Date : Sat, 27 Jun 1987 19:51:14 GMT
From : ptsfa!nonvon!apn@lll-lcc.arpa (root)
Subject: Re: re: hard/ram disk for S-100
in article <8706260653.AA17157@decwrl.dec.com>, w_smith@wookie.DEC.COM
(Willie Smith, LTN Components Eng.) says:
>
> JEllsworth@HI-MULTICS.ARPA was looking for a hard disk or RAM disk for an
> S-100 machine. A few ideas, taken from my present configuration and my
> current wish list:
>
> 1) Compupro (Viasyn) DISK-3 hard disk controller. This will talk to
any mix of
> ST-506 drives, does 24 bit DMA of any number of sectors, can work in track/
> sector or absolute sector number mode, and has local intelligence (8085?) to
> take care of all the messy details for you. You set up a 16 byte I/O
Parameter
> Block in memory and kick the DISK-3. It reads it into internal memory, does
> the requested function (complete with seeks, head settles, etc), and
gives you
> back (in the IOPB) a completion status. Writing the software drivers in Z-80
> assembly was very simple, and I have yet to have a problem with the board.
I'm
> running with 2 ST-225 drives, which seem to work well, in an Integrand
disk box,
> which is very well built and (I suspect) bulletproof....
>
> 2) Macrotech 512K VRAM board. This is kind of expensive for a RAM disk,
> but it provides real memory access _and_ RAM disk simultaneously. I'm using
> part of the additional memory for BIOS extensions, I just load up my
registers
> with the important variables, swap banks, and have more than enough room to
> play. It's nice having 64K free for your BIOS.... :+) The one thing
that bugs
Thought I'd throw in my 0.02$ ...
there is a disk controller card that has a
hard disk
8" All known soft-sector cpm formats
5" All known soft-sector cpm formats
and DMA ram disk
all on one card!!
track buffering is implemented to provide very fast floppy i/o. DMA will work
in multimaster mode in 16bits. 5mhz 8085 on board. Source is given out with
purchase of the board for some small anount more. Works upto 12mhz ..
This is available from fulcrum computer products -- 707 433 0202
They also make super fast 256k / 1M static cards with the battery backup on
board... makes for a great ramdisk. NO NEED TO COPY STUFF OVER ON POWER UP!!
alex novickis
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{* -escher *}