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What peripherals work with RISC OS?

This list contains details of peripherals known to work on Acorn computers, and is intended as a rough guide for those wanting to upgrade.

The list covers all storage devices: hard discs, magneto-optical drives, tape, CD-rom, and related interfaces. It also covers modems, serial cards and printers.It does not cover IDE hard discs, as these are covered in a separate list in the FAQ.

This list is based on information from users, but it's fairly out of date now. If you have new information, corrections, suggestions or if you just want to tell me how good it is, please contact me.

If you have any equipment which you no longer require, please consider donating it to Archive magazine or Clares Micro Supplies, who will find a deserving home for it. Contact Paul Beverley at paul@archivemag.co.uk or DClare@Clares.demon.co.uk

Note that in all the following lists the interface refers to the computer and not the peripheral.

Hard discs

Computer Size  Manuf.     Model      Interface Interface  Special
                                     type      manuf      Requirements
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
A310     46MB  Seagate    ST157N     SCSI-1    Cumana/Oak none
A310     46MB  Seagate    ST277N     SCSI-1    Oak        Use Acorn SCSIFiler 
                                                          with RO3.1
A310     47MB  Seagate    257        SCSI-8    Lingenuity none
A310     60MB  Seagate    ST-277N    SCSI      Oak        Ext Apple
A310/4Mb 80Mb  Quantum    P80S       SCSI      Oak        none
A310     87Mb  Fujitsu    M2612S     SCSI-U    Morley     none
                          0608  
A310     100Mb Quantum    LP105S     SCSI-U    Morley     none
A310     105M  Quantum    Prodrive   SCSI      Oak        none
A310     105MB Rodime     RO-3128T   SCSI-1    Morley     none
A310     105MB Syquest    SQ105S     SCSI-1    Morley     none
A310     110MB Rodime     RO-5125ST  SCSI      Oak        Ext Apple
A310     117MB Quantum    LP120S     SCSI      VTi/Alsys  RO3.1+PowerROM
A310     191Mb Maxtor     LXT-200S   SCSI      Lingenuity none
A310     210MB Conner     CP3200F    SCSI      Oak        Ext Apple
A310/4Mb 210Mb Quantum    PD210S     SCSI      Oak        none
A310     240MB Quantum    LPS240S    SCSI-1    Morley     none
A310     270MB Syquest    SQ3270S    SCSI-1    Morley     none
A310     330Mb Seagate    ST2383N    SCSI-U    Morley     none
A310     340Mb Conner     CFA340     SCSI-1    Cumana/Oak none
A310     496MB Fujitsu    M2624S     SCSI      VTi/Alsys  RO3.1+PowerROM
A310     516Mb Quantum    Maverick   SCSI-U    Morley     none
                          540S 0901
A310     540MB Quantum    Fireball   SCSI-1    Morley     none
A310     700Mb Quantum    LIGHTNING  SCSI      Lingenuity none
                          730S    
A410/1   170MB Quantum    LPS170     SCSI-C    Morley     none
               ProDrive           
A410/1   115MB IBM        7910A12    SCSI-C    Morley     none
A410/1   213M  Maxtor     7213S      SCSI-U    Morley     none
A410/1   1GB   HP         C2247      SCSI-U    Morley     none
A420/1   730MB Quantm     LT730S     SCSI      TSP/AAD    512Mb max.
A420/1   330MB Maxtor     7345S      SCSI      TSP/AAD    none
A4xx/1   40MB  Seagate    ST251/1    ST506     Acorn      ext Case+PSU
A4xx/1   40MB  Seagate    ST251/0    ST506     Acorn      ext Case+PSU
A4xx/1   40MB  NEC        D3156      ST506     Acorn      none
A4xx/1   68MB  Seagate    ST1100     ST506     Acorn      none
A400/1   523MB IBM        DSAS-3540  SCSI-16   Cumana     none
