Parent document is top of "Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions"
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12.1) What 5.25" floppy disk drives are available?
Major contributors to this section:
mailto:Krishna@max.tiac.net (Glenn M. Saunders)
mailto:tatar@student.uci.agh.edu.pl (Tomasz M. Tatar)
mailto:sup8pdct@mail.cth.com.au (James Bradford)
mailto:draco@mi.com.pl (Konrad M. Kokoszkiewicz)
==> Atari 810
SS SD 19.2Kbps standard
==> Happy 810
SS SD Warp speed 52k
==> Micro MainFrame - made by a company in Rancho Cordova, CA
?????
==> Atari 1050
SS SD/ED 19.2Kbps standard
==> 1050 US Doubler Created by ICD, now sold by K-Products
SS SD/ED/DD UltraSpeed 52k.
==> Happy 1050
SS SD/ED/DD Warp speed 52k ; track buffering
==> Cheer-Up 1050 Clone of "Happy" 1050
==> Super Archiver 1050
SS SD/ED/DD UltraSpeed 50+K
==> Speedy 1050
SS SD/ED/DD 78K mode (European) used w/ Bibo-DOS (Compy Shop)
==> SuperMax 1050
SS SD/ED/DD 19.2k and 52k UltraSpeed
by Super Products. Compatiable with SuperDOS and K-Products US Doubler
==> Lazer 1050
SS SD/ED/DD Another Happy clone; Compatible w/ K-Products
US Doubler
==> Atari XF551
SS/DS SD/ED/DD 38K burst mode usable only with SpartaDOS X,
SuperDOS 5.1, TurboDOS, DOS XE, and patched SpartaDOS 3.2. XF DS system now
considered "standard".
==> CSS XF551
SS/DS SD/ED/DD K-Products US Doubler compatible. Updates drive to
work better and faster. Also 3.5" upgrade available
==> Percom RFD4x-Sy
where: x=0 -> a single-sided drive
x=4 -> a double-sided drive
y=1 -> a single-drive unit
y=2 -> a dual-drive unit
==> Percom AT88-Sy[PD]
where: y=1 -> a single-drive unit
y=2 -> a dual-drive unit
PD -> equipped with a built-in parallel printer port
==> Trak ATD1
SS SD
==> Trak ATD2
SS SD/DD
Built in Diagnostics. Track indicator. Write protect switch. Built in
parallel printer interface. 2k printer buffer (expandable). Optional
Turbo software on Eprom.
==> Trak AT-1
SS SD/DD Slave
==> Indus GT
SS SD/ED/DD Synchromesh mode usable with SpartaDOS X and
DOSXL only.
==> Astra Double-D?
SS/DS SD/DD? standard /LEDs and such
==> Rana 1000
SS SD/ED/DD standard /LEDs and such can format disks on a
stand alone basis
==> TOMS 720
double head disk drive, 5.25", with mounted interface Centronics,
chips: CPU 8085, WD2797, PIA 8255 (for handle Centronics), 32 KB ROM, 8 KB RAM
ROM contains: OS of drive, MYDOS 4.50 and some utilities (copy, format, etc.)
ROM is seen by computer as drive D1: (if drive is open), and D3: (when drive
has number D1:) or D4: (when drive has number D2:). It makes possible load DOS
from ROMdisk during booting system.
Formats of disks:
- SS/SD - 40 tracks, 18 sects, 128 bytes = 90 KB
- SS/ED - 40 tracks, 26 sects, 128 bytes = 130 KB
- SS/ED - 40 tracks, 18 sects, 256 bytes = 180 KB
- SS/ID - IBM S-9 - 40 tracks, 9 sects, 512 bytes = 180 KB
- DS/DD - 40 tracks, 18 sects, 256 bytes = 360 KB
- DS/QD - 80 tracks, 18 sects, 256 bytes = 720 KB
- DS/ID - IBM D-9 - 40 tracks, 9 sects, 512 bytes = 360 KB
Transmition modes:
- normal - 19200 bps
- Turbo - 70000 bps
- UltraSpeed - 70000 bps
Also tracks buffering.
