{"id":2439,"date":"2023-06-09T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-09T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bananahdd.nl\/?p=2439"},"modified":"2023-06-09T12:43:10","modified_gmt":"2023-06-09T10:43:10","slug":"quantum-prodrive-lps-270at-270mb-1994","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bananahdd.nl\/index.php\/2023\/06\/09\/quantum-prodrive-lps-270at-270mb-1994\/","title":{"rendered":"Quantum ProDrive LPS 270AT 270MB (1994)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Quantum ProDrive’s are fairly ubiquitous, with this one originally hailing from an IBM PS\/ValuePoint 450DX2\/S machine. At 270MB in 1994, it was a fairly mid-range drive, but all these years later they hide something much more sinister. While this drive currently sits in perfect health, without intervention it’s doomed to serve a short future existence.<\/p>\n

Another one of MKE’s production treats, the Quantum ProDrive LPS 270AT.<\/p>\n

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Made in Japan.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
  Drive Attributes<\/strong><\/em>\r\n  -------------------------------------\r\n  Quantum ProDrive LPS 270AT\r\n  -------------------------------------\r\n  Capacity      270MB\r\n  Mfc Date      1994-08\r\n  Format        3.5\"\r\n  Interface     PATA\r\n  Platters      1\r\n  Heads         2\r\n  Cache         128KB\r\n  RPM           4500\r\n  CHS           944\/14\/40\r\n  Origin        Japan (MKE)\r\n  -------------------------------------<\/pre>\n
This drive sports only a single platter, 270MB in density. Quantum would also release a two-platter variant with the 540AT.<\/p>\n
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The labels.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Quantum were notoriously poor at production date labelling, but fortunately this drive’s OEM label from IBM bears the date of manufacture as being from August 1994.<\/p>\n
As usual, with MKE’s production contracts with Quantum, this drive was produced in their factory in Japan.<\/p>\n
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The rear.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Entry.<\/p>\n
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The PCB.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Here’s the PCB as a whole, we’ll go into detail in two halves below.<\/p>\n
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Part 1\/2.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The spindle motor controller is an IC provided by Hitachi (slightly easier to read on overview image above). There’s a auxilliary controller produced by NEC, with remaining logic provided for by Hitachi.<\/p>\n
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Part 2\/2.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The 128KB of cache is provided by NEC, with the microcontroller being a package from Texas Instruments, sporting Quantum branding. The unfortunately notorious canister-type electrolytic capacitors will certainly need replacements, but this isn’t the only thing the drive will need in terms of maintenance going forward.<\/p>\n
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Beneath the PCB.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
An incredibly bare base is present under the PCB, presenting MKE’s manufacturing sticker. It is quite ironic, given MKE’s major presence in the hard drive market, that they would never end up producing drives under their own branding.<\/p>\n
The connection method from the PCB to the spindle motor is a rather annoying one, which fortunately isn’t the most common format. The other side can be seen below.<\/p>\n
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Yet another point of frustration.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
An old membrane connection point is all that stands between the PCB and the spindle motor’s power lines. Simple contact points have come a long way.<\/p>\n
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Performance metrics.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
A ProDrive delivers reasonable performance of course, fortunately with this drive having no slow nor bad sectors, it’s in great shape.<\/p>\n
However, those familiar with these old Quantum’s are all too aware of the beast lying within. Quantum’s have a particular tendency to have issues with melting rubber bumpers. Having previously dealt with the same issue on an old 40MB Quantum ProDrive 40S, some are easier than others to repair fully. Unfortunately, these particular ProDrive LPS units are much more finnicky, with a rubber bumper being present under the platter. There are a few fixes, involving preventing the actuator arm from making contact with the bumper, but that is yet to be done on this drive. It will be done imminently, but it isn’t the purpose of this post to demonstrate.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, the Quantum ProDrive LPS is a drive once quite common, but now dwindling in number rapidly as these fail alongside their rubber bumpers. A shame indeed, for MKE’s olden days of hard drive production.<\/p>\n
If you missed the video I made on this drive, you can find it here:<\/p>\n