From: utzoo!decvax!cca!Chepponis@Cmu-20c@sri-unix
Newsgroups: net.micro
Title: Query about designing hard disk interfaces
Article-I.D.: sri-unix.3130
Posted: Mon Sep  6 12:49:54 1982
Received: Wed Sep  8 01:19:11 1982

From: Mike Chepponis 
Does anybody have any information about designing hard disk interfaces using
the Western Digital WD1010 Winchester Disk Controller to implement Seagate's
ST506 interface standard?  I know I can buy boards for this standard for about
$300, but I think I can build it myself for less; the WD1010 spec sheet is
sketchy about the extra support circuits required (write precomp, phase lock
loop, and data rate oscillator).

I'm buying a Western Dynex WD 505  5 1/4" Cartridge Drive (5.0 Megabytes
formatted, same size as a 5 1/4" floppy, 5.0 Megabits/second transfer rate,
35 milliseconds average access time, 3600 RPM, +12v @ 2.5 Amps & +5v @ 1.5 Amps
5.0 lbs, and best of all, $495 quantity one!), and I need to know how much
more difficult hard disk interfaces are to build than floppy interfaces.

Thanks all.  Please reply direct to me at chepponis@cmu-20c.

-Mike C.
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