SCSI vs IDE

[CleanupMan]

Whats the difference between scsi cd-rom and a Ide cd-rom and why would you choose one over the other? Do one work better that the other?

[NDC]

It's mainly CPU utilization... SCSI devices rely on SCSI Adapters which have a SCSI controller on them, not the CPU. Therefore, CPU will be free to do other tasks. As for speed of SCSI CDROM and EIDE CDROM, it will be the same. 1X = 150KB on SCSI or EIDE.


Look here for more info. This thread is related to EIDE Vs. SCSI Hard disks, but this will give you an idea of what I mean...


http://pub51.ezboard.com/fxtreme89487frm15.showMessage?topicID=40.topic



[This message has been edited by NDC (edited 06-03-2001).]

[Stan]

The price makes a big difference as well... SCSI is more expensive.

Stan

[Goldwingnut]

A SCSI drive IS an IDE drive, with an adapter added to it..

IDE stands for Integrated Drive Electronics. It's a way to get around the 528 Mb maximum drive size from the DOS days. The OS talks to the Integrated Electronics; they handle the task of finding stuff on the disc.

Most home computers come with 2 IDE controllers, which can each handle 2 IDE devices. This lets you have 2 Hard drives, a CD and a DVD. If you want more of one, you take out something else.

SCSI is an interface that lets you use up to 8 devices on one SCSI bus. The adapter card is one device, leaving you 7 devices. These can be almost anything: Scanners, printers, drives, network cards, modems. You can have more than 1 SCSI bus in a computer.

A SCSI drive is an IDE drive with a SCSI to IDE adapter on it. So, it costs more.

Use SCSI if you are:
1) Spending someone elses money;
2) Need a lot of peripherals on one computer;
3) Want to put a group of drives outside the case ( they make external SCSI enclosures. Put your CDs and DVDs and Zips on your desktop, put the big box with the noisy fans in a secure soundproof housing );
4) Need a RAID system.

Use IDE if you're spending your own money.

You can add an IDE card with 4 more outputs, probably faster than what came with the computer, if you need more drives. This will tie up two interrupts, possibly 1 or 2 DMA channels.

[otheos]

here's a lengthy discussion, a good read:

http://www.storagereview.com/welcome.pl?/http://www.storagereview.com/jive/sr/thread.jsp?forum=1&thread=13286

Enjoy