40 vs 44 pin IDE flash module (?)

[ThePiston]

I'm replacing the old spinning drives in a medical device with some flash IDE modules. There are 40 and 44 pin versions of these modules, but I can't find anywhere what the difference is. I have bought the 40 pin version before and it worked in a NAS.

I think the 44 pin version has 4 pins to be used for master/slave positions, but I'm not sure.

Anyone know more about this?

 

[Charles Kozierok]

If I'm not mistaken (been a while) the 44-pin connectors combine data and power for laptop and mobile device use. There are inexpensive adapters on the Web.

 

[ThePiston]

yeah i've heard that too and it sounds like the right answer. thanks

 

[Cerb]

It is the right answer. >=3.5" IDE is 40 pin, 2.5" is 44 pin, and most 1.8" IDE are 50 pin (compact flash); I'm not sure about 1.8" ZIF.

If they're CF types, make certain they support UDMA, as there still seem to be some available that don't.

 

[ThePiston]

these are simple IDE hard drives so the 40 pin should be good. the only thing that bothers me is that these old hard drives are using a strange pin config for master/slave.

They use "disable autospin cable select" which seems very specific.

 

[Cerb]

They use "disable autospin cable select" which seems very specific.

IBM/Hitachi? They're the only ones I've seen 'autospin' settings on. If the feature is the same as used in SCSI drives, it prevents the drive from spinning up when it powers on, so as to reduce the computer's startup power draw, and be nicer to power supplies in general, with multiple drives. Should be N/A for SSDs, as they don't have a several-watt inductive motor to start up.

 

[ThePiston]

IBM Deskstars - thanks for the info.