Cheapest SCSI Solution?

[Starion15]

Hey,

I'm trying to figure out what the cheapest scsi solution would be, for what I want. I'm just planning on using it as a boot drive, so the only thing it'll have on it is the OS, and the virtual memory space. So drive size really doesnt matter. I'm mostly wanting to speed up OS load times when I upgrade my comp (A64 3200+ 1gig pc3200), and to help out should the virtual memory ever be accessed. So i'm probably looking for a 10rpm drive. Right now, I'm using (and will continue to use) a Seagate 120gb drive (7200 rpm, 8mb cache, etc). So, what parts would I need to get what I want, with the least amount of money (simple eh?) usually I just browse around myself, but I'm not as familiar with scsi parts as I am with the rest of the parts in a pc, so I want to make sure I'm not just buying incompatable crap. Thanks for the help!

 

[Crashman]

Ultra 80 would be fine. Ultra 160 would be better. The best performance for the dollar comes with 18-36GB used drives out of servers, places like <A HREF="http://www.surpluscomputers.com" target="_new">http://www.surpluscomputers.com</A> carry them for $20 or so. Even 15k RPM versions are cheap that way.

These drives are almost exclusively 80-pin for use in drive racks. The extra pins are the configuration pins normally jumpered on 68-pin drives. As such, the data cables are 68-pin, and you'll need a $10 adapter card to change the connection to 68-pin plus configuration jumpers.

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[RichPLS]

The cheapest SCSI 10k drive would be the 74gig SATA Raptor.
Equal in 5-year warranty, near line specs, and comparable speed, and costs less.
Otherwise go for Quantum II 15k drive, my other choice.
SCSI aint cheap.


========================
Try everything...
Do not be afraid of failure, for this is how we learn and grow...
Live life to the fullest...
Do not regret what you have not yet done!!!

 

[Starion15]

Thanks a lot to both of you, its been a lot of help.

This is what I've picked out so far. . .will it work together?

(x2 maybe) http://www.softwareandstuff.com/DRV10471.html

http://www.softwareandstuff.com/h_comp_AHA2940Uw.html <b>OR</b> http://www.softwareandstuff.com/crd_bt950scsi.html (whichever will work better?)

And now I'm a little confused and sleepy. . .which one of the pin adapters at this page ( http://www.softwareandstuff.com/hdwstorage.html ) will I need for this to work?

And--How much performance would I get from raiding two of these in a raid 0 array? How much harder would it be to setup, and install Windows on?

Thanks a lot guys

 

[RichPLS]

Not any harder than with SATA.
Hit F6 during xp setup, and insert driver disk.
Those are both good controllers, I have had both in systems in the past, thou not in a RAID array.
I would go with the Mylex, since it is same price and new, not a refurb.
These are not RAID cards, so striping will be a load on processor.
I still say, you would be better off getting two 74gig raptors, and using onboard mobo controllers for RIAD.
Performance and warranty will be similar, and cost will be less.



========================
Try everything...
Do not be afraid of failure, for this is how we learn and grow...
Live life to the fullest...
Do not regret what you have not yet done!!!

 

[Starion15]

Hmm, ok, so RAID is out then. I'm confused though--How would the 74 gig Raptors cost less? They seem to be going for aprox. $150. Those other 9.1 gig drives (10k) were only $20. Since its not going to be my "main" drive--just my boot drive--I dont reeeally need 74 gigs (though it would be fun).

 

[RichPLS]

No, sorry, would not be cheaper with the Raptor.
The Quantum Atlas II 10k drives, I had 4 of them in my Dell Workstation from almost 5 years back. Great drives, I still have them.
I also still have Mylex controller which I added when onboard controller died.
If you can get controller and drive for $40, that is a steal!
My 4 Quantum drives are still working, I just mothballed the Dell about 3 months ago, and am planning to reuse the 4 drives in another machine yet to be created.



========================
Try everything...
Do not be afraid of failure, for this is how we learn and grow...
Live life to the fullest...
Do not regret what you have not yet done!!!