CDR Drive - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

keithinuk · 21st Jan 2012, 12:49 pm

Don't think its all that vintage.
I did a clean out and come across a CD drive I used to use on pre CD computers, I used it about ten years ago and it was not new when I got it, I used it mainly on old laptops, just plugs into the printer port.
It's an Nec MultiSpin 3Xp (3x SCSI-2), still in its box, which is about four times as big as it needs to be.
Do people still use them any more, or is it now just junk.

http://support.necam.com/Optical/advmedia/multispin/multispin3x/cdr401/main.htm

paulsherwin · 21st Jan 2012, 1:31 pm

It should still work with any computer with a 50 pin SCSI2 interface, but the performance is typical of early CD-ROM drives so it will be very slow compared to later drives. Historical interest only really, though you could use it as an audio CD player.

I don't see how it will work via the printer port though.

SteveCG · 21st Jan 2012, 2:41 pm

It looks out of the ordinary, compared to tray CD drives, so could be worth keeping just for that point?

I suppose a relevant question for nowadays is whether it can play CD-Rs. I would assume that it was too early for CD-RWs

adrian41uk · 21st Jan 2012, 5:46 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulsherwin

I don't see how it will work via the printer port though.

On its own, maybe not. But ADAPTEC did make a device called miniPORT SCSI which connected to a parallel printer port and converted it to SCSI. I've still got one in the loft somewhere, very useful for using my first DAT backup drive on my PCs.

Adrian

keithinuk · 22nd Jan 2012, 12:11 am

I still have the lead from SCSI to parallel and its a model cdr-400, so its only a basic cd-rom reader, will end up in the loft again, with a 100hz tulip computer, a build in monitor one.

arjoll · 22nd Jan 2012, 2:16 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by keithinuk

I used it mainly on old laptops, just plugs into the printer port. It's an Nec MultiSpin 3Xp (3x SCSI-2), still in its box, which is about four times as big as it needs to be.

Um, I could be missing something here, but you've mentioned two different interfaces. A SCSI CDROM won't work on a printer port, even though the plugs may look the same.

Is this a SCSI drive in a housing with a parallel/SCSI interface (similar to the old parallel/IDE housings you could buy)?

Either way this will still have value to a vintage computer collector, although not necessarily a monetary one.

keithinuk · 22nd Jan 2012, 11:26 pm

Just pulled the lead out and it has a, Trantor T338 Miniscsi Parallel To Scsi box added to the lead.
Its getting on ten year since I look at it last.

paulsherwin · 23rd Jan 2012, 12:43 am

That's probably worth significantly more than the drive

21st Jan 2012, 12:49 pm	#1
keithinuk Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 208	CDR Drive Don't think its all that vintage. I did a clean out and come across a CD drive I used to use on pre CD computers, I used it about ten years ago and it was not new when I got it, I used it mainly on old laptops, just plugs into the printer port. It's an Nec MultiSpin 3Xp (3x SCSI-2), still in its box, which is about four times as big as it needs to be. Do people still use them any more, or is it now just junk. http://support.necam.com/Optical/advmedia/multispin/multispin3x/cdr401/main.htm

21st Jan 2012, 1:31 pm	#2
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 30,437	Re: CDR Drive It should still work with any computer with a 50 pin SCSI2 interface, but the performance is typical of early CD-ROM drives so it will be very slow compared to later drives. Historical interest only really, though you could use it as an audio CD player. I don't see how it will work via the printer port though.

21st Jan 2012, 2:41 pm	#3
SteveCG Nonode Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 2,519	Re: CDR Drive It looks out of the ordinary, compared to tray CD drives, so could be worth keeping just for that point? I suppose a relevant question for nowadays is whether it can play CD-Rs. I would assume that it was too early for CD-RWs

22nd Jan 2012, 12:11 am	#5
keithinuk Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 208	Re: CDR Drive I still have the lead from SCSI to parallel and its a model cdr-400, so its only a basic cd-rom reader, will end up in the loft again, with a 100hz tulip computer, a build in monitor one.

22nd Jan 2012, 11:26 pm	#7
keithinuk Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 208	Re: CDR Drive Just pulled the lead out and it has a, Trantor T338 Miniscsi Parallel To Scsi box added to the lead. Its getting on ten year since I look at it last.

23rd Jan 2012, 12:43 am	#8
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 30,437	Re: CDR Drive That's probably worth significantly more than the drive