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From: crs@cpsc6a.att.com (Chris "I'm Outta Here!" Seaman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: A2091 Performance, and A2090A Problems
Keywords: hard disk B2000 help
Message-ID: <2419@cpsc6a.att.com>
Date: 14 Mar 90 00:00:13 GMT
Organization: AT&T (CPSC), Oakland, CA
Lines: 39

I have just upgraded my 2500 from an A2090A to an A2091 controller,
and I have a couple of questions for the net.experts out there.

First, when I set up the 2091, I received the standard 'This may
take up to 30 minutes' warning when I selected low-level format, but
in reality the drive was only accessed for about 15-20 seconds (if even
that long).  Since I am new to SCSI devices, I don't know if this is
'normal'.  I realize that the HD Toolbox software is also designed to
work with the A590 controller, which supports 'AT' style drives, and
perhaps the message really only applies to that type of configuation.

Question #1:  Is the above condition normal?  The drive has acted
normally in every way since I formatted it, but I am still curious.

Also, I noted that the default partitioning split the drive (a Quantum
Prodrive 105S) into two equal partitions.  I thought about this, and
it occured to me that this might be a Good Thing, since it might
slightly improve the performance of the partitions, plus it would
reduce the possibility of data corruption if/when disk errors occur.

Question #2:  Is there any performance improvement using 2 partitions
versus 1 large partition?

Finally, I attempted to install my old A2090A controller and Rodime drive
in my brother's 2000, with little success.  He has a motherboard stamped
Rev 4.1, but it has a sticker over it that reads 'A2000 Rev 4.3'.  I
don't know which is correct.  The machine is still at Kickstart 1.2.
The symptom I get is a slow cycling of the power LED, with no WB prompt.

Question #3:  I realize that this machine won't be able to autoboot, but 
why won't it boot at all?  Should I remove the Autoboot ROM?

All in all, I am very impressed with the 2091/Quantum combination.

-- 
Chris (Insert phrase here) Seaman |    /--\
crs@cpsc6a.att.com <or>           |   |    |         "This is as real as
...!att!cpsc6a!crs                |   |  \ |      your so-called 'Life' gets"
The Home of the Killer Smiley     |    \--X__