IBM UltraStar SCSI-3 Ultra2 Wide HDD

[LNP_Guy]

I recently got one of these drives (80-pin 36.4Gb)from a local computer show, along with an 80-to-68 pin converter. I have that drive (ID: 0) and a Plextor UltraPlex40 Wide 68-pin (ID: 1) conntected to Adaptec's AHA-2940 U/UW host controller. It seems that the SCSI bus is stopping to initialize every now and then. I checked the drive properties to make sure caching was off, and the devices/cable are properly terminated.

Anyone know if those HDDs will function properly with a converter and the controller I have? I know I should be getting 40Mb/s thruput, but at times I dont really think I am.

any ideas? thanks!

[CMonster]

SCSI usually has pretty good backwards compatibility, but whether or not the drive will function properly with the adaptor I do not know. I do know that the drive's advanced features will not be accessible.

Take note that on the SCSI adapter you mentioned 40Mb/s is burst rate -not sustained or uncached data transfer rate.

And...as far as I know the caching feature of the drive might be a speed advantage in a desktop system where data integrity is not such a critical factor like in a server.

[This message has been edited by CMonster (edited 05-10-2001).]

[otheos]

If you use Windows2000 make sure you update with MS patch for SCSI. It made a lot of difference to my system that had the SCSI resetting every now and then.

Other than that, I see no problem running your HD on the UW bus (other than the performance impact).

Try to benchmark your drive with HDtach2.61 to see if you get what you should out of it.

Also, since the IBM drive takes no termination (it's LVD isn't it) make sure the Uplex WIDE is terminated and last on the chain (just check that), and that neither device used ID 7 (again making sure).