A440/1   240M  Quantum    LPS240S    SCSI-U    Morley     none
A440/1   1G    Micropolis 4110       SCSI-U    Morley     none
A440     66M   Rodime     RO3085S    SCSI      Lingenuity none
A540     116Mb Conner     CP30100    SCSI      Acorn 1.05 none
R140     330MB Maxtor     7345S      SCSI      Acorn MK3  (Used with RISCiX)
R140     730MB Quantm     LT730S     SCSI      Acorn MK3  (Used with RISCiX)
A3000    42MB  NEC        D3835      SCSI      Serial port(VTi)
A3000    51Mb  Quantum    LP52S      SCSI   }  Cumana     none
A3000    81Mb  Quantum    ELS85S     SCSI   }  Cumana     none
A3000    105M  Quantum    LP105S     SCSI      HCCS-8i    none
A3000    540M  IBM        DSAS-3540  SCSI      HCCS-8i    doesn't work!
A3000    730M  Quantum    LT730S     SCSI      HCCS-8i    none
A4000    1G    IBM        DPES31080  SCSI      HCCS       none
A5000    340MB Quantum    LPS340S    SCSI      Cumana     none
A5000    540M  Conner     CP30540    SCSI1     Cumana     none
A5000    1.06G Conner     CFP1060S   SCSI-2    Cumana     none
A4       520M  Fujitsu    M2684S     PSCSI     Atomwide   bid parallel
RPC600   110MB Rodime     RO-5125ST  SCSI      Oak        Ext Apple
RPC600   116MB Conner     CP30100    SCSI-1    Alsystems  none
RPC600   121Mb Maxtor     7120SCS    SCSI-2    Cumana     none
RPC600   163MB Quantum    ELS170S    pll SCSI  Atomwide   none
RPC600   163MB Quantum    ELS170S    SCSI      Oak        none
RPC600   163MB Quantum    ELS170S    SCSI-2    Castle tec none
RPC600   163MB Quantum    ELS170S    SCSI      Morley-U&C none
RPC600   210MB Conner     CP3200F    SCSI      Oak        Ext Apple
RPC600   317MB Imprimis   94241-7    SCSI-1    Alsystems  none
RPC600   496Mb Fujitsu    M2624F-512 SCSI-1    TSP/AAD    none
RPC600   496MB Fujitsu    M2624F-512 SCSI-1    Alsystems  none
RPC600   502MB Quantum  ProDrive525S SCSI2     Alsystems  none
RPC600   507MB Fujitsu    M2684S-512 SCSI-2    Alsystems  none
RPC600   523Mb IBM        DSAS-3540  SCSI-2    Cumana     filecore limit
RPC600   550MB Quantum    Fireball   SCSI-2    MCS        none
RPC600   650Mb Cumana     Proteus    SCSI-2    Cumana     New Filecore
RPC600   850MB Quantum    TRB850S    SCSI-2    Cumana     none
RPC600   1Gb   Quantum    Fireball   SCSI-2    Cumana     none
                          FB1080     
RPC600   1G    Micropolis 4110       SCSI-U    Morley     none
RPC600   1.7G  Quantum    Sirocco    SCSI-2    Cumana     New Filecore
RPC600   2.1Gb Fujitsu    2915       SCSI-2    Cumana     New Filecore
RPC600   2.5G  Quantum    Sirocco    SCSI-2    Cumana     New Filecore
RPC700   105M  Quantum    LP105S     SCSI-2    Alsystems  none
RPC700   140M  Fujitsu    M2624SA    SCSI-U    Morley     none
RPC700   340MB Maxtor     7345A      IDE       Acorn      none
RPC700   540M  Conner     CP30540    SCSI1     Cumana     none
RPC700   730M  Quantum    LT730S     SCSI-2    Alsystems  none
RPC700   2G    Quantum    Atlas      scsi-2    Alsystems  early drives noisy *
RPC700   520M  Seagate    ST3660A    IDE       Acorn      none 
RPC700   1G    Fujitsu    M1614TAU   IDE       Acorn      none 
RPC700   1.6G  Conner     CFS1621A   IDE       Acorn      none 
RPC700   1,6G  WD         AC31600H   IDE       Acorn      slow startup, fast drive
RPC700   1.7G  NEC        D3747      IDE       Acorn      none 
RPC700   2G    Fujitsu    M1624TAU   IDE       Acorn      none 
RPC700   2G    Seagate    ST32161A   IDE       Acorn      none 
RPC700   2.1GB WD         AC21000    IDE       Acorn      none
RPC700SA 520M  Seagate    ST3660A    IDE       Acorn      none
RPC700SA 1.6G  Conner     CFS1621A   IDE       Acorn      none 
RPC700SA 2G    Seagate    ST32132A   IDE       Acorn      none

