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Ultra 2 SCSI drive FAQ

Can I connect an Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD) drive w/o a Card ?
Only Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD) 8 bit drives can be connected. A fairly inexpensive drive can be used if more storage space is the only criteria.

Can I use an Ultra SCSI drive with or without a Card ?
Only Ultra SCSI (8 bit) drives can be connected internally or externally. Ultra SCSI 16-bit drives have to be connected via a PCI Card. Ultra SCSI (16 bit) can be used with a card but a performance gap of 40 MB/s exists since Ultra SCSI (16 bit) offers only 40 MB/s (max). Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD) is highly recommended if planning to gain maximum performance with a PCI card. Besides more data throughput, longer cable length can be used (up to 12 meters) & more SCSI devices can be connected (up to 16) and if the system is connected to other peripherals on the same SCSI chain, the performance of the storage system is better than regular devices.

What configurations are available?
Transintl specializes in maximizing storage solutions for the Apple Macintosh platform, Apple clones, and PC Platform, bundling drives with proper SCSI controllers for optimum performance and maximum data throughput. Drives are available in a variety of configurations tailored to meet the Price/Performance criteria of every user.

Can I use Ultra SCSI in Power Macs with a Nubus System ?
If you haven't given up on old Nubus systems, like Power Mac 8100/7100/6100 series or the Quadra series you can use Ultra 2 SCSI drives in your systems.

What is the maximum Data Xfer Rate I can get on Nubus Macs ?
Only the Power Macintosh 8100 series has an internal Fast-SCSI port which limits the Xfer rate to a 10 MB/sec maximum. The rest of the earlier macs do not have a Fast II Scsi Port. Therefore, they are limited to a Xfer rate of 5 MB/s internally or externally.

E-mail us your configuration at sales@transintl.com to learn more.

Can I take advantage of Ultra SCSI drives on a Nubus System?
Yes, you need an Ultra SCSI Card.
Note: Data Xfer rate depends on several parameters, like bus speed, processor clock speed, etc.

Can I connect Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD) drives in any PC or a wintel computer ?
Yes, PC’s with a PCI bus on their motherboards can take advantage of Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD) drives. You need a PC Ultra 2 SCSI controller to connect the drive. The data Xfer rate of a disk drive is one important parameter in the overall storage subsystem’s performance, but the data bus (50 Mhz, 66 Mhz, 100 Mhz), carries the data from the drive to the CPU. Microprocessor clock speed , SCSI controller support of a particular drive interface, Ultra SCSI, Ultra 2 SCSI etc. are critical factors in integrating SCSI devices in PC’s in order to achieve the desired data transfer rate in your computer. One quick rule of thumb is, if your PC system’s motherboard supports the Intel 440LX chipset (66 Mhz bus speed ) or the new 440BX chipset (100 Mhz bus speed), then the system can really take advantage of Ultra 2 SCSI drive data throughput. Otherwise, you wont be able to get the desired performance, since the limitation is not in the drive parameters but the system’s incompatibility or limitation to interface with high performance drives.

Which Manufacturer’s drives should I buy? Are Ultra 2 SCSI drives the same?
This is a tough one to answer, instead we have made a performance Matrix that gives comparative analysis of drive performance parameters and features with their prices, so that an accurate decision can be made based on performance / price comparisions.

Are Ultra 2 SCSI drives for Unix based systems different?
No, Ultra 2 SCSI drives are platform independent. Most of the workstations running UNIX have a SCSI 68-Pin connector or an 80-Pin SCA connector, you can install directly, internally or externally.

Are Part Numbers of the drives important ?
Yes, very important, every part number of a drive represents a drive's parameters that relate to drive transfer rate, type of SCSI interfaces, type of connectors and the most important factor, cost.

Are Part Number schemes different for every Manufacturer’s disk drives?
Yes, every manufacturer has its own part number scheme to differentiate families of their drives relating different performance and operating characteristics, the Performance Matrix illustrates the part number with all drive characteristics.

What is the main difference between Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD) and other SCSI interfaces besides higher data Xfer Rate?
Cable length, Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD) supports 12 meters of cable, in simple words, the distance between the drive and the computer to which it is connected can be 12 meters.
This is an extremely important feature when you are connecting a number of SCSI devices or chaining them together.

Why is Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD) Card so important in Macs and PCs?
You cannot have a differential feature, that is 12 meter cable length in PCI based Macintosh or PC’s without a PCI Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD), Low Voltage Differential Card, since Macintosh logic boards and PC mother boards do not support the Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD) feature. Earlier, support for differential drives were available only on high end workstations. Now Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD) Cards are available for Macs and PCs.

What is PCI or PCI bus?
PCI stands for Peripherals Components Interface, PCI interface or Bus is standard for connecting peripherals via a PCI compliant card to the (motherboard) or the logic board. It is now the prevalent standard in Macs and PCs for connecting add on SCSI cards and Graphic Cards to enhance system performance.

