Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!van-bc! From: lphillips@lpami.wimsey.bc.ca (Larry Phillips) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware Subject: Re: hard drive compatibility Message-ID: <2432@lpami.wimsey.bc.ca> Date: 27 Dec 90 07:48:22 GMT Lines: 40 Return-Path: To: van-bc!rnews In <37258@cup.portal.com>, thad@cup.portal.com (Thad P Floryan) writes: >hepner@cod.NOSC.MIL (Thomas A. Hepner) in <2610@cod.NOSC.MIL> writes: > > I have an opportunity to get an 40 MB 3 1/2" hard drive made by > Western Digital for a very good price. The drive is an RLL drive, > model number WD93044-A. It appears to be very similar to the drive > that came with my A590 hard drive/controller system. Will this drive > work in place of the 20 MB drive that comes with the A590? If so, is > there any thing special needs to be done, and if not, what type of > drives are exceptable?. > >Two points: > >1. I seriously doubt Western Digital "makes" anything; they just affix their >name to that which is made for them by others (although it could be their >design (as their chips, for example, are manufactured by AT&T since WD doesn't >have their own silicon foundry)). I have serious doubts as to whether any of their chips can be said to be 'made', if you consider 'made' to imply some sort of quality control having gone into the process. :-) >2. Your referencing "RLL" implies the drive sports an "ST506/412" interface, >so it's VERY likely the drive WILL WORK (assuming the A590 has that kind of >interface and not SCSI (I haven't seen an A590)). All you will need to know >is number of heads, number of sectors per track, and the number of cylinders. The A590 supports IDE and SCSI only. If the drive is one of these (not wnough info given), it will work, but the only way to use an ST506 drive is with a SCSI <-> adapter. -larry -- The best way to accelerate an MsDos machine is at 32 ft/sec/sec. +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | // Larry Phillips | | \X/ lphillips@lpami.wimsey.bc.ca -or- uunet!van-bc!lpami!lphillips | | COMPUSERVE: 76703,4322 -or- 76703.4322@compuserve.com | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+