Re: Focus or RAMfast?

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

"Jason Whorton" <chesster@pcl.net> wrote:

>Hello.  I am considering the purchase of a HD for my ROM 03 Apple IIgs and
>have some questions about the Focus HD and the RAMfast SCSI card.  Any
>information or experiences that anyone cares to share would be appreciated.
>
>Can the HD on the Focus card be swapped for a different 2.5" IDE model?

According the FAQs on Ground, yes...

>Can
>a 3.5" IDE HD be externally mounted and connected to the card somehow?

Since 2.5" units work, I don't see a problem with 3.5" units...IDE is IDE...
you'll need to find the right cable though...

>The
>largest Focus HD shown is 200MB and I don't think this will be quite big
>enough since I plan to download a lot of freeware and shareware programs.

200MB is plenty for most GS tasks (well since I use a removable drive,
I probably have more with all the backups and duplicates).  However, if
you are going to download the whole ground ftp server, then yes a diff.
2.5" unit can be mounted.

>I have a 320MB SCSI HD from an IBM Model 80-A31 that I hope to be able to
>use if I bought a RAMfast card.  Has anyone used this drive with the
>RAMfast?  If so, what cables and/or termination are necessary?  What cables
>and termination is usually necessary with a RAMfast card for the typical
>SCSI HD?

The thing about the RAMfast is that some newer SCSI hard drives require
the SCSI controller to have an SCSI ID number.  The RAMfast does not
provide an SCSI ID number...therefore, such drives don't work.  Other than
this, all drives should work.  Apple High Speed SCSI card will work with
all drives regardless because it DOES provide an SCSI ID number.  The
320MB unit sounds old...it probably adheres to the older standard and
does not require the controller to have an SCSI ID number. Test to be sure.