SCSI Gurus, quick question about 80 to 68 pin adapters

[canadianpsycho]

Still fairly new to SCSI...

I'm looking at getting my hands on another 10k u160 SCSI HDD. I currently have an Atlas 10k II, 68 pin drive. If I throw a 10k I 80 pin drive on the same cable w/ a 68->80 pin converter, will that affect the performance or reliability of the drive? I'm running an adaptec 29160 btw. Thanks...

 

[Jhereg]

It should not effect it as long as the adapter is spec'ed for U160 use.

 

[Pabster]

So long as the adapter is LVD compatible, it will not. But make sure you get the right one. I generally discourage such use, as it introduces the possibility of several issues. Most often people get a regular 80->68 converter and are disappointed to find their new drive running in SE mode.

 

[bacillus]

Pabster's absolutely correct!

 

[tristramshandy]

I asked Quantum tech support what they recommended for 80->68 pin converters and they sent me here:

CS Electronics

I bought one of their Ultra-160 rated converters and it's worked flawlessly. It ain't cheap though (around $25., I think).

 

[bozo1]

If you know you are getting a quality LVD adapter, then you shouldn't have problems. Unfortunately, as Pabster said, many of the ones being sold are of questionable quality and many of them that claim to be LVD are in fact not.

Why get an SCA drive in the first place? Yes, you can sometimes find them cheaper than the 68-pin models, but once you add on the cost of a decent adapter, the prices should be similar.

 

[Whitedog]

There are plenty of 68 pin drives out there to chose from... Why bother with an 80 pin drive if you're not going to be using it in a drive caddy?

.02

 

[Jen]

its so much easier to go with a 68 pin drive



Jen

 

[DieHardware]

Here is another site that sells converters.

 

[canadianpsycho]

It's an offer in a trade, I'm debating it at this time... Thanks for all the info... Well up until people thought I was stupid

 

[Thor86]

SCA, you know you WANT it!