Ultra160 drive on non Ultra160 controller

[vash]

Well, I have an Ultra160 SCSI hard drive, but I don't have an Ultra160 controller (Adaptec 2940UW). Is it possible to get these two working with each other, or will I have to buy an Ultra160 controller?

vash

 

[arthurb1]

They ought to work together, my Atlas 10KII's and my X15 both have worked on non u160 controllers, however they are on one now

 

[Zach]

They're all backwards cpmpatable, you could use the external 25pin connection on an ISA card if you wanted to enter in a dork-athon geek festivel; do some benchmarks, take pictures..

 

[vash]

Thanks for the input! But how 'bout of the drive is an LVD drive?

I would definitely need an LVD controller, no? I haven't played with LVD drive before and would know much about it, but SCSI isn't new, so I was just making sure.

 

[esung]

Utra2 and Ultra160 are both LVD. LVD is designed to be backward compatible with SE. That's why you can use LVD on SE controllers, however, you'll only get the maximum transfer rate that your SE controller can offer (40MB/s)

on the other hand, HVD drives need HVD controller, and it can not be mixed with LVD or SE drives/controller.

 

[vash]

Thanks for the reply again!

I jumpered the Quantum Atlas drive for non LVD (SE) and the drive wouldn't even start up at all. I think its dead since I can't hear it spin up at all (I even un jumpered it for boot delay). Time for RMA back to Quantum to get a new one! Maybe I'll pick up an Ultra160 controller while I'm at it (probably Tekram or Buslogic, maybe Adaptec).

vash

 

[esung]

are you sure you jumpered it correctly? If you enable the delay spin, the controller must be capable to send unit start command in order to tell the HD to spin up.

 

[Zach]

Fuss with the power maybe, too. Check the cables are correct..

Also, it was either with a Quantum or Fujitsu drive I was using, but I found that I was looking at it upside down. The instruction pamphlet didn't orient me, and the drive just didn't work. I did an hour of fussing, and on a whim reversed the jumpers. I think I started reading all the silk screen ID's and comparring to other diagrams in the paper, figuring it out. I had to mirror my jumpers.