🚀 go-pugleaf

Here's a copy of a private email msg to someone with first hand
experience on the subject:

On Sat, 6 Dec 97 00:36:17 +0000, you wrote:

>I have a Tyan Titan Turbo II (s1571s) Mo-Bo with an AMD K6-233. This is
>a TX Board. When I first set it up I used an old Quantum Drive and then
>put in the two Seagate Medalist (1gb) drives that I normally used and it
>completely killed the system (It woulden't boot past the Bios startup).
>After a month of fighting with Tyan, they finally tell me about the
>problem. The way they put it, all Seagate drives with a serial number
>ending in "A" WERE not compatable with the TX chipset. I say were
>because this was apparently only with older Bios versions. (Award). They
>sent me a replacement Bios chip free of charge and the system works fine
>with the seagate drives. I don't recall specifically which version I
>have now but reply if you want me to check it out and I will let you
>know.
>
>Also, very important to me, where did you hear about the seagate\TX
>compatability problem. I searched everwhere and could not find any
>further info about it. Please let me know
>
>Thanks, and hope I helped
>Jason Hamwey
>jhamwey@ramapo.edu

Jason,

I first heard about this problem in a fleeting reference on one of the
many PC hardware web sites.  Can't remember exactly which one though.
However, I did come across more detailed info on Tyan's own web page
in a FAQ.  Here's the relevant section: 

Question:
Why doesn't My system recognize some of the Seagate hard drives? 

Answer:
A hard disk interface chip used in certain Seagate hard drives has a
compatibility problem with the Intel PIIX4 chipset, and all of the TX
series have this PIIX4 I/O controller installed. This Arizona
interface chip used has a problem with host PIIX4 chipset in a way
that PIIX4 output is at 3.3V, but for the Seagate Arizona chip, it's
minimum input level for a valid "high" is set at 3.3V. Therefore,
signal comes out of PIIX4 can not be recognized by the Arizona
interface chip sometimes. Seagate will provide Galileo Rev."B"
interface chip to correct this problem. The known Seagate hard drive
models have Arizona interface chip are:

ST31276A ST32531A ST33240A ST31720A 

Also, someone else responded to my usenet post & claimed that they
found a list of all Seagate drives incompatible with the 430TX chipset
on Seagate's own home page.  However, I spent nearly an hour yesterday
searching for it using their in-house search engine with absolutely no
luck.  Now I'm really really nervous about my planned upgrade.  My
two-year old Seagate model # ends in an 'A' (ST-3851A) & the Shuttle
HOT-565 MB I had my eye on uses the TX chipset.  I have a lousey $300
to purchase components for my upgrade -- mainboard, video, & cpu -- &
can't afford to make the slightest miscalculation.  If I find any
additional info on the subject, I'll keep you posted and hopefully
you'll do the same for me.  Later.

Best,
Joe (aka Midgard)

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