Someone will be giving me a 147gb Maxtor scsi hard disk, but I don't have any scsi ports on my system.

What type of adapter and/or cables would I need to get this working for my system? I do have extra pci ports available.

Thnx.

Since you say "a 147gb Maxtor" i assume it is a new hard disk.
So it would be a U320 model.

You need:
1) a relatively new SCSI controller (U160 or U320)
Adaptec or LSI controllers tend to be have good perfomance and linux support
(for example you can find Adaptec 29160 controllers in ebay pretty cheap)

2) A 68-pin internal LVD cable + terminator
If you buy the controller, it will be included with the controller

It looks like the following pictures
(http://www.emaxasp.com/product_images/CB25LVD-3.jpg) Flat cable
(http://www.apandala.de/pictures/5con...20plus%20A.JPG) Rounded Cable
The black block thing in one end is the terminator.
LVD devices don't have internal termination and you use an external terminator (which made setup less confusing)

3) Some time to connect them

4) I forgot that if the drive has a SCA interface (80-pin hotplug blah blah) then you will need a 80->68 pin adaptor
to connect it.
Looks like this (http://www.cableuniverse.co.uk/catal...ges/ss-401.gif)
If the drive has 68pin interface forget anything i said in 4)

I am sorry i don't give you more info. If you mention the model number perhaps i can tell you more.
If you have any questions then tell me.

I'm not quite sure if this is the exact one, but it may be it.

http://tinyurl.com/8ly7k

I won't be able to get the drive till Saturday or so. It is a brand new one and a 147gb in size. All it will be is a barebone drive, no cables or anything else.

Thnx.

I can't tell much from it, but anyway it doesn't matter for now.

Your primary concern now is about the SCSI controller. (I guess you don't have one)
Check your local shops/e-shops about which models they have (and ebay if you want used)
and consider which one you want.

Are you going to invest money in SCSI hardware, or you will just have this hard disk ?
What you are going to do determines which model you need to buy.
( I mean that if you are going to just have this disk because you were given it, then you buy a cheap controller
or even a used one like the 29160 i mentioned. If you want to invest in SCSI hardware and you will add more disks later
then you buy a good controller from the start)

Ok, this should be the exact drive.

http://www.maxtor.com/_files/maxtor/...data_sheet.pdf

It's the 147gb drive. But I don't want to spend over $50 for an adapter. Do you know someplace other than ebay that may sell one for under $50? And will it work for a standalone PC, just as a second hard drive?

Thnx.

From the datasheet you have i can't tell if it is a 68-pin drive or a 80-pin one.
There are 2 model numbers there "8D147L0 - 8D147J0"

When you say "$50 for an adapter" do you mean a SCSI controller ?
If you mean a controller then i don't think you can find a new U320 (or even U160) controller for that money.

I don't understand the question about if it will work in a standalone pc.
Just as you have a IDE or a SATA disk, this will be a SCSI disk. it will be the second or third or whatever drive.
If you want you can boot from it or you can just have it for storage.

It is the 8D147J0 model. Yes, I would need a scsi controller to use it with my pc.

Thnx.