* RiscPC cases amplify vibrations from drives. According to Quantum technical support, drives with high spin speeds need to be internally balanced like car wheels to avoid vibration. Their first models (including the Atlas range) were not balanced, but current models are. Apparently the vibrations do not affect performance or reliability.

Non-working combinations

A410/1   1GB   HP         C2247      SCSI-8    Lingenuity did not work
A3000    540M  IBM        DSAS-3540  SCSI      HCCS-8i    doesn't work!
A310/OS3.1/MEMC1A/ARM3               SCSI      VTi        see below

This combination has been reported to be troublesome due to timing problems on the bus. This problem does not occur with a standard A310. If the problem is found to be present, it can be fixed by fitting a 2nF capacitor across the /BL pull-up resistor.

Removable hard discs

Computer Size  Manuf.     Model     Interface Interface  Special
                                    type      manuf      Requirements
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
A310     105MB Syquest    -         SCSI   Oak           none
A440/1    88MB Syquest    SQ5110    SCSI-U Morley        none
A410/1   105MB Syquest    -         SCSI-U Morley        none
A3000    135MB SyQuest    EZ135     SCSI   Cumana        none
A3000    270MB Syquest    SQ3270    SCSI   HCCS-8i       MOFS (!MagOpt)
A5000    135MB SyQuest    EZ135     SCSI   Cumana        none
A5000    270MB Syquest    SQ327     SCSI-2 Alsystems     none
A4       105MB Syquest    -         PSCSI  Atomwide bid  none
                                           parallel
RPC600    88MB Syquest    SQ5110    SCSI-2 Cumana        none
RPC600   105MB Syquest    -         IDE    ICS           none
RPC600   105MB Syquest    -         SCSI-2 Castle        none
RPC600   105MB Syquest    -         SCSI   Oak           none
RPC600   105MB Syquest    SQ3105S   SCSI-2 Castle        none
RPC600   135MB Syquest    EZ135     IDE    ICS           minor bugs
RPC600   135MB Syquest    EZ135     SCSI-C Morley        none
RPC600   200MB Syquest    SQ5200C   SCSI-2 Cumana        none
RPC600     1GB Iomega     JAZ       SCSI-2 PowerTec      none
RPC600SA 105MB Syquest    SQ3105S   SCSI-2 Castle        none
RPC600SA   1GB Iomega     JAZ       SCSI-2 PowerTec      none
RPC700   135MB SyQuest    EZ135     SCSI   Cumana 16bit  none
RPC700   135MB SyQuest    EZ135     SCSI   Cumana 32bit  none 
RPC700   135MB SyQuest    EZ135     SCSI-2 Alsystems     none
RPC700   135MB SyQuest    EZ135     IDE    Acorn         none
RPC700   270MB SyQuest    SQ3270    SCSI   Cumana 16bit  none
RPC700   270MB SyQuest    SQ3270    SCSI   Cumana 32bit
         Care needed with flash rom software upgrades
RPC700   270MB SyQuest    SQ3270    SCSI   Alsystems     none
RPC700   270MB Syquest    SQ3270    SCSI-2 Alsystems     none
         Firmware 3_05 and above recommended

