#PAR HD's
3 messages in this thread
Hiya Don,
I'm asking you because you've probably got a better idea on this than anyone
including people at DPS (oops <g>). So what's the deal with these Mode 4 IDE's
like Western Digital, any possibility that they'll run on the PAR. Jeez looking
at the specs 16mb a second + transfer rate, don't know if that's sustained but
it sounds like it… now I really wonder if some of these people jumping on the
PVR bandwagon aren't being a little hasty…
You know I'm a real believer in SCSI but as the PAR is an independent solution
with a dedicated drive it really doesn't matter… 16mb's a second transfer
rate would give a pretty clean image I would think… imagine capture at that
rate… no artifacts…
Is it a question of DPS having a driver? Or the hd's not having T-cal to
contend with…
Just very curious because there has been little to nothing mentioned about the
increased throughput on these IDE's let alone anyone stating that its doable,
and I probably wouldn't have made the connection except that you mentioned this
many many months ago as a possibility…
John
I've been trying to find out more on this myself.
While at Comdex I talked to a rep from WD and he explained that in order to
achieve these transfer rates the entire system must be configured around the
requirements of the Mode 5 drives. Just as Mode 3 now requires a special
controller with onboard bios to support it so will mode 5. Mode 3 requires the
system be at least 486-66 with a Vesa LB enhanced controller with support for
the Mode 3 drives. With Mode 5 the system will require a minimum of Pentium 75
with a PCI bus controller with on board bios to match the drive. So, it looks
doubtful that the existing PAR will support these Mode 5 drives unless DPS is
able to make some retrofit on their controller. This doesn't seem possible
with existing PAR's as it will require PCI bus interface on the PAR. After
this discussion with WD I left with the disappointing opinion that this will
not be available in the forseeable future. ie by just swapping drives with a
mode 5. Of course the discussion of this stuff will certainly plant seeds and
maybe the seeds will sprout.
One additional note, When the proper configuration is not in place these mode 5
and 3 HD's revert to conventional transfer rates.
Don Landis
Don,
I don't know about mode 3 or 5 but I've seen WD showing off mode 4 with these
specs. I don't know if they're AV compatible… seems the controller is the
issue here… retrofits have in the past been an awarkward proposition but if
its just a matter of changing a chip it might not be too difficult. The other
question is on the drivers… does the PAR have specific drivers for each drive
or does it matter… that would be an important consideration.
I don't know but considering that the PVR is priced in the same category you'd
think something was in the works… or at least possible… either way its an
interesting scenario for further exploration…
Thanks for the insight…
John
PS as the controller and harddrive are joined directly I don't know why you'd
have to have PCI to make it work… one of the advantages to the direct link
that the PAR benefits from… don't know if this has any bearing on the issue
but I though I'd mention it…