Wayne, thanks for the 2nd and 3rd confirmation data points that these SD->CF adapters are universally successful on Spencer's IDE Hard Drive Module.
Now that I know that they're universally useful, it brings me to an interesting philosophical question.
Is it worth building a CF specific true IDE (16-bit) Adapter?
If it were not for the global chip shortage (e.g. of 82C55), I think the answer is a clear yes.
In the past I've not liked the CF format because:
- Not universal - can't be read on laptops / PCs unless equipped with special adapter.
- Old CF cards are too small, unreliable, and difficult to source.
- New CF cards are too expensive (WRT other formats).
- CF is generally a dead technology.
But as an alternative, SD cards need a serial SPI interface and are a PITA to interface to the Z80, requiring cycle consuming bit-bang and Byte reversal to make them work (and then only very slowly).
The uSD card housings are also fiddly and small and generally all require SMD soldering. So not ideal for easy construction.
Spencer's existing IDE Hard Drive module is perfect as it stands. It can connect to everything from 5" hard drives down through to 1.8" SSD, or embedded DOM devices, and including CF Cards too.
Although I prefer the DOM use case is the cleanest (low profile, doesn't interfere with other slots) and my current preference, it is a bit fiddly to back up the CP/M drive files on a PC.
It requires an USB-IDE adapter and a socket reversal adapter to read the DOM contents on a PC.
That would allow me to:
- Use uSD cards of any size up to 128GB, storing many thousands of CP/M drives.
- Be able to easily back up my work in any modern laptop / PC.
- Avoid "floating drive" where the drive is attached to an IDE cable pigtail.
- Not sacrifice any performance of my CP/M system.
And the final positive thing is that (if the marketing image below is to be believed) the SD->CF adapters contain a
8051 CPU, which could be considered a retro-authentic I/O Co-Processor.
So then I could have my RC2014 system with
i8085,
i8051, and
i8231 processors all on one back-plane.
I think that would win an Intel Retro Trifecta.
Cheers, Phillip