Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!hbiso!theep!wildcat!steve From: steve@wildcat.UUCP (Steve Holland) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware Subject: Re: SUMMARY: A500 Hard Drive options Message-ID: Date: 17 May 91 18:37:36 GMT Reply-To: wildcat!steve@alphalpha.com Lines: 92 >In article pk1s+@andrew.cmu.edu (Paul A. Karlin) writes: >> >> Okay, after a few weeks of gathering info (and some delay due to final >> exams), here's what I have gathered together: >> >> IVS TRUMPCARD 500 & TRUMPCARD 500 PROFESSIONAL >> ---------------------------------------------- >> * Big and ugly but inexpensive (under $150 for normal, under $200 for pro) > >That's cheap. Places that I have called say $190 and $240 and that is >without a power supply. > >I've seen people selling used ones in .marketplace for that price though. One note - the memory expansions for these cost Big $$. >> GVP SERIES II >> ------------- >> * No bus pass-through (special GVP "mini-slot" instead), but allows for >> 8MB RAM (SIMMs directly on controller) > >Recently I was talking with a non-technical person who was thinking about >buying a GVP. The dealer had quoted him what I thought was an exorbant >price to add memory to this beast. I could figure out why since I knew the >dealer and his prices were very competitive. Then I looked closely at the >ad in AmigaWhirled. The darn thing uses 2 meg simms, the same ones used in >Mac IIsi. This is an odd part. Hard to find and expensive when you do >find them. This includes a power-supply and is supposed to be quite fast. It uses DMA unlike most others. >> SUPRADRIVE 500XP >> ---------------- >> * Typical package comes with 512K or 2MB RAM and 20/40/52MB HD (Quantum(?)) > >Yes, they are Quantums. Seems like almost everybody is using Quantums. > >> * RAM expansion is up to 8MB, but uses D-RAM (more expensive thanSIMMS) > >Up to 2 meg can be added on the main board with DIP style Drams. The going >rate per byte for Simms and DIPS is almost *exactly* the same. > >Above 2 meg you need a special board that uses 4 meg Zips. Those are quite >expensive. > >> * Power supply available spearately -- may be necessary even though >> Supra claims the controller is "very low-power" > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > >'Course it doesn't matter. The drive will draw more power than the >controler anyway unless the controler is really power hungry and you are >using an ultra low power drive. > >The manual for my 105 meg Quantum 105S states that it needs 1.6 amps at 12 >volts to power up. That's more than my Phoenix CPS500's entire 12 volt >rating. I shudder at using the standard power supply. Actually, they use Conner drives for their 20 and 40MB models (this is the kind I have) Don't use it without either buying a big powersupply or their add on p.s which plugs into the back of it. Be warned that to expand it beyond 2 MB YOU MUST THROW OUT YOUR OLD CHIPS!!!!! > >> ICD AdIDE >> --------- >> * NOT SCSI! (Very big important distinction here) > >Funny thing is, right now SCSI is slightly cheaper on average than IDE. I >don't know how long this market anomoly will continue but remember, just >becuase you've heard that IDE is cheaper than SCSI doesn't mean it is >always so. > >> XETEC FASTTRAK >> -------------- >> * Rather expensive > >Not too bad actualy providing you don't get suckered into buying the case >for the drive. That little luxury will set you back $100. Drive cases >with power supply can be had for $75 and many places will put the drive in >a box for you for only $50 above the cost of the bare drive. > >> * RAM expandable (2MB?) > >8 meg but requires an extra, $75 board. > >Eric Edwards: c506634 @ "I say we take off and nuke the entire site >Inet: umcvmb.missouri.edu from orbit. It's the only way to be sure." >Bitnet: umcvmb.bitnet -- Sigourney Weaver, _Aliens_ -- ----------->Steve Holland<----------- Internet: wildcat!steve@alphalpha.com| "I never let my schooling get in the USENET: ...!alphalpha!wildcat!steve | way of my education" -Mark Twain