SCSI Setup

[imported_Pr0t0man]

Hello guys... I posted already about this and I got my answer. I still don't have (or I believe I don't have) the LVD cables. What happens is this:

I have an Ultrastar 36XP 36D IBM 36.4GB. My SCSI controller is the Adaptec 29160N. The cables I have here are 1 dark gray that resembles a lot with an IDE cable. In each end there is a 68pin connector, and also 1 68pin connector closer to one of the ends of the cable. I also have an yellow cable, that is just like the dark gray one. The difference between those two is that it has on each connector a name. Also the yellow cable is longer than the gray one. Let's say this drawing is the cable:

3----------------2-------1

On the end 3 it says: To SYS bd Int/Ext SCSI cable C52 - 90OHM 5183-2484 Rev. A 0025 d cir
On the end 2 it says: To unterminated SCSI device
On the end 1 it says: To mass storage case

The cable doesn't have any terminators. I believe it's a SE cable. I really don't know which cable to use. When I was testing my computer with the PCpitstop (www.pcpitstop.com), it said my computer is good, except for the hard disks. When I asked to see the results of the tests, it said that all disks were good, except for my scsi hard drive. When I checked the comparison between all my disks, my ATA133 Hard disk was at the 40mbps data rate level while the SCSI was at the 8mbps data rate level, even though it is showing on the SCSI Controller that the disk was detected at the 80mbps data rate level. It also said in the website that my SCSI disk is uncached and it can be cached (it has 4mb of cache), but I really don't know how to set it up to use the cache. I went to the SCSI disk webpage (which isn't actually IBM, but Fujitsu) and their manuals don't tell me what to do. Can someone please help me? I really can't afford to buy the LVD cables right now (or my wife will kick my ass), is it the only solution for me?
Thank you guys!

PS: if it's not asking much, if you guys know how to cache the hard disk Seagate Barracuda ST150176LC 50.1GB, I would really apreciate.

 

[GoSharks]

firstly your cable is a single-ended cable, if the wires are not twisted, but are flat like an ide cable. actually there are flat, teflon, LVD cables, but you probably dont have one of those. for this to work properly with your drive and controller, the drive must be set to terminate the chain (i think there should be a jumper for this) and also be set to run in single ended (SE) mode.

the cache that the thing is talking about is the write cache - you can enable it in the drive properties screen of the hard drive (device manager)

not sure why the card is detected it at 80mb/s.. it should only be 40 with a SE (ultra wide) cable

 

[imported_Pr0t0man]

Originally posted by: GOSHARKS
firstly your cable is a single-ended cable, if the wires are not twisted, but are flat like an ide cable. actually there are flat, teflon, LVD cables, but you probably dont have one of those. for this to work properly with your drive and controller, the drive must be set to terminate the chain (i think there should be a jumper for this) and also be set to run in single ended (SE) mode.

the cache that the thing is talking about is the write cache - you can enable it in the drive properties screen of the hard drive (device manager)

not sure why the card is detected it at 80mb/s.. it should only be 40 with a SE (ultra wide) cable

The write cache is already on in Windows. I don't want to turn it on in windows, but on the hard drive itself.

 

[GoSharks]

what about the SE jumper on the drive? has that been set? and have you been having any problems or are you coming here just becuase of what that program says? i wouldnt worry about it too much if you have no problems (look in the system log, in the event viewer, for any disk errors)

 

[Zepper]

No, you don't really need an LVD cable (unless you already have a faster LVD drive that you want to use on the same cable or intend to get a faster LVD drive in the future). Your drive (the 50G Seagate) isn't capable of more than 40MB/Sec even internally. Just jumper it for SE operation and go into the SCSI card setup on boot and set whatever ID you have the drive set to (on the adapter - as that is an SCA 80-pin drive you need an adapter to hook it to a standard 68-pin cable ) 40mb/SEC - the other setting usually can be left as default. You will also need a terminator to plug into the end connection on your cable (as the Seagate is not capable of self-termination). You can get from one of suppliers I mentioned in your other thread. If your drive doesn't already have the 80 to 68 pin adapter, you can get one at the same places.
. However, it may be more cost-effective to just get an LVD cable as most come with a terminator. And as others said, most LVD cables are distinctive - most don't look like IDE cables at all... See pix at some of the vendor's sites.
. To enable/disable the internal buffer would require a utility program from Seagate.com (not sure there is one or that disabling the internal buffer is even possible). Go and look in the downloads section. You may have to call Seagate tech support if that is truly the drive's internal buffer that that error message is referring to.
.bh..

 

[imported_Pr0t0man]

Ok, final word on this. I just bought these on e-bay, and I hope it helps me:

"Here is a nice set of 6 like-new condition 39" Ultra 320 LVD internal SCSI cables. Twisted-pair flat cables, two device connectors. High quality Amphenol Spectra-Strip Ultra320 SCSI Compliant custom built cables. Excellent items for an upgrade or building a system with SCSI devices. These cables are for connecting a single 68-pin SCSI device that has built-in SCSI termination."

I will be using only my IBM Ultrastar 36XP DRHS36D with 36GB. Will these cables above work fine? Did I buy the right cables now? I hope I did, because I'm kinda sick of this SCSI thing... lol
At least I got a little of experience...

Thanks a bunch