==> AS SN-360
double head disk drive, 5.25", CPU 8051, controler WD2797
19200 bps
Available formats:
- SS/SD - (FM) single sided, single density - 90 KB
- SS/ED - (MFM) single sided, enhanced density - 130 KB
- SS/DD - (MFM) single sided, double density - 180 KB
- DS/DD - (MFM) double sided, double density - 360 KB
==> TOMS 710
(The newest polish disk drive and probably the best one)
Similar to TOMS 720, one more format:
- double sided, 80 tracks, IBM (720 KB)
Transmition modes:
- standard 19200 bps
- TOMS Turbo (loaded from ROMdisk if drive is open) - 67000 bps
- UltraSpeed (QMEG-OS, SpartaDOS) - 67000 bps
Also tracks buffering.
ROMdisk contain:
- MYDOS 4.50
- COPY
- INIT
- TURBO - turn on/off TOMS Turbo mode
- BASIC - turn on/off Atari Basic
- AUTORUN.SYS - ramdisk
- README
Also TOMS Navigator instead of DUP.SYS. It is program similar to Norton
Commander on PCs.
IBM-ST copier on additional disk.
==> LDW Super 2000
SS SD/ED/DD 19200 bps or 67000 bps
CPU Z80A, ROM 4 KB, RAM 256 B. Some difficulties with ED
==> LDW CA2001
SS SD/ED/DD 19200 bps or 38400 bps
CPU Z80A, ROM 4 KB, RAM 256 B. Some difficulties with ED
==> LDW CA2002
SS/DS SD/ED/DD 19200 bps, 70000 with SpartaDOS
CPU 8040, ROM 4 KB, RAM 256 B
==> Floppy board various
Any standard very fast parallel
DOS-transparent. Requires Black Box. DS system configurable for
XF Percom or ATR style
==> HDI various
Any standard very fast SIO? European
==> SWP ATR-8000
Any standard standard except 1.2 meg and unique DS system
(HD) nice Z80 CP/M system in which CP/M drive acccess is parallel only
thus faster.
==> Atari 1450XLD drives
DS SD/ED DD? standard, requires DOS4. unusual DS system
Only prototypes exist.
==> KARIN MAXI
Double head disk drive 360 KB/5,25" or 720 KB/3,5", controller WD 1772.
Available formats:
= standard SS/SD 90 KB
= standard SS/ED 130 KB
= standard SS/DD 180 KB
= 'cylindric' DS/DD 360 KB (XF-551 uncompatible)
= 'cylindric' DS/QD 720 KB (TOMS-compatible; 720 KB drives only)
Any other capabilities depend on a special software.
Transmission mode:
- parallel: real speed 11.25 kilobytes per second with DOS or 22.5 kilo-
bytes per second with special track-copier.
Notes:
Because of the 1772-registers available in 6502 i/o pages ($D100),
the KARIN MAXI drives look full-programmable.
Preferred systems: MYDOS, SDX.
==> XFD-601B
Double head 360 KB/5,25" disk drive. Controller WD 1772, CPU 8051.
Available formats:
- standard SS/SD 90 KB
- standard SS/ED 130 KB
- standard SS/DD 180 KB
- standard DS/DD 360 KB (XF-551 compatible)
Transmission modes:
- normal 19200 bps
- Top Drive 1050 70000 bps
- Indus GT (synchromesh) 70000 bps (GTSYNC.COM and INDUS.SYS are not necessary;
full-compatibel with the SDX)
- UltraSpeed 70000 bps (full-compatible with the older SpartaDOS)
Notes:
Customized sector skew. In fact, the XFD-601B is a original clone of the
XF-551.
==> XFD-602B
The two XFD-601B drives in the one unit.
Parent document is top of "Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions"
Previous document is "11.5) What is SIO2PC?"
Next document is "12.2) How can I use 3.5" floppy disks with my 8-bit Atari?"