At 01:17 AM -0500 02/01/2003, David Stillman wrote: > >I have an extra 68 pin hard drive that is not in use right now, and I was >wanting to use it in my 7300. I know that the adaptor exists to do such a >thing, but I am wanting to hear people's experiences with using these >adaptors. Hoping to hear successes and failures, so I know what I am >getting into.
Apple's SCSI implementation is LOW VOLTAGE, so any narrow or wide SCSI-1, -2, or -3 LOW VOLTAGE drive will work. The Wide-to-Narrow (68 to 50 pin) adapters work nicely. The SCA Adapters (80 to 50-pin) work well too. I'm using one of each in my PM 7300 right now. (If anyone knows of a source of SCA Adapters for under $5 each, please let me know! I have a bunch of SCA drives that need something to do!) At 01:27 AM -0500 02/01/2003, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >OTOH, a 68-pin WD (and perhaps some others) won't be supported by DS unless >and until you modify DS to include a "catch all" device type. Careful! "D" drives are HIGH VOLTAGE DIFFERENTIAL. They are NOT very compatible with Apple's SCSI implementation. Actually, they're just not a good idea, so much so that the industry dumped that spec like a hot potato a few years ago. Yes, there are adapters to let you plug a high voltage diff drive into a low voltage chain, but more often than not, they're problematic. IMO, the best thing to do with a high voltage diff drive is to sell it on eBay! With respect to Seagate drives, see this URL to decode the model numbers http://www.seagate.com/support/kb/disc/howto/interpret_model.html Note that drives that end in N, LC, LCV, LW, LWV, W, WC are all low voltage and automagically backwards compatible (+/- the cable adapter) with SCSI-1 and SCSI-2. DC, ND, WD == high voltage differiential. Yuk. Related voodoo: The internal SCSI interface in the PM 7300 (and its ilk) is Fast SCSI-2. That bus requires *active* termination, not the "normal" passive stub plugs that can be used on SCSI-1. Usually this isn't a problem, because the drives have termination on them that can be activated with a jumper. But be careful - some manufacturers have been getting cheap and elminating the termination circuitry on the drives, expecting you to supply it yourself. :\ HTH, - Dan. -- PCI-PowerMacs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Sonnet & PowerLogix Upgrades - start at $169 | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> PCI-PowerMacs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/pci-powermacs.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive:<http://www.mail-archive.com/pci-powermacs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
