SCSI v.s. ATA multiple seeks?

[Rich Breen]

Hi all - Recently saw a reference (can't remember where) to SCSI's ability to support multiple simultaneous seeks versus ATA's inability to do same, as an important factor in use with ProTools. I'm afraid I know little about the ATA spec and was wondering if anyone understands this issue well and could elaborate on it? Steve - any thoughts?

Thanks,
Rich

[Steve Rosenthal]

Rich,

This is probably a reference to tagged command queueing, which allows multiple commands to be issued to a SCSI device at one time. The device can then go off and process the commands on its own by disconnecting from the bus, then reconnecting when it's ready to transfer the requested data.

This really isn't a big factor with Pro Tools.

Actually, the average access times on 7200RPM ATA drives are largely within the needs of good Pro Tools performance.



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--Steve Rosenthal, Digidesign ETS

[Rich Breen]

Thanks very much Steve - as always, you're a fount of wisdom...

rich

[This message has been edited by Rich Breen (edited February 08, 2000).]

[Tinnitus]

I was wondering about this topic too.
Ignorant question: IF the IDE bus can only listen to one device at a time, how is benefit derived from having one IDE drive each for system and one for audio? It's like cutting two in half, you still get one, right?

Last time I read about this was years ago, I don't know if the ATA66 standard has significant improvements here.