#How measure access times
5 messages in this thread
MicroCenter in Fairfax, Va. has a Mitsumi CD Rom for $199. they say it has a
350 ms access time. Looking at the specs, it shows two access times. 350 ms for
1/3 stroke (I believe I remember the terminology correctly, but maybe not) and
a much higher number, in the range of 650 ms, for full stroke.
In the past, I've only seen one number reported. Anybody know what that
means? Appreciate the help, since I'm thinking of buying….
thanks!
bob
Robert:
The "full stroke" number is a worst case performance scenario. The "1/3
stroke" is a more typical average case. Companies always use the 1/3 stroke
result to tout their performance because its always better. But in the real
world, like finding a person to fit the "average" size suit on the rack, your
actual performance will be based on the the products you use, and the way they
access the disc. So use these numbers as a rough comparison of performance
among machines, not absolute promises. (The same is true of hard disks, by the
way.)
Hope this helps. Rich Bowers
Rich:
Thanks a lot for the help….One further question if I might. I understand
that Windows NT requires a SCSI 2 interface… Any idea if CD drives that use a
proprietary interface will ever be able to work with Win NT?
Thanks again
Bob
Bob:
In the case you describe, it's not the drive that will be the root of the
incompatibility problem, but the interface and the software drivers. I would
imagine that the drive mfgrs or 3rd parties (like Trantor, et al.) will be
making available upgrades to make the drives work.
As a cynical sidenote: I sure hope Windows NT is worth all the trouble,
because, once again, our friends in Seattle have managed to get everybody
excited over something that is unproven, untested, and (probably) unlikely to
work the first time out – just like every other major MS introduction. So
don't scrap your current config that already works!
Best – Rich Bowers
NT …. The best reason for it to exist is non-intel compatibility and better
multitasking…Wonder if they (MS) will give up on it like they did on OS/2.
Still trying to get the device drivers in line for CD-ROM under os/2. It
amazed me to see that non-SCSI 2 drives must emulate a SCSI drive in software
to work. A virtual SCSI drive in software with different hardware. NT drivers
COULD do the same thing, but why would a drive maker want to spend all the
money, and would the users pay for the drivers? Some drives should be left
with DOS, like leaving CGA and EGA when going to windows MPC.