Review hard disk options for STM & STFM?

IDE, ACSI etc kits and products.
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frank.lukas
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Re: Review hard disk options for STM & STFM?

Post by frank.lukas »

Lightning ST for DIL 68k CPU typ Computer have IDE and USB ...

https://wiki.newtosworld.de/index.php?t ... ghtning_ST
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Review hard disk options for STM & STFM?

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Darklord wrote: Sat Jul 09, 2022 5:13 pm Can a regular ST do SSD's?

Just curious... Thanks.
I'm not entirely sure why you'd want to use an SSD, though I know it's a question that's often asked.
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800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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stephen_usher
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Re: Review hard disk options for STM & STFM?

Post by stephen_usher »

I suppose that you could put an M2 SSD into a USB caddy, hook it up to a NetUSBee with a driver and try to format/partition it. Not sure why you'd want to do that, but you could.
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olivier.jan
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Re: Review hard disk options for STM & STFM?

Post by olivier.jan »

SSD should work with an IDE adapter, but it’s not going to give better results than an SD card, here the ST is the bottleneck, not the disk.
Be careful also, obviously TOS or the driver will not have any specific SSD management routines like modern OSs and this might impact the lifespan of your SSD.
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Atari74user
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Re: Review hard disk options for STM & STFM?

Post by Atari74user »

Yeah, I think very valid points, I don't think there is any overwhelming benefit of an SSD in an ST, Falcon less so given it already has an IDE and it can be a tidy option if nothing else, but still... some nice options these days!
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Darklord
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Re: Review hard disk options for STM & STFM?

Post by Darklord »

rubber_jonnie wrote: Sat Jul 09, 2022 10:07 pm
I'm not entirely sure why you'd want to use an SSD, though I know it's a question that's often asked.
Hi. Yeah, it wasn't me - one of the users on my BBS was inquiring about it.

Personally, I'm quite happy with the internal Ultrasatan's in my Mega STe
and STacy and I have the Lightning ST setup in the Mega ST4 that runs my
BBS.

We've all seen this a lot - there's a perfectly fine, working, known, stable
solution for something and yet there will always be someone out there who
will want to go off in another direction... :lol:

It's all good. :)
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Darklord
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Re: Review hard disk options for STM & STFM?

Post by Darklord »

frank.lukas wrote: Sat Jul 09, 2022 9:50 pm Lightning ST for DIL 68k CPU typ Computer have IDE and USB ...

https://wiki.newtosworld.de/index.php?t ... ghtning_ST
Thanks. I actually have the Lightning ST installed in my Mega ST4,
but have the IDE side disabled.

I just didn't need that part of it... :)
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Darklord
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Re: Review hard disk options for STM & STFM?

Post by Darklord »

So I'm going to advise the user who asked this question on
my BBS, that...it's "do-able" but probably not recommended
since there are solutions that are easier to implement and
probably better suited for the ST.

Thanks all! :cheers:
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stephen_usher
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Re: Review hard disk options for STM & STFM?

Post by stephen_usher »

It’s a bit like asking if you could fit a lorry engine onto a Mini. Technically yes but what’s the point?
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Review hard disk options for STM & STFM?

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Darklord wrote: Sat Jul 09, 2022 11:44 pm So I'm going to advise the user who asked this question on
my BBS, that...it's "do-able" but probably not recommended
since there are solutions that are easier to implement and
probably better suited for the ST.

Thanks all! :cheers:
It's definitely one of those 'well you could, but should you' moments.

As others have said, there is no performance gain to be had as the ST is the bottleneck, then you have IDE to SSD adapters in the mix which are additional connections that could fail.

SD cards are more than good enough in most scenarios. I use a mix of SD cards (CosmosEx and Ultrasatan) and CF cards where I have added IDE interfaces. I possibly even have a real 2.5" hard disk in one of my Megas.

All of them perform just fine.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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