TITLE
    Macintosh: SCSI Data Transfer Rates
Article ID:
Created:
Modified:
12315
6/14/93
5/26/99

TOPIC

    What is the maximum sustained asynchronous data transfer rate for the various Macintosh models? What SCSI chip is used inside the various Macintosh models?


DISCUSSION

    Note: After May 25, 1999, this article will not be updated. Product specific information on SCSI controller chips can be obtained from the Developer Note for a particular product. You can view and download Developer Notes from the following Web site: http://developer.apple.com/hardware/ .

    MACINTOSH MODEL            SCSI CHIP            MAX DTR *      NOTES
    ---------------            ---------            ---------      -----
    Macintosh 128K             none                 0
    Macintosh 512K             none                 0
    Macintosh 512Ke            none                 0
    Mac Plus                   NCR 53C80            1.25 MB/sec
    Macintosh SE               NCR 53C80            1.25 MB/sec
    Macintosh SE/30            NCR 53C80            1.25 MB/sec
    Macintosh Classic          NCR 53C80            1.25 MB/sec
    Macintosh Classic II       NCR AM85C80          1.25 MB/sec
    Macintosh Color Classic    NCR AM85C80          1.25 MB/sec

    Macintosh LC               NCR AM85C80          1.5 MB/sec
    Macintosh LC II            NCR AM85C80          1.5 MB/sec
    Macintosh LC III           NCR AM85C80          1.5 MB/sec
    Macintosh LC 475           NCR 53C96            5 MB/sec        (1),(2)
    Macintosh LC 520           NCR AM85C80          1.5 MB/sec
    Macintosh TV               NCR AM85C80          1.5 MB/sec


    Macintosh II               NCR 53C80            1.25 MB/sec
    Macintosh IIx              NCR 53C80            1.25 MB/sec
    Macintosh IIcx             NCR 53C80            1.25 MB/sec
    Macintosh IIci             NCR 53C80            1.25 MB/sec
    Macintosh IIfx             Apple SCSI DMA       3 MB/sec
    Macintosh IIsi             NCR AM85C80          1.25 MB/sec
    Macintosh IIvi             NCR AM85C80          1.5 MB/sec
    Macintosh IIvx             NCR AM85C80          1.5 MB/sec

    Macintosh Centris 610      NCR 53C96            5 MB/sec        (1),(2)
    Macintosh Centris 650      NCR 53C96            5 MB/sec        (1),(2)

    Macintosh Quadra 605       NCR 53C96            5 MB/sec        (1),(2)
    Macintosh Quadra 610       NCR 53C96            5 MB/sec        (1),(2)
    Macintosh 630 Family       Custom IC                            (5)
    Macintosh Quadra 650       NCR 53C96            5 MB/sec        (1) (2)
    Macintosh Quadra 660AV     NCR 53C96            5 MB/sec        (1),(2)
    Macintosh Quadra 700       NCR 53C96            5 MB/sec        (1)

    Macintosh Quadra 800       NCR 53C96            5 MB/sec        (1),(2)
    Macintosh Quadra 840AV     NCR 53C96            5 MB/sec        (1),(2)
    Macintosh Quadra 900       NCR 53C96            5 MB/sec        (1),(2),(3)
    Macintosh Quadra 950       NCR 53C96            5 MB/sec        (1),(2),(3)

    Power Macintosh 5200

    5300
    5400
    5500
    Power Macintosh 6100       Custom IC            5 MB/sec        (2)
    Power Macintosh 6200
    6300
    6400
    6500
    Power Macintosh 7100       Custom IC            5 MB/sec        (2)
    Power Macintosh 7200       Custom IC            5 MB/sec
    Power Macintosh 7500                                          (2),(6)
    Internal/external        Custom IC            5 MB/sec
    Fast SCSI (internal)     MESH Custom IC      10 MB/sec
    Power Macintosh 7600                                          (2),(6)
    Internal/external        Custom IC            5 MB/sec
    Fast SCSI (internal)     MESH Custom IC      10 MB/sec
    Power Macintosh 8100       Custom IC            5 MB/sec        (2)
    Power Macintosh 8500                                          (2),(6)
    Internal/external        Custom IC            5 MB/sec

