"[EMAIL PROTECTED]" wrote:
> Just in case anyone is wondering the link is for a new Seagate 23GB SCSI
> 5400RPM Hard Drive for $24.95.
>
> http://www.surpluscomputers.com/h_strg_423451W.html
A true "tank" of a drive. Damn near indestructible. As already pointed out lots
of heat. Once very popular commercial application. Back when this was "state of
the art" these drives carried 5 year warranties. Takes up two bay spaces, but it
would work.
> So the *NEW QUESTION* I have is this: are these drives compatible in terms
> of number of SCSI pins? I notice these two drives have different amounts of
> pins and one is described as "Ultra SCSI" and the other is described as
> "Ultra-SCSI Wide".
>
> Please forgive my complete ignorance in this matter - SCSI specifications
> have always been a bit confusing to me!
>
> Any light that could be shed on this would be greatly appreciated!
Just different SCSI technologies. The 50 pin is known as SCSI 1 or "narrow SCSI,
it was supplanted by SCSI 2 with 68 pin technology, faster transfer rates. Most
68 pin devices will work on a 50 pin system with adapters, however, the transfer
rates are at the slower SCSI 1 rate. 68 pin is the "common" SCSI nowadays.
80 pin is found on the Ultra-SCSI wide systems and is capable of very fast
transfer rates. Drives for these systems are and expensive. When you see ads for
a Dual G4 quicksilver for commercial video use and the price is $6-7K. Read the
fine print and you'll find a whole batch of Ultra-SCSI wide drives installed.
I've never worked with any 80 pin drives, however they do make adapters for them
so I expect they will run on a 68 pin system, although probably at the slower
transfer speed? Apple offers both 68 pin and 80 pin SCSI cards as options on new
G4 towers.
There are a whole bunch of sites with good explanations and history of SCSI.
Just type SCSI information into Goggle or your favorite search engine. You'll
get plenty of results with explanations ranging from the complex to the basic.
SCSI: Voodoo magic that works. IDE is much less expensive but modern SCSI still
dominates the commercial server markets.
Jack Russell
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