[wellylug] Flash RAM/EPROM disks

[Peter Jones]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tony Wills [mailto:ajwills at paradise.net.nz]
> Sent: Tuesday, 10 May 2005 4:24 p.m.
> To: wellylug at lists.wellylug.org.nz
> Subject: [wellylug] Flash RAM/EPROM disks
> 
> 
> 
> In order to use some old computers as dedicated boxes running 
> embedded 
> linux code, I want to replace some boot devices (floppies or 
> IDE HDDs) with 
> solid state disks (Cost is a significant consideration and 
> USB is not an 
> available option).
> 
> For some things I only need 1.5MB of storage so was thinking 
> of building an 
> eeprom floppy drive replacement/emulator device.
> Anyone seen a circuit for one of these (there are a few notes 
> on the web 
> suggesting there was a Steve Carcia Circuit Cellar project years ago).
> 
> For larger systems some sort of flash ram card (32MB?) would seem to 
> suit.  I see there are 'flash ram cards' and 'compact flash 
> ram cards'), 
> does anyone know whether either of these have the same 
> connectors as laptop 
> HDD drives? (pictures of adaptors to plug them into IDE 
> appear to have no 
> active components but just small to large plugs - can anyone 
> confirm?).
> 
> Anyone got a cheap source of such devices?
> 
> Tony.

How cheap is cheap? Dove sell them, from 32meg up to 1.5gig. They refer to
it as a "disk on module" (and their web page doesn't show them)

They are described as using standard 40 or 44 pin IDE connectors, Fully
compatible with IDE hard disks (the price list is a pdf so can't
cut'n'paste)