Path: utzoo!censor!geac!jtsv16!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!ucsd!helios.ee.lbl.gov!epb2.lbl.gov!envbvs From: envbvs@epb2.lbl.gov (Brian V. Smith) Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec Subject: Re: SCSI Disk (really ESDI) Keywords: ESDI disk for uvII, Maxtor, Sigma, Software Associates Message-ID: <3540@helios.ee.lbl.gov> Date: 9 Aug 89 16:18:54 GMT References: <21034@cup.portal.com> <10470@boulder.Colorado.EDU> Distribution: usa Lines: 60 Christopher Zaft) writes: < From: Zaft@cup.portal.com (Gordon Christopher Zaft) < Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec < Subject: Re: SCSI Disk < Date: 5 Aug 89 04:23:08 GMT < Organization: The Portal System (TM) < Lines: 9 < < I'm interested in anyone's experience with 3rd-party ESDI drives, especially < in the 760 Mbyte range. We are looking for additional, affordable storage < for our MicroVAX II. We're currently looking at systems from Dilog. < Please e-mail me comments/suggestions. < < Thanks in advance! < < Gordon Zaft < zaft@cup.portal.com We have been using the MAXTOR XT8760-E ESDI disk which has about 630 Mbytes when formatted. We purchased the controller (Sigma SDC-RQD11-EC) and the drive from Software Associates, in Sacramento, CA. Their address is: 9723 A Folsom Boulevard, Suite 306 Sacramento, CA 95827-1326 Contact: Dick "Smitty" Smith (916) 344-5558 The controller has 1 megabyte of cache memory and together with the drive we get about a two to one speed increase without the cache over the RD53 drive. When data is in the cache, it is even faster. The drive has 18 ms average seek time and 35 ms max with 3 ms track-to-track. It plugs right into the BA23 or BA123 box with no problems. Ultrix or VMS, it doesn't matter. Overall, the drive is very nice. The controller was (on Sep 1988) $1155 LBL price (GSA discount) and the drive from them was $4322. Cables and brackets were $95. It comes with a one year return-to-factory 24 hour turnaround warranty. Part Numbers: SA-RQD11EC Sigma Q-bus disk controller for ESDI SA-XT-8760 Maxtor 5 1/4" ESDI Disk, 760M (unformatted) SA-ESDI 24" ESDI, 35 pin to 35 pin cables SA-BRK 5 1/4" disk mounting bracket for internal mounting to DEC BA-23. >>> NOTE: I found that this bracket was just a little too small to work, so I just pulled the mounting plate (plastic) off the RD53 and used it <<< I don't represent in any way Software Associates, Sigma or Maxtor. _____________________________________ Brian V. Smith (bvsmith@lbl.gov) Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory We don't need no signatures!