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Telephone: (714) 634-1583 • Fax: (714) 634-0409
sales@transintl.com

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Can I connect an Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD) drive w/o a Card ? Only Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD) 8 bit drives can be connected. A fairly inexpensive drive can be used if more storage space is the only criteria. Can I use an Ultra SCSI drive with or without a Card ? Only Ultra SCSI (8 bit) drives can be connected internally or externally. Ultra SCSI 16-bit drives have to be connected via a PCI Card. Ultra SCSI (16 bit) can be used with a card but a performance gap of 40 MB/s exists since Ultra SCSI (16 bit) offers only 40 MB/s (max). Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD) is highly recommended if planning to gain maximum performance with a PCI card. Besides more data throughput, longer cable length can be used (up to 12 meters) & more SCSI devices can be connected (up to 16) and if the system is connected to other peripherals on the same SCSI chain, the performance of the storage system is better than regular devices. What configurations are available? Transintl specializes in maximizing storage solutions for the Apple Macintosh platform, Apple clones, and PC Platform, bundling drives with proper SCSI controllers for optimum performance and maximum data throughput. Drives are available in a variety of configurations tailored to meet the Price/Performance criteria of every user. Can I use Ultra SCSI in Power Macs with a Nubus System ? If you haven't given up on old Nubus systems, like Power Mac 8100/7100/6100 series or the Quadra series you can use Ultra 2 SCSI drives in your systems. What is the maximum Data Xfer Rate I can get on Nubus Macs ? Only the Power Macintosh 8100 series has an internal Fast-SCSI port which limits the Xfer rate to a 10 MB/sec maximum. The rest of the earlier macs do not have a Fast II Scsi Port. Therefore, they are limited to a Xfer rate of 5 MB/s internally or externally.	E-mail us your configuration at sales@transintl.com to learn more. Can I take advantage of Ultra SCSI drives on a Nubus System? Yes, you need an Ultra SCSI Card. Note: Data Xfer rate depends on several parameters, like bus speed, processor clock speed, etc. Can I connect Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD) drives in any PC or a wintel computer ? Yes, PC’s with a PCI bus on their motherboards can take advantage of Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD) drives. You need a PC Ultra 2 SCSI controller to connect the drive. The data Xfer rate of a disk drive is one important parameter in the overall storage subsystem’s performance, but the data bus (50 Mhz, 66 Mhz, 100 Mhz), carries the data from the drive to the CPU. Microprocessor clock speed , SCSI controller support of a particular drive interface, Ultra SCSI, Ultra 2 SCSI etc. are critical factors in integrating SCSI devices in PC’s in order to achieve the desired data transfer rate in your computer. One quick rule of thumb is, if your PC system’s motherboard supports the Intel 440LX chipset (66 Mhz bus speed ) or the new 440BX chipset (100 Mhz bus speed), then the system can really take advantage of Ultra 2 SCSI drive data throughput. Otherwise, you wont be able to get the desired performance, since the limitation is not in the drive parameters but the system’s incompatibility or limitation to interface with high performance drives. Which Manufacturer’s drives should I buy? Are Ultra 2 SCSI drives the same? This is a tough one to answer, instead we have made a performance Matrix that gives comparative analysis of drive performance parameters and features with their prices, so that an accurate decision can be made based on performance / price comparisions.	Are Ultra 2 SCSI drives for Unix based systems different? No, Ultra 2 SCSI drives are platform independent. Most of the workstations running UNIX have a SCSI 68-Pin connector or an 80-Pin SCA connector, you can install directly, internally or externally. Are Part Numbers of the drives important ? Yes, very important, every part number of a drive represents a drive's parameters that relate to drive transfer rate, type of SCSI interfaces, type of connectors and the most important factor, cost. Are Part Number schemes different for every Manufacturer’s disk drives? Yes, every manufacturer has its own part number scheme to differentiate families of their drives relating different performance and operating characteristics, the Performance Matrix illustrates the part number with all drive characteristics. What is the main difference between Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD) and other SCSI interfaces besides higher data Xfer Rate? Cable length, Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD) supports 12 meters of cable, in simple words, the distance between the drive and the computer to which it is connected can be 12 meters. This is an extremely important feature when you are connecting a number of SCSI devices or chaining them together. Why is Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD) Card so important in Macs and PCs? You cannot have a differential feature, that is 12 meter cable length in PCI based Macintosh or PC’s without a PCI Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD), Low Voltage Differential Card, since Macintosh logic boards and PC mother boards do not support the Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD) feature. Earlier, support for differential drives were available only on high end workstations. Now Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD) Cards are available for Macs and PCs. What is PCI or PCI bus? PCI stands for Peripherals Components Interface, PCI interface or Bus is standard for connecting peripherals via a PCI compliant card to the (motherboard) or the logic board. It is now the prevalent standard in Macs and PCs for connecting add on SCSI cards and Graphic Cards to enhance system performance.