From:	CSBVAX::CSBVAX::MRGATE::"SMTP::CRVAX.SRI.COM::RELAY-INFO-VAX" 26-JAN-1989 00:43
To:	MRGATE::"ARISIA::EVERHART"
Subj:	Re: Add on disks for VS3200 systems


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Date: 24 Jan 89 13:43:32 GMT
From: munnari!otc!metro!bunyip!wombat!ccwilliams@uunet.uu.net
Organization: Prentice Computer Centre, Uni. Queensland, Australia
Subject: Re: Add on disks for VS3200 systems
Message-Id: <654@wombat.decnet.uq.oz>
References: <284@ultb.UUCP>
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In article <284@ultb.UUCP>, awpsys@ultb.UUCP (Andrew W. Potter) writes:
> Has anyone purchased third party add on disk drives for
> VAXstation 3200s.  Basicly I am looking for a large 5.25 inch 
> disk (>300 meg) that:
>  
> 	a) Works well and is reasonably supported.
>  
> 	b) Is faster than a DEC RD54
>  
> 	c) Will fit in the bottom drive well on my VAXstation 3200
>            (I do not have a TKx0 drive)
>  
> 	d) Costs no more than DECs list for a RD54
>  
> I have been considering the WREN V 383 (323 Meg, 14.5 millisecond
> access time).  This drive as advertised meets my criteria, but I am
> reluctant to buy sight unseen.

	We just Installed a WREV V 383 yesterday on a Microvax II. It fitted
in the same Bay as an RD54, and with a WEBSTER WQESD controller looks like a
DU type drive. The controller has 0.5 MB cache on-board, and can be set
up to do write-through or full (read/write) cacheing. (I believe there are
also models with up to 1 MB of cache on-board.) The controller has a nifty
formatting utility on-board, so you don't have the problem of having to
have a format program as well. The controller takes up to four drives.
	This disk is currently set up as the system disk (DUA1:), and so
far has proved to be *very* fast when compered to the RD53 we had. Solves
our problem for upgrading to VMS V.5, too.
	The technician who installed the thing told me that he preferred
Toshiba and Fujitsu drives for ease of installation. He also told me that
Toshiba and Fujitsu looked like starting a price war on this type of drive
in the near future, and that if we had waited a few months we could have
expected prices to drop by up to a third. :-(  (We payed ca. $6500)

Mark Williams
ccwilliams@wombat.decnet.uq.oz (+.au for US sites)