Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ns-mx!iowasp!maverick.ksu.ksu.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!cs.utexas.edu!milano!uudell!texbell!merch!cpe!adaptex!neese From: neese@adaptex.UUCP Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc Subject: Re: Disks, CDRoms, and SCSI Message-ID: <31300001@adaptex> Date: 7 Jun 90 17:34:00 GMT References: <5729@helios.ee.lbl.gov> Lines: 46 Nf-ID: #R:helios.ee.lbl.gov:5729:adaptex:31300001:000:1608 Nf-From: adaptex.UUCP!neese Jun 7 11:34:00 1990 >/* ---------- "Disks, CDRoms, and SCSI" ---------- */ > >SCSI and PC's > >I'm considering changing to a large disk on my 20 mhz 386 (Everex STEP 20). >I'd like to go with SCSI rather than ESDI. The Everex VAR I bought my >machine from doesn't recommend this. I'm still seriously considering it >but am doing more research on it. I currently run DOS 3.3 and plan to >run Unix later. The drive is a 380 MB Miniscribe 9380S, and I'm leaning >toward the Adaptec host adapter. > >The Everex VAR has tried various host adapter and drive combinations and >says many combinations don't work on the higher speed (especially zero >wait) machines. All I can say is, the 154xA/B adapters are running in many of the newer 486 machines without any troubles. >My questions are: > > Am I likely to have great problems with SCSI on my machine? Some systems cannot handle a bus master such as the 154x adapter. I do not know about this particular system. > Which host adapters are worth considering? The 154x adapter does have support from virtually all of the UNIX providers. Just FYI: > Is the Adaptec host adapter a good one? I'll skip this one. (hard to be objective, try as I may) > Will the driver(s) necessary handle both a disk and a CDRom on the > same SCSI cable? For CD-Rom and the 154x adapter you will need ASW-1410 SCSI ASPI Manager and the ASW-410 CD-Rom driver. I would recommend the Sony or Toshiba CD-Rom drives. Roy Neese Adaptec Senior SCSI Applications Engineer UUCP @ uunet!swbatl!texbell! {cpe,merch,nominil}!adaptex!neese uunet!mlite!adaptex!neese