Attempting SCSI HD replacement 80pin to 50pin

[LazarusNine]

Hey there,

I am in the market for some larger capacity SCSI hard drives, but before I make the plunge, I would like some input as despite all of the reading I've done, the SCSI environment still manages to confuse me. As I understand it, if I want to use an 80-pin SCSI hard drive (like this one: Seagate Cheetah ST33704LC), I will need an 80-pin to 50-pin adapter (like this: 80-pin to 50-pin adapter) and possibly an internal active terminator (like this: LVD/SE terminator).

I have two computers, an LC 475 and a Performa 630 (with CD drive) that I want to fit with larger capacity SCSI drives. My questions are as follows:

1. How do I know if an 80-pin to 68/50-pin adapter has termination built-in?
2. Do I need a terminator at all? As the 630 has a CD drive, does that terminate the SCSI chain? Do I need a terminator for my LC 475?
3. Is it possible to buy simply the hard drives and adapters and expect them to work with a patched version of Drive Setup?
4. Does anyone have any advice on the combination of items that tend to 'just work'?

Kind regards,

Lazarus

 

[LazarusNine]

**EDIT: Ignore the bit about the Performa 630. I don't know what I was smoking. I meant to say my Macintosh IIx. I've been fiddling with my IDE-based Performa so much recently that I just inadvertently mentioned it! So, I am aiming to use SCSI drives in my Macintosh IIx and LC 475. Whew! Thanks. 

 

[uniserver]

Modern scsi drives in 68k macs are touchy enough, it's safe to say most do not work , or specifically they are not backwards compatible(enough) anymore. few are, the specific ones that are, are usually talked about on here or thinkclassic.org

 

[uniserver]

https://www.thinkclassic.org/viewtopic.php?id=101

 

[uniserver]

The list is slim max1zzz sells active terminated sca to 50 pin scsi adaptors, and he is already in the uk.

 

[LazarusNine]

Uniserver, that's great news. Thanks for sharing. I bought an adapter, but as it was only £8, I'll get in touch with Max about one of his. We've already conducted a previous transaction - what a great person. In any case, here's the drive I picked up: IBM eServer. As it's one of the IBM eServer drives, I'm hopeful, but I'll just have to wait and see. Thanks so much for your assistance in this; I've been reading some older threads that you feature quite heavily in, and those have been very informative as well.

 

[bobo68]

Modern scsi drives in 68k macs are touchy enough, it's safe to say most do not work , or specifically they are not backwards compatible(enough) anymore. few are, the specific ones that are, are usually talked about on here or thinkclassic.org

I have to second that. Bought quite a few 80 or 68 pin SCSI drives lately and they all do not work reliably (if at all) with different 68k Macs. Would not have believed this but sadly it is true. 50 pin drives usually work but they are older and their hardware fails after all these years.