#Best SCSI-2 adapters
4 messages in this thread
Recommendations on SCSI adapters depends on the bus type and amount of memory
you have. First, if you have more than 16MBs of memory, you should not be
using an ISA motherboard.
ISA adapters:
Adaptec 1542B or C — compatibility is number one here
Procom Technology ISA SCSI Xelerator — if speed is number one (compatibility
is currently limited to DOS, Windows, NT, SCO Unix, Netware 3.11 & 4.00)
Both these are ROM based configuration (but the Xelerator has striping,
mirroring, and spanning built-in for no extra money). Both are bus-masters
which have their own can of worms.
EISA Adapter:
Adaptec 1742B
The above are my recommendations, and they are the only boards I would ever
consider buying (actually, I have all three of them).
rp93
Thanks for the reply Roger.
> … if you have more than 16MB's of memory, you should not be using an ISA
motherboard.
I do have an ISA bus and it is fully populated with 16MB's of RAM. My system is
a 486/25 w/128KB cache AMI BIOS, Opti Chipset.
Q1. Is there some reason why a 16MB configuration would cause me problems using
either the Adaptec or Procom adapters?
Q2. What's the difference between the 1542B and C?
Q3. If I plan to stay within the DOS / Windows environment would the faster
Procom adapter be the best choice?
Q4. Will I be able to hook up other SCSI based devices (eg. DASD) with either
board?
Thanks in advance!!!
Brian Stirling
Brian:
>
>
> Q1. Is there some reason why a 16MB configuration would cause me
> problems using either the Adaptec or Procom adapters?
>
>
Actually the problem happens when you have more than 16 Mb of memory. The ISA
bus has only 24 address lines which limit addressability to 16 Mb. I you
intend to use more than 16 Mb of memory go to either EISA or Micro-channel
which utilize a 32 bit buss and can therefore access 4 Gb.
> Q2. What's the difference between the 1542B and C?
>
>
The 1542C is jumperless and is software configurable.
> Q3. If I plan to stay within the DOS / Windows environment would
> the faster Procom adapter be the best choice?
>
I don't know how much of a performance difference there is between the two
adapters but both OS/2 2.x and Windows NT build in support for Adaptec SCSI
adapters. You may feel today that you will stay with DOS/WIndows but might
change your mind after you see OS/2 2.1.
>
>
> Q4. Will I be able to hook up other SCSI based devices (eg. DASD)
> with either board?
>
>
I am not familiar with the Procomm adapter but since Procomm sells hardrives I
would say that it would be a safe bet. The answer for the Adaptec is a
definite yes.
Hope this helps.
.. Ron 24-Apr-93 22:07
Ron,
Re. the ISA 16 MB limitation, I understand that is a problem with some video
adaptors also. I know very little about CD-ROM and just joined this forum to
try to learn something <g>. Do you know of, or do you expect, CD-ROM drives
that will be offered with VESA adaptors. Perhaps it is my ignorance, but that
seems to me to be a logical option; although the drive is slow to access data,
there's a lot of data to move.
-michael