    Fast SCSI (internal)     MESH Custom IC      10 MB/sec
    Power Macintosh 9500                                          (2),(6)
    Internal/external        Custom IC            5 MB/sec
    Fast SCSI (internal)     Custom IC           10 MB/sec

    Power Macintosh G3 Custom IC

    Macintosh Portable         NCR 53C80            1.25 MB/sec
    Macintosh PowerBook 100    NCR AM85C80          1.5MB/sec
    Macintosh PowerBook 140    NCR AM85C80          1.5MB/sec
    Macintosh PowerBook 145    NCR AM85C80          1.5MB/sec
    Macintosh PowerBook 145B   NCR AM85C80          1.5MB/sec
    Macintosh PowerBook 150    NCR AM85C80          1.5MB/sec       (4)
    Macintosh PowerBook 160    NCR AM85C80          1.5MB/sec
    Macintosh PowerBook 165c   NCR AM85C80          1.5MB/sec
    Macintosh PowerBook 170    NCR AM85C80          1.5MB/sec
    Macintosh PowerBook 180    NCR AM85C80          1.5MB/sec
    Macintosh PowerBook 180c   NCR AM85C80          1.5MB/sec

    Macintosh PowerBook 190

    Macintosh Duo 210          NCR AM85C80          1.5MB/sec
    Macintosh Duo 230          NCR AM85C80          1.5MB/sec

    Macintosh Duo 250          NCR AM85C80          1.5MB/sec
    Macintosh Duo 270c         NCR AM85C80          1.5MB/sec
    Macintosh Duo 280c         Custom IC            1.5MB/sec

    Macintosh PowerBook 520    Custom IC            1.5MB/sec
    Macintosh PowerBook 540    Custom IC            1.5MB/sec

    PowerBook 1400 Custom IC

    PowerBook 2400 Custom IC

    PowerBook 3400 Custom IC

    PowerBook 5300 Custom IC

    PowerBook G3 Custom IC

    PowerBook G3 Series Custom IC


    Notes
    -----
    * This is a theoretical maximum synchronous sustained data transfer rate. The practical data transfer rate varies depending on many factors, such as SCSI chip transfer rate limit, SCSI driver used, hard drive performance, software applications, cables, and other configurations.

    Note (1)
    The transfer rate of the 53C96 can reach 6MB/sec when using a fast hard drive, provided the cabling is capable of supporting that speed. The cabling and termination of the internal SCSI bus are optimized so that the 53C96 that controls the internal bus can support data transfers at a faster rate (up to 5MB per second with existing faster third-party hard drives). Externally with standard Apple cables, SCSI throughput was rated at 4 MB per second. The improved SCSI performance results in increased system responsiveness when accessing large amounts of data on a fast hard drive.


    Note (2)
    The internal SCSI channel also supports active termination which improves SCSI bus signal quality and reliability through improved transmission line and terminator design. This means that only one terminator is needed at the end of the external SCSI chain. The external channel's termination also offers a more uniform impedance and cleaner termination scheme. However, because external cabling and termination are less predictable, performance on the external bus could be lower than the internal. Electrically isolating the two channels ensures that changes in external cabling and termination don't impact the performance of the internal devices.

    Note (3)
    Even though the internal and external SCSI chains are physically different, they are still logically the same, and can therefore, like all Macintosh systems, accommodate up to seven SCSI devices. The added value of the Macintosh Quadra 950 dual-controller design is that the internal hard drive(s) performance won't be affected by problematic devices (like a scanner) attached to the external SCSI connector. Improvements in signal quality on the SCSI bus result in higher SCSI reliability.


    Note (4)
    The PowerBook 150 only supports external SCSI devices, the internal hard drive is an IDE type drive.

    Note (5)
    The Macintosh 630 family utilizes an internal IDE hard drive, SCSI is only valid for external drives. The transfer rate external approaches 5 MB/sec.

    Note (6)
    These computers have dual-channel asynchronous SCSI. There are two completely separate SCSI buses. The Fast SCSI bus is for internal SCSI connections only. The other SCSI bus is for both internal and external SCSI connections.


Document Information
Product Area: Peripherals
Category: Magnetic Storage Devices
Sub Category: SCSI Disk Drives

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