OTOH, I will need to buy a Mac specific SCSI controller? My
controller
is an Adaptec 29160LP - I assume I can't use that in the Mac? Not
possible to flash the firmware either?
Not too sure on this one. What's the info from Adaptec's site? I
never
buy Adaptec any more, I go with either ATTO or Initio. Of course,
I'm a
true Low End Mac'er whose hardware choices are constrained by an
extremely modest fixed income. The most recent SCSI controllers I
have
are both 80 MB/sec LVD models, which wouldn't allow your drives to
really strut their stuff.
I only brought the SCSI drives for reliability, not speed. I can't
see any difference between U160 drives and ATA133 drives to be honest,
apart from moving large files, and I don't do that often.
If max data transfer rate of your drive isn't crucial to you, why not
scavenge the "trailing edge" and pick up an Ultra2 LVD controller?
Since U160 and U320 are all the rage there are lots of 80 MB/sec Ultra2
cards available at reasonable prices via ebay and/or the Swaplist. I'm
currently using an Initio Miles 2 and 10K Cheetah LVD drive and am
quite happy, thank you very much.
My controller won't work in a Mac - PC only, and it doesn't have an Mac
equivalent so I think it's not possible to flash the firmware, and as
you say, it's definitely not worth buying a new controller as they're
really expensive!
The BIOS on your PC card may not be large enough to flash for Mac
support, but they do make a 29160 for Macs:
http://www.adaptec.com/worldwide/support/
suppdetail.jsp?sess=no&language=English+US&prodkey=APD-29160
I find Adaptec's hit-or-miss (mostly miss) support for OS X totally
mystifying, though. They've left the door ajar for others, and ATTO
Tech for one is taking full advantage of the opportunity. Not only do
they sell awesome U160 and U320 controllers for Mac, they also
regularly release firmware updates for their older ExpressPCI cards -
the PSC (40 MB/sec UltraSCSI) and UL2 series (80 MB/sec Ultra2 LVD).
The aforementioned Initio Miles U2W is another outstanding Ultra2 LVD
card. If Adaptec's gonna treat me like a redhead stepchild they can go
fly a kite.
BTW, I had a spare 40 gig Western Digital drive, put that in the Mac,
and was bitten by the IDE controller bug :/ Fished out an 13 gig
Quantum Fireball - considering the original drive is an Quantum
Fireball
- put it in, it works fine. Oh well!
Hmmm....the Quantum will serve until you find a reasonable alternative,
I suppose. Postage across The Pond for one of the Initio or ATTO cards
shouldn't be too steep; so contact me offlist if you don't find a good
card in your neighborhood, and we'll work something out.
Gene, a.k.a. G-Man
Friends don't let friends do Windows
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