nfg.forums

Hello,
I am new to the X68000 world, as well as to this forum.
I have received an X68k CZ-500.

Is it possible to add a hard drive to the CZ-500?

Thank you,
Tristano

hi
yes of course, like all of the x68000 series
yours has SCSI interface so it's easy

Hi Mez,
thanks for the reply.

Is it possible to add it internally?

thanks

More specifically,
I have a SCSI2SD v6.
Where is the internal SCSI connector I can connect to the SCSI2SD?

Thanks,
Tristano

not sure the CZ-500 has the internal plug, use the external one, it's more easy to swap SD card by the way

It has one. However, if yours didn't come with a cable you'll need to hunt one down. The board side connector is non-standard. I don't know of any source for these cables either unfortunately.

Also worth noting the external connector is also a bit weird, though it is a standard. (Just not a commonly used one) I don't recall the exact name, but double check before you order.

Any luck with an internal solution? I just received a CZ-500C and have a hard time finding an internal connector. I don't see any IDC50 but there is a small 40 pin connector and cable to the external scsi board. unfortunately my cable is short and doesn't have an extra connection for an internal drive, but there is a mounting plate and power cable for an internal drive. If anyone has a cable / adapter let me know!

I recommend the BlueSCSI, one version hat is suitable for the tower model.
SCSI2SD used to be great, but they are way too expensive now, compared to BlueSCSI.

Quote from: tris72 on November 28, 2020, 12:42:11 AMHi Mez,
thanks for the reply.

Is it possible to add it internally?

thanks

I also wanted to do this, so I made an adapter for it. Wrote up some notes on CZ-500 and SCSI at   
 https://buffis.com/old-hardware/retro-computers/the-x68030-scsi-adventure-part-1/ and  https://buffis.com/old-hardware/retro-computers/the-x68030-scsi-adventure-part-2/

There's links to the KiCad project and gerbers there as well

Quote from: buffi on February 18, 2025, 05:39:45 AM

Quote from: tris72 on November 28, 2020, 12:42:11 AMHi Mez,
thanks for the reply.

Is it possible to add it internally?

thanks

I also wanted to do this, so I made an adapter for it. Wrote up some notes on CZ-500 and SCSI at   
 https://buffis.com/old-hardware/retro-computers/the-x68030-scsi-adventure-part-1/ and  https://buffis.com/old-hardware/retro-computers/the-x68030-scsi-adventure-part-2/

There's links to the KiCad project and gerbers there as well

Awesome, thanks for sharing! If you ever decide to build any extras I'd love to buy one from you. With this internal configuration does the hdd access light work on the front of the 030?

Quote from: incrediblehark on February 18, 2025, 06:24:20 AM

Quote from: buffi on February 18, 2025, 05:39:45 AM

Quote from: tris72 on November 28, 2020, 12:42:11 AMHi Mez,
thanks for the reply.

Is it possible to add it internally?

thanks

I also wanted to do this, so I made an adapter for it. Wrote up some notes on CZ-500 and SCSI at   
 https://buffis.com/old-hardware/retro-computers/the-x68030-scsi-adventure-part-1/ and  https://buffis.com/old-hardware/retro-computers/the-x68030-scsi-adventure-part-2/

There's links to the KiCad project and gerbers there as well

Awesome, thanks for sharing! If you ever decide to build any extras I'd love to buy one from you. With this internal configuration does the hdd access light work on the front of the 030?

Thanks for reminding me to check this, and the answer is... kindof right now, but there's room for improvement.

If you look at the pics of the board, you notice a HDLED pin at the right.

It looks like this one is active-low, but the HDLED output on the Henkan Banchou is active high, so if just connecting them, things work but the light will be OFF when HDD is busy, so opposite of what you want...

Basically, should just add a NOT-gate for this. Nicest would be to just have the option for either on the SCSI-board, so might make a small tweak for that. Alternatively, just doing it separately aint the end of the world either...

I'll probably have some extras later, but might just try and address the HDLED thing on a new iteration first :)

Shitty prototype works for HDLED hookup works I guess :)

Basically theres already a connector, but to hook it up to the SCSI adapter you need a not-gate or a transistor or something to invert the signal. I'll add that to the board.

(https://i.imgur.com/tWvLIMf.jpeg)

Video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/bQdLOgwJfoY

Spun a new board with stuff for the hdd led.
Now plugs directly into Henkan Banchou LED+ pin.

Pic of board: (https://i.imgur.com/jqav8Pj.jpeg)

Video of it running: https://youtube.com/shorts/AI3JJMOaDTI

Will update the github description with some notes about HDD LED hookup, but at least with this SCSI - SD adapter its just hooking up the + pin from the adapter board to LED+ on Henkan Bancho.

Finding information about internal cables for X68030 is very rare, in this link you will find some information (in Japanese).

https://www.katch.ne.jp/~x680x0_mania/030scsicon.html

Although there are many users looking for cables for their SASI/SCSI systems and they don't want to risk making mistakes by trying to produce on their own, there was never a proper sale, especially for the X68030.

In this link you can find an interesting cable to connect an emulation device internally, such as BlueSCSI2 or Henkan Bancho, or whatever you prefer, to your X68030 CZ-500C.

https://buyee.jp/item/jdirectitems/auction/c1189607859?lang=en

In this link you can check the seller when he will make another cable available:
https://buyee.jp/item/search/seller/mWeVcTaZtClPDkHziGt5oA%3D%3D?lang=en

I hope this can be useful to someone.