OT: Can anyone recommend a good NIC or SCSI card?

These two requests are only marginally Empeg related...

I'd like to get ethernet connectivity between my PC (Windows 2000) and my Empeg. I have an old crappy Intel EtherExpress card that doesn't work under Windows 2000. So I need suggestions for a cheap ethernet card. I'd like it to work well under Win2K and Linux, since I run both of those from time to time. Hopefully from a company that provides current drivers. Any suggestions?

On a slightly related note, I could also use suggestions for a goof SCSI card that works well under Win2K and Linux as well. Neither my Adaptec 1542 nor my Future Domain cards are working out. I don't need tons of features, UltraSCSI or anything, just a relatively inexpensive card with good drivers. My faulty SCSI cards are causing my CD rips to die in the middle, which is very annoying.

Thanks for any recommendations.
-Tony

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MkII 080000554

i always use linksys 10/100 cards. i know they work under linux, and i'm pretty sure under win2k as well, but you may want to check. as far as price goes, i get them at staples or micro ccenter for ~$20 depending on where you get them. seems like they would be crap for that cheap, but i rarely have problems with them. not sure about the scsi cards though.

jeremy

12 gig, green...

Beware Linksys cards for Linux even if the box says it's supported. I had bought a few for workstations at an ISP running Linux, and after much digging, found Linksys randomly changes designs on the cards without changing model numbers, thus leading to many issues.

I buy only 3Com, since their cards simply work in any OS or system. And almost always with no drivers from them, since many OS's have 3Com drivers in them. They may be a bit more expensive, but well worth it.

On SCSI, I would have to recommend the Adaptec 2930 for just devices like CD-Roms and such. It is UltraScsi, but most SCSI CD-Roms are as well now.

My vote is for 3Com cards ONLY!

Of course... since I work for 3Com I MAY be biased... ;-)

- Jon

I stick with NetGear cards, they always work in Win9x/2000, as well as Linux. I previously used 3com also (still have a few actually), but I've switched to only buying Netgear now because of some driver issues, and cost of course. Netgear cards usually run around $20, just can't beat that.

As far as a SCSI controller, I would definately agree with Drakino, the Adaptec 29XX series is the best way to go overall.


Just my $0.02.



Donato

The network administrator/chief engineer at the radio station group where I work insists on 3Com cards only. He is responsible for maintaining our network, plus another dozen or so (as a private contractor) in businesses around town and he says 3Com cards are a lot more expensive, but they never give problems, regardless of the hardware or operating system. He figures his time is worth $60 an hour, so the extra expense is trivial compared to the cost of spending time to troubleshoot an unruly NIC.

tanstaafl.

"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"

Sensible bloke. My line of reasoning exactly: cheaper to bin the card and buy a new one.

I have only bought 3COM cards (PCI, ISA, EISA) and all perform faultlessly, are easily set up, and are widely supported. Drivers are sometimes a bit difficult to get hold of, even from 3COM.

For SCSI, another vote for the AIC78xx series based cards (AHA-29xx) from Adaptec. Widely supported, good solid performers. I'm using the AHA 2904 with a Ricoh for ripping, and a Plextor UltraPlex 40x with a AHA2940UW. Bit expensive, but good support. If cost is a problem, an alternative are the excellent Tekram cards which use Adaptec AIC series chips - the 390/390F/410UF come to mind and are excellent value for the money; good availability, excellent support. They used to do NCR based cards as well.

Having said that, how come you are having trouble with the stalwart (1542)? This is possibly the most widely supported SCSI card in the known universe, and performs reasonably well. The 42CF version is the one to have, still availble everywhere for ridiculously low prices.

One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

My 1542 CP served me well for many years. However, Adaptec has not released its own Windows 2000 driver, and the one that comes with Win2K doesn't work well. I have the latest ASPI, etc. but it doesn't respond well to some of the MMC commands. Adaptec's driver will some day work those issues out, but they've only released Win2K drivers for PCI cards so far.

I may go with a 2940 if I can get it cheap. I was just wondering if the Adaptec name was still the only way to go with SCSI. Apparently so.

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MkII 080000554

Aaahh - yes, that explains it. I didn't realise they had not updated support for it yet. M$'s generic drivers usually leave a fair bit to be desired.

I would still recommend Tekram - especially the 390F - because they can outperform Adaptec cards (that even use the same chipset!) on both data transfer rates and price. They also co-exist well with other cards in the same box; I occasionally get fights between multiple 2940UWs.

One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

I'll have to look into the Tekram 390F. Thanks for the suggestion.

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MkII 080000554

I was surprised when my trusty Adaptec 2940 just would not work reliably when I updated a WinNT 4 server to Windows 2000 AS; the attached Ricoh CD-RW and Toshiba CDROM would come and go unpredictably. I tried a 2930 I had at hand -- same behavior. I finally went out and grabbed a Tekram (315U) and it works like a charm. Go figure.

I then re-introduced problems by trying to add an HP SCSI scanner; the Tekram doesn't do much to tell you its state when booting and the scanner was behaving oddly. HP OEMs an Advansys SCSI adapter for this scanner; I just happened to have one and I added it. That card has always worked well under Windows and Linux.

Ethernet? Well, I updated all my machines to 3Com 3C905 cards *before* 3Com suddenly abandoned their core product line (leaving a client seriously up the creek) and causing me to swear that I would never trust them or buy any of their products again. My existing cards do work well, though! In future, Netgear, perhaps.

Not supprised that Adaptec is taking it's time with the 1542 and new drivers. An interesting fact I found out recently is that it supports bus mastering. How it does this over ISA is beyond me at this point, but somehow it did, making it the best ISA SCSI card around.

ISA supports bus mastering cards, it's one of the DMA modes. I forget exactly how it works, but some years ago I played with it when I was writing drivers for an ISA bus adapter for the Acorn Archimedes.

Rob

We use Accton Cards, which work fine in ALL MS OS's and Linux. We also use the Adaptec 2940UW's and have had no troubles with them (so long as you get the drivers right!!!!!!)

Rgds

Bill

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MK II, (Blue but should be Amber) SN: 118

At the risk of sounding like another "me too," I would heartily recommend 3Com ethernet cards. I have never had a problem with 3Com cards in any Windows (3.11-2000), or Linux (RedHat, Slackware).

I use 3Com cards exclusively at work, along with Adaptec 2940UW SCSI cards. I was just recently told that Adaptec doesn't make the 2940 anymore, but haven't investigated.

I have used both cards in one machine that (over time) has had Win95, 98, 98SE, NT4.0, 2000, Redhat 5.0, RedHat 6.0, and 6.1 on it. All with a 3Com 3C509 and Adaptec 2940, with no hitches.

-Trevor

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Mk 2, Green 12GB 080000349

Yepp.

And aha29xx series for SCSI.

TommyE