CD ROM

Computer Speed Manuf.     Model      Interface Interface Special
                                     type      manuf     Requirements
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
A310     3.4x  Toshib     XM5201     SCSI-1    Cuman/Oak CDX driver
A310     1x    Sony       CDU-541    SCSI-U    Morley    none
A310     2x    Matsushita CR-503     SCSI      VTi/Alsys RO3.1+PowerROM
A410/1   2x    Apple      CD300      SCSI-C    Morley    AppleSony module
A410/1   2x    Sanyo      CRD-250S   SCSI-2    Morley    none
A420/1   2x    Apple      CD300e     SCSI      TSP/AAD   CDFS 2.2+ driver
A3000    2x    Toshiba    XM-3401TA  SCSI      HCCS-8i   none
A3000    4.4x  Toshiba    XM-3601TA  SCSI      HCCS-8i   IOC CDFS SCSI2 driver
A5000    2x    Toshiba    XM-3401TA  SCSI      Cumana    EESOX CDFS_SCSI2 driver for photocd
A5000    2x    Aiwa       ACD300     SCSI-2    Alsystems none        
A5000    4.4x  Pioneer    DR-U124X   SCSI-2    Cumana    Eesox SCSI2dr
RPC600   2x    Nakamichi  MBR-7      SCSI-2    Cumana    Eesox SCSI2 7cd changer
RPC600   2x    Apple      CD300e     SCSI      Acorn MK3 CDFS 2.2+ driver
RPC600   2x    Cumana     Indigo     IDE       Cumana    none
RPC600   -     Plextor    PX-4XCS    SCSI-2    Cumana        
RPC600   4x    Cumana     Proteus    SCSI-2    Cumana    
RPC600   4x    Sanyo      CRD-254S   SCSI-2    Cumana    EESOX scsi2 driver
RPC600   4x    Sony       CDU76S     SCSI-2    Cumana    Eesox SCSI2 driver
RPC600   4x    Sony       CDU77E     IDE       Acorn     RiscOs3.7/SA
RPC600   4x    Toshiba    XM-3601TA  SCSI-1    TSP/AAD   EESOX SCSI2 driver
RPC600   4x    Cumana     Proteus    SCSI-2    Cumana    none
RPC600   4x    Panasonic  PD-1 LF1000SCSI-2    Power-tec none
RPC600   4x    NEC        Multispin  SCSI-2    Power-tec none
RPC600   4x    Matsushita CR-504     SCSI-2    Power-tec none
RPC600   4x    Hitachi    CDR-770    IDE       Acorn     Cumana/Powertec ATAPI
RPC700   4.4x  Toshiba    XM-3601TA  SCSI-2    Alsystems none
RPC600   6x    Mitsumi    FX600      IDE       Acorn     CDFS2.30 or RO 3.6
RPC600   6x    TEAC       CD-56E     IDE       Acorn     CDFS2.30 or RO 3.6
RPC600   7x    Toshiba    XM-3701TA  SCSI-2    Cumana    Eesox SCSI2
RPC700   2x    Sony       CDU50E     IDE       Acorn     none
RPC700   2x    Cuma.      Bravo      SLCD      Cumana    Unplug CDFSAtapi
RPC700   4x    Sony       CDU-76E    IDE       Acorn     none
RPC700   4x    Panasonic  CR504B     SCSI-C    Morley    none
RPC700   4x    Mitsumi    FX400      IDE       Acorn     none
RPC700   4x    NEC        CDR-273    IDE       Acorn     only works in 2x 
RPC700   6x    NEC        CDR-1300A  IDE       Acorn     only works in 2x 
RPC700SA 6x    NEC        CDR-1300A  IDE       Acorn     only works in 2x
RPC700   8x    Goldstar   GCD-R580B  IDE       Acorn     possible clash with some h.d.
RPC700SA 12x   Teac       CD-512E    IDE       Acorn     none 
RPC700SA 8x    Toshiba    XM-56028   IDE       Acorn     none

Problem Drives

Many drives don't work with the standard drivers found in RiscOS. This is usually due to differences between the implementation of ATAPI in the drives. Third party drivers (soft-loadable modules) are available (eg from EESOX) and some IDE and SCSI cards come with new drivers built in.

CD ROM Equivalents

Manuf      Model        Manuf      Model
Apple      CD300        Sony       CDU-8003A Rev. 1.9a
Cumana     ProTeus      Panasonic  PD2000

Floppy disk

Computer Type   Size  Manuf.     Model      Interface Interface  Special
                                 type       manuf                Requirements
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
A310     5.25"  19Mb  QUME       HF24DR G05 SCSI-U    Morley     none
A5000    Zip    100MB Iomega     ZIP 100    SCSI      Oak        none
A5000    Zip    100MB Iomega     ZIP 100    SCSI      Lingenuity no LL format
* This scsi card will initialise a partition but won't low-level format
RPC600   Zip    100MB Iomega     ZIP 100    SCSI-2    Alsystems  none
RPC700   Zip    100MB Iomega     ZIP 100    SCSI-2    Alsystems  none
         Note: Powertec supports DOS format for Zip drives
RPC700   Zip    100MB Iomega     ZIP 100    SCSI-U    Morley     none

* The parallel port Zip drive can now be used with the Acorn driver, but requires driver software. This is available from Argo or Partis Computing.

If your scsi software does not support zip drives, see the Tape Streamer section for details. * The write-protection feature of Zip discs is not at present available via any of the scsi drivers. It is fully supported by the parallel port driver.

Tape streamers

Computer Size    Type   Manuf.     Model      Interface Interface  Special
                                              type      manuf      Requirements
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A5000    230MB   magopt Fujitsu    M2512A     SCSI-2    CUMANA     none
A540     230MB   magopt Fuji       2512A      SCSI      Oak        none
A540     230MB   magopt Fuji       2512A      SCSI-16   AAD        none
RPC600   230MB   magopt Fuji       2512A      SCSI      Acorn      !magopt
RPC600   230MB   magopt Fuji       2512A      SCSI      Oak        none
RPC600   230MB   magopt Fuji       2512A      SCSI      QD-16      none
RPC600   525MB   qic    ?          ?          SCSI-2    cumana  
         Settings: tapebackgrounding off, tapemaxtransfer 1, tapebuffer 16k, 
                   scsidisconnect 6 on and *unplug DMAManager
RPC600   2.3G    8mm    Exabyte    EXB 8200   SCSI-2    Cumana     !tapefs
RPC700SA   230kb/s Settings: tapebackgrounding off, tapemaxtransfer 64kb,
                           tapebuffer 512kb.
RPC700   1.3G    DAT    HP         -          SCSI-C    Morley     none
RPC700   1G      DAT    WangDAT    1300       SCSI      Cumana
         Settings: Backgrounding off, disconnect off, and set drive to 
                   SCSI-1 standard (because tapefs=scsi1?)

Tape equivalents

Some data tapes are identical to consumer AV products. Most manufacturers don't recommend use of the cheaper tapes for data storage but they do work.

DDS or 4mm tape is equivalent to DAT (Digital Audio Tape). A two-hour tape is the same as a 60m, and you can get three hours of audio on a 90m.

8mm tape is equivalent to Video-8. Currently I have no information on tape sizes or merits of using standard or Hi8.

Configuration

You may need to tweak the options to make your device work properly. Different drives have different requirements, so experimentation might be necessary.

Zip drives require a different setup from the other backup devices. Some users report nothing more than running their scsi config software to identify the drive to the system, the drive appearing as a hard disc. Others are using MagFS.

To set up Magfs:
Download Magfs from Hensa.
Set the MO$SCSI in the Run file of !MagOpt to to match the scsi id of the drive.
Insert a blank disk and run MO-form.
Enter 4 or 5 at first request.
Enter N at second request for a low level format.
Run !Magopt.

Some magopt users are running tapefs. Don't know why.

Software for tape streamers can be obtained from the following sources:

tapefs is in ftp://ftp.demon.co.uk/pub/mirrors/hensa/micros/arch/riscos/a/a050

magfs is in ftp://ftp.demon.co.uk/pub/mirrors/hensa/micros/arch/riscos/d/d160

tar is in ftp://ftp.demon.co.uk/pub/mirrors/hensa/micros/arch/riscos/a/a052

It has been found that the released version of tar won't handle image files (archives, for example). A patched version is available which will cope with these can be found at ftp://ftp.comlab.ox.ac.uk:/tmp/Robin.Watts/Tar_hack

Modems

Computer Modem Protocol Manuf Model     Interface   Interface Interface  Special
         speed                          blockdriver manuf     Best speed Reqs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A310     9600  -        Pace  MicroLin  internal    Acorn     19k2       none
A310     14.4K V32bis   Escom 14400     sp_dual     Atomwide  57600      RO3.1
A410/1   28.8K V34      USR   Sportster internal    Acorn     9600       none
A410/1   28.8K V34      USR   Sportster sp_dual MK2 TSP       115200     none
A5000  28800  V.34  Zoom  V.34    sp_dualpc mk2  TSP  115200  none
A5000  14400  V.32b USR   Courier sp_dualpc mk2  TSP  57600   none
A5000  14400  V.32b USR   Courier internalpc   Acorn  38400   none
A5000  14400  V.32b Pace  MicroLinfx sp_dualpc m2 TSP 57600   none
A3000  14400  V.32b USR   Courier internal     Acorn  19200   none
RPC600   36.6K V34      MR    Modem     internal    Acorn     115200     none
RPC600   28.8K V34      USR   Sportster internal    Acorn     115200     none
RPC600   14.4K -        -     LineLink  internal    Acorn     57600      none
         May need to cut an internal cable to fix flow control if the modem is 
         wired for use with a MAC
RPC700   28.8K V34      USR   Sportster internal    Acorn     115200     none
         setup string: ATB0&M4&H1&R2&I0&K3&B1&N0&S1&Y1&D2&C1V1Q0X4&A3E1F1M1
RPC700   14.4K V32b     CreatiX SG144   internalPC  Acorn     115200     none 
RPC700SA 14.4K V32b     CreatiX SG144   internalPC  Acorn     115200     none

Note: If you have a Sportster 28.8 with revision dates earlier than 04/28/95 / 03/31/95, and you are having difficulties such as low speed operation or line drop-outs, USR have a return-to-base upgrade which is free of charge.

Printers

Computer Printer DPI Manuf.   Model        Interface Interfc !Printers  Special
         type                              type      manuf   version    Reqs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A410     Inkjet  720 Epson    Stylus-Col-I Parallel  Acorn   1.28c      none
A410     Dotmat  360 Citizen  Swift 24     Parallel  Acorn   1.28c      none
RPC600   Inkjet  720 Epson    Sty.Col.500  Parallel  Acorn   1.54       PDF:Nov'96
RPC700   Inkjet  720 Epson    Stylus-Col-I Parallel  Acorn   1.52 rel3  none
RPC700SA Inkjet  300 HP       DJ 500 C     Par/Ser   Acorn   1.28 
RPC700SA Inkjet  300 HP       DJ 500 C     Par/Ser   Acorn   1.54       Acorns Rompatch

Third party drivers

Computer Concepts' Turbo Drivers are available for popular printers. This software is optimised for speed although Acorn's own drivers have recently been upgraded and the benefits are not as great as they were. The Turbo drivers give greater control over the output and background printing actually works, however the output quality can be worse with dithered graphics.

Optical Scanners

Computer  Manuf.   Model         Scanner   Interface Interface Special
                                 type      type      manuf     Requirements
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
RPC600    HP       Scanjet IIcx  flatbed   SCSI-2    Cumana    David Pilling's Twain
RPC600    Epson    GT 9500       flatbed   SCSI-2    Powertec  David Pilling's Twain

Computer notes

The A3xx and A4xx machines are all similar, and comments about one of these machines should apply to any other, provided it is running with the latest OS and/or chip set.

