4 Sep
1999
4 Sep
'99
1:26 p.m.
One of the surplus stores in my area just got in a load
of 5-1/4 form factor
hard drives. They look just like the ones my PDP-11/73's use (RD51 or 52,
can't recall). I believe my controller is a RQDX2, not a RQDX3. My drives
are 30mb.
If they're for use with a RQDX2 or 3, they'd better be MFM (ST-506)
interface drives, not ESDI drives! The connectors are the same, but
the signals are quite different.
I was wondering, is there an easy way (short of looking
up the model
numbers) to visually determine if any of the drives are ESDI and might work
with my 11/73?
Most any ST506 drive can be pressed into use with a RQDX1/2/3, with
an appropriate low-level format (via XXDP's ZRQB?? or ZRQC?? formatter).
The RD52 is a Quantum Q540 or an Atasi AT3046. Capacity around 30 Mbytes.
There was also a CDC drive used, I'm not sure what the model number was.
The RD53 is a Micropolis 1325 (early ones) or 1335 (later ones). Capacity
around 65 Mbytes.
The RD54 is a Maxtor XT2190. Capacity around 140 Mbytes. Won't work with
a RQDX1/2, only a RQDX3.
If you're really interested in pursuing the use of random MFM drives
on your RQDX2 or RQDX3, pay close attention to the notes that Terry
Kennedy has kept in
ftp://ftp.spc.edu/third-party-disks.txt
for the past decade or so. There are many details about the use of
non-DEC-branded-drives, and in particular there are some suggestions for
formatting them with XXDP.
--
Tim Shoppa Email: shoppa(a)trailing-edge.com
Trailing Edge Technology WWW: http://www.trailing-edge.com/
7328 Bradley Blvd Voice: 301-767-5917
Bethesda, MD, USA 20817 Fax: 301-767-5927