Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!hybrid!scifi!bywater!uunet!motcid!reichert
From: reichert@motcid.UUCP (Chuck KD9JQ)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
Subject: IDE drive-- is it really UNFORMATTABLE?
Message-ID: <4656@cocoa46.UUCP>
Date: 19 Feb 91 20:42:16 GMT
Distribution: comp
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Div., Arlington Heights, IL
Lines: 11


	I have a Toshiba MK-234-FCH 104M IDE Drive which "can be low level
formatted" per Toshiba.  Their hardware design allows for low level format
without screwing up the tables.  Not all manufacturers have this capability!
Generally, I wouldn't low level format unless I absolutely had to.  The current
1 to 1 interleave gives 920 - 970kbs transfer rate.  Using CHECKIT I get only 
540kbs average (1989 AMI Bios timing Problem) but get 13.7Mbs rate with
SMARTDRV.SYS installed.  New 1990 AMI Bios I'm waiting for should increase base
rate back to the 920-970kbs rate.

	Chuck Reichert  KD9JQ