Similarly, the A4 is a miniature A5000, and the RPC700 is a slightly enhanced RPC600.

StrongARM equipped RiscPCs might have difficulties with interfaces that work on the non-SA computers.

A3xx computers have no on-board disc interface; A4xx have on-board mfm.

The A3000 has no interface, the A4, A3020, A4000, A5000, A7000, Stork and RPC models all have IDE.

Interface notes

In theory the fastest interfaces are the ones with DMA. These cards perform at their best on RiscPCs in slot 0 or 1. The data rate will be limited by the slowest part of the system, so when upgrading, budget for a new drive in addition to the interface.

The Alsystems Powertec card is a SCSI-2 DMA device with a top speed of around 4.5MB/s. This speed will increase with later software/firmware releases.

The Yellowstone RapIDE32 card is a fast IDE interface using DMA which will give a significant improvement over the standard interface in a RiscPC.

Both Yellowstone and Alsystems are developing rival products.

The Morley SCSI-1 interface is either cached or uncached. The maximum speeds of these are uncached: 2MB/s, cached: 4MB/s. These cards do not use DMA. Currently the Morley software cannot cope with partitions > 512 MB and the "Free" window is broken under RiscOS 3.6. New firmware is rumoured for the Morley card.

The TSP/AAD is the former 'Arxe Alpha Dual', which was produced by The Serial Port, but which is now discontinued. It provides 16-bit non-DMA SCSI-1 and a high density floppy interface.

Versions of Risc OS older than 3.6 can only cope with drives < 512 MB. Larger drives can be used if formatted to this size. Some filing systems allow large drives to be partitioned, ie split into 2 or more sections, each up to 512MB in size. The new limit for RiscOS 3.6 is 4GB, which is already looking too small.

An important new development for scsi card owners is the Alsystems PowerRom. This is a firmware upgrade for many existing cards, including Cumana, Castle, Lingenuity, Morley, Acorn, Vti, HCCS and Oak. The upgrade provides all the features present in the Powertec card, subject to hardware limitations, which will include compatibility with large partitions and devices such as Zip drives. The PowerRom will eventually be able to replace IDE card firmware too.

Which SCSI have I got?

To determine the scsi version number of a device, run the following program:

ON ERROR REPORT:PRINT " at ";ERL:END
DIM buffer% 16
INPUT "Enter device number";device%
SYS "SCSI_Initialise",2,device%,buffer%
SCSI%=(buffer%?2) AND %111
PRINT "Version is ";SCSI%
END

This will give you zero if the device is not present.

How big is a Megabyte ?

Some manufacturers quote Megabytes as 1000K. This is of course totally incorrect but they like to cheat with numbers, so to get the real size, multiply by 1000/1024.

Jumper settings and configuration

Jumper settings are often a problem, and it's rare to get a manual with a drive these days. Some manufacturers have web sites, most of these have detailed information on their current models including jumper settings, and some have databases covering older devices.

Although sometimes biased towards PCs, the information can be extremely useful.

Manufacturer - Web site
Seagate - http://www.seagate.com/
Conner - http://www.conner.com/
Quantum - http://www.quantum.com/
Maxtor - http://www.maxtor.com/
Syquest - http://www.syquest.com/
Micropolis - http://www.micropolis.com/
Fujitsu - http://www.fujitsu.com/
Iomega - http://www.iomega.com/
Panasonic - http://www.panasonic.com/
Toshiba - http://www.toshiba.com/
Sony - http://www.sony.com/
NEC - http://www.nec.com/
Mitsumi - http://www.mitsumi.com/
US Robotics - http://www.usr.com/
Hayes - http://www.hayes.com/
Zoom - http://www.zoom.com/
Motorola - http://www.motorola.com/
Pace - http://www.pace.co.uk/
Epson - http://www.epson.com/

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the list.

If you have any corrections or suggestions, please contact me.

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 Last edit: 10th Apr 2016 at 4:55pm (2910 days ago)

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