Re: RamFast SCSI rev B?

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

In article "Dan Yertzell" <Dan-Yertzell@worldnet.att.net> writes...

>What are the differences between the different rev's of the RamFast SCSI
>card?  I just picked up rev B board, and I know it's not the latest
>version, so I'm wondering what to watch out for.

    My understanding is the revision 'A' is actually the Ohio Kache Plus
card, which was a multi-function board and included a SCSI interface. It
used a Z180 and 256K of cache memory just like the RamFAST, and was even
designed by the RamFAST's creator (Drew Vogon). It was the basis for the
RamFAST's design and concept.

    The revision 'B' and 'C' were the actual RamFAST card (which was then
made exclusively into a SASI/SCSI controller) when Drew formed his own
company called CV-Technologies. It later evolved into the revision 'D'
board, which CV-Tech continued to sell, until the company was disolved
and the design was sold to Sequential Systems, who now manufactures and
sells it. The difference between the 'C' and 'D' card are mostly size
and power consumption. The 'D' could use up to 1 MB of cache (whereas
the 'C' was limited to 256K) but was no longer compatible with anything
but the Apple IIgs.

>I also received an Apple SCSI card, apparently not the "High Speed" SCSI
>card.  Is this the card that only works with the Apple SC20 drive?  Or am I
>remembering wrong?  The docs mention this drive and nothing else.

    It will work with other SCSI hardrives and devices, but it is
a non-DMA card and does not supply term-power. It is also less
flexible and supports fewer devices than the High-Speed and RamFAST
cards, I think removable media is one example.

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca