Re: IIGS Question!

[spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

In article rigby@ptd.net (Jon H.) writes...

>Do you think that this deal is worthwile?  I have a IIGS that I have been
>running System 6.0.1 off of the floppy with.  With the Christmas season
>coming around, I was wondering if this combo is a good deal:
>
>> ** NEW 40 MEG SCSI HARD CARD SYSTEM **
>> ---------------------------------------
[snip]
>> * Second Card (CMS SCSI Controller).
>> Complete Package - only $99.95

    Personally? I would say no. There are better deals available for
similar internal drives setups, and of course, much better solutions
you can choose for slightly more money.

    First off, Alltech's Focus HardCard is available for the same
$99 cost, yet you get a 60 MB drive and the device only occupies
a single slot. Granted the above package gives you a SCSI card,
but it is a CMS controller. The CMS card is an obscure board, it
uses a partitioning scheme not compatible with other SCSI cards
(and to set partitions requires moving jumpers on the card) and
I believe can handle only a maximum of 64 megabytes. I don't know
if it will even work with other SCSI devices; as was said in this
group before, the CMS card was really only designed to operate 
CMS hardrives. Oh, did I mention it does not do DMA either? :)

>Does this mean that it comes with an internal hard drive AND an SCSI card
>so I can attach an additional hard drive (if I ever decide I need one) and
>my Apple CD 150e drive?

    How I understand it is you get one slot card to mount the bare
SCSI hardrive mechanism to. It draws its power from the slot it is
installed in, which of course puts extra load on your powersupply.
In a second slot will be the actually SCSI controller (CMS brand).
The first card does nothing more than draw power for the hardrive,
and in my opinion, is wasting a vaulable slot (the Focus does the
same thing, but at least the controller AND hardrive mount are on
a single card). You may be able to replace the 40 MB mechanism with
a 60 MB, but that is about it. Also I do not know how well (if at
all) the CMS will interact with a non-hardrive SCSI device.

    If it were me personally, I would purchase a RamFAST SCSI card
from Sequential Systems for $109 (possibly less with discounts or
package deals). Then purchase a second-hand SCSI drive mechanism,
say 240 MB, for $25 and install it in an external case (or pay a
bit more for one already externalized). This will give you a fast
and flexible hardrive, and the ability to add CD-ROMs, Zip Drive,
Floptical drive, etc. You could alternatively search for a used
Apple High-Speed or (older) Rev C SCSI card if you want to save
a fair bit off the controller price. Used RamFAST cards can be
purchased for about $50 too of course. You really *need* no less
than 120 megabytes of hardrive space for an Apple IIgs, and since
the machine needs speed whenever it can get it, I would highly
recommend a DMA controller (i.e. RamFAST or Apple HS) and a
somewhat modern hardrive (one that is 4500 RPMs and 10-18 ms). 
Your short changing yourself on speed, storage and expandability
with that 40 MB internal Hard Card.

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca