looking at a spec sheet from WD labeled WD1006V FAMILY;  some
side-by-side comparisons are in order between this critter & ACB2732:

     WD1006V                           Adaptec 2372

     Supports 1:1 interleave           Supports 1:1 interleave
     Look-ahead track cache w/8k       ??? (Spec sheet does not indicate)
         buffer
     SMT (Surface Mount Technology)    Same as WD
     7.5 Mbit/s data rate              Same as WD
     56-bit ECC scheme (Error Corr-    ??? (Spec sheet does not indicate)
         ecting scheme)
     Low profile                       Low profile

Fill in the blanks, and I suspect that these two are comparable.
  
> The WD is also a true digital design; note that nice trimmer pot
> on the ACB board.)

From the ACB-2370/2372 User's Manual,
"The ACB-2372 has these additional features:
 ...
 * Analog floppy data separator.  This gives much higher data integrity than
   digital data separators.  Thus floppy data reliability and data
   retrievability are improved over previous AT floppy controllers."

Whatever this means...  Analog is *not* necessarily a bad thing, though.

> [comments about poor phone support deleted]

I'm surprised that SCO Xenix is tossed for the same reasons :-)

> Then toss that ACB2372 where it belongs.  In the trash.

I will take a close look at the WD1006V series (they are just becoming
available to my hw distributors in this area), and will run some benchmarks
on both ISC 386/ix 2.0.x as well as DOS 3.3 on various classes of machines.
Give me a couple of weeks, eh? :-)

Climbing out on a limb (i.e., speaking from personal memory / observations),
the ACB2372 is older technology and has been available for a while 
(1+ years?), whereas the WD "V" series is *brand-spankin'-new*.  I would
expect to see *improved* performance over time, meaning that, sure, I would
believe that the WD "V" series is a higher performance card.  However,
performance is *not* the *only* criteria on which one bases his purchases
(price, customer support, availability, reliability come to mind immediately).

I for one take exception to Karl's comment about tossing the Adaptec in
the trash (was there an implicit smiley face?), being that the ACB2372 is
a fine, usable product -- can you fault a piece of equipment which does
what it was spec'ed to do?  While the ACB2372 may not be leading the
State of the Art, what product *ever* does for its entire life cycle?  I
certainly will not toss my ACB2372's in the trash; my wife (or at least
my 1.5 and 3 year olds) would *kill* me :-).

I wouldn't be surprised if Adaptec has a yet faster RLL controller
in the works.

Disclaimer:

I have no affiliation w/either Adaptec or Western Digital except that I
regularly purchase some of their products;  however, I wish that I could
receive compensation for my comments above.  Send $$$ to my addr below :-)

> --
> Karl Denninger (karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM, <well-connected>!ddsw1!karl)
> Public Access Data Line: [+1 312 566-8911], Voice: [+1 312 566-8910]
> Macro Computer Solutions, Inc.  "Quality Solutions at a Fair Price"


-- 
Jerry Chan (Voice) 508-853-0747              |"My views necessarily reflect the
Chan Smart!Ware Computer Services & Products | views of the Company because
Worcester, MA 01606                          | I *am* the Company." :-)
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