Parent

IBM Fixed Disk Adapter  -  Cabling Information


The 'IBM Fixed Disk Adapter' is the hard drive controller that Xebec made for IBM's use in the IBM 5160 (IBM XT).
I sometimes refer to these as the 'IBM/Xebec HDD controller'.

Click here to see what the terminating resistor (terminator) and shunt block on the IBM supplied Seagate ST-412 looks like.

Generally, you have a choice between using a flat (untwisted)(straight-through) control cable, or a twisted control cable.


OPTION #1:  Flat (untwisted)(straight-through) control cable

Click here to see a cabling diagram for a single-drive configuration.

Click here to see a cabling diagram for a dual-drive configuration.  It is recommended that you first get drive 0 working, then add drive 1 later.

(A dual-drive configuration may require an upgraded PSU, one that is able to cope with the power requirements.)


OPTION #2:  Twisted control cable

Click here to see a cabling diagram for a single-drive configuration.

Click here to see a cabling diagram for a dual-drive dual-drive configuration.  It is recommended that you first get drive 0 working, then add drive 1 later.

(A dual-drive configuration may require an upgraded PSU, one that is able to cope with the power requirements.)

Click here to see the difference between a floppy twisted cable and hard drive twisted cable.

Click here to see what I call a double-twisted cable, a cable with twists at two locations. Rare, but it needs to be compensated for.