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Conference hydra::amiga_v1

Title:AMIGA NOTES
Notice:Join us in the *NEW* conference - HYDRA::AMIGA_V2
Moderator:HYDRA::MOORE
Created:Sat Apr 26 1986
Last Modified:Wed Feb 05 1992
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5378
Total number of notes:38326

206.0. "Vibrating Internal Drive" by AUTHOR::MACDONALD (CUP/ML) Mon Dec 08 1986 12:01

    My Amiga has a "noisy" internal drive. Sounds like it is vibrating
    to death when loading software. Is this problem covered under the
    Amiga warranty? Can the external drive be mounted internally? Are
    replacement internal drives cheaper than the external drives?
    
    Paul
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206.1Mine Too!!JAKE::ACCIARDIMon Dec 08 1986 12:2723
    Paul:
    
    I don't know what vintage your Amiga is, but I have an October '86
    version, and my drives sound like miniature blenders making a puree
    out of a bunch of nails.
    
    My friend has a February version, and his are just as noisy.  Early
    Amigas shipped with NEC drives, and I heard that the drive head
    stepping rate exactly coincided with a resonance in the drive band.
    
    Current Amiga drives are absolutely silent.  I have heard that one
    can order Hitachi drive mechanisms for about $100 each, and do a
    simple retrofit.  I don't know where to get them, though I would
    consider replacements if I could find a source.  Maybe a call to
    C-A could help us out?  (I don't even have their number)....Better
    yet, I will leave a message with Amiga Engineering on CIS....
    
    By the way, I have had two entire disk failures in 14 months of
    continuous use, so I don't think the noise affects the performance,
    but it sure is nerve-wracking...I usually crank up the volume on
    my 100 watt stereo hooked up to the Amiga...
     
    Ed Acciardi
206.2er..ah....JAKE::ACCIARDITue Dec 09 1986 10:573
    Re: .1
    
    I meant to say that I had an October '85 Amiga, not October '86.
206.3DrivesAUTHOR::MACDONALDCUP/MLTue Dec 09 1986 11:1112
    I bought mine three months ago!
    
    I guess some of the chain stores bought large volumes to take them
    through the year. The smaller independent stores with low inventory
    were more likely to have units with the better drives. I actually
    haven't heard a quiet one yet. I also assume that even those units
    with the quieter drives still have the small hole in the bottom
    of the case under the drive (even though there is no speed adjustment).
    
    If you find a deal on quiet replacement drives, please let me know.
    
    paul
206.4AUTHOR::MACDONALDCUP/MLWed Dec 10 1986 11:258
    Hmm ... I don't see any speed control for the internal drive on the 
    bottom of my Amiga system box. Does this mean I have a newer drive?
    And, does it mean older systems have drives that are even noiser?
    
    I peeked through the disk slot of both the internal and external
    drive. They appear to be identical in construction.
    
    Paul
206.5NEC vs TOSHIBAPOMPEO::ZABOTMarco Zabot-Adv.Tech.mgr-Turin ACTWed Dec 10 1986 13:536
206.6BAGELS::BRANNONDave BrannonWed Dec 10 1986 13:545
    I've seen three versions - very noisy, noisy, and quiet.  I believe
    only the very noisy have the speed control.  My noisy drive doesn't
    have it.
    
    -dave
206.7AUTHOR::MACDONALDCUP/MLWed Dec 10 1986 14:073
    KickStart isn't noisy when loading, but Workbench is. I do not know
    the name of the drive manufacturer. Can't see any markings through
    the drive slot.
206.8WEBSTR::ARNOLDWed Dec 10 1986 16:475
    re .5
    
    Where did you get the Toshiba drive unit to make your homemade drive?
    
    -Jeff
206.9Two drives NO external supplyPOMPEO::ZABOTMarco Zabot-Adv.Tech.mgr-Turin ACTFri Dec 12 1986 15:2824
RE  .8
	Sorry, for both the delay in answering and for previous error.
	My exeternal drive ( homemade ) is NOT TOSHIBA, but PANASONIC. It 
works very well and ..

YOU MAY CONNECT TWO EXTERNAL DRIVES WITHOUT EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY.

	This is due to low current absorbed by Panasonic  drives. This 
( 2 drives, no supply) is also available as commercial product ( brand : BYTEC 
- Italian co.) at 500$. My drives are done using a locally developped circuit 
( Do you remember the H/w guru I mention'd? ) and costed me only 350$.

	The error I made mentioning TOSHIBA is due to the fact that some times 
ago on USENET it was published a schema for connecting two external TOSHIBA 
drives. ( I got copy of it, if you're interested). HOWEVER, we ( he :-)were not 
able to have that circuit work. This could be due to the fact that 
we were not able to find the Toshiba drives and tried using PAnasonic and 
TEAC.

	The autor of the article mentioned that he got his drives at 
Halted Specialties, Sunnywale (CA) for 99$ each.

	Ciao.
    
206.10AUTHOR::MACDONALDCUP/MLFri Dec 12 1986 16:134
    Can the Panasonic drive ($99 ?) replace the internal Amiga drive
    without modification?
    
    Paul