
SYM201F40 Data Sheet
SYM201F40
Ultra2 SCSI Hard Disk Controller
The SYM201F40 is the industry’s first hard disk
drive controller with Ultra2 SCSI support. It
provides industry-leading performance of 80 MB/s
SCSI transfer rate, 140 MB/s burst buffer
bandwidth, and 40 MB/s disk transfer rate. High
data integrity is provided from SCSI through the
buffer to disk. All buffer data, including tables, is
protected by parity, VRC, or CRC.
The SYM201F40 is comprised of a SCSI Protocol
Controller, Host DMA/Multi-Context Engine,
Buffer Manager, Disk Formatter, Data ECC, and
Microprocessor Interface. Each major block is
designed with Symbios Logic’s core methodology
to facilitate integration with other logic, such as
customer ASIC logic, microprocessor, servo/spin
functions, or embedded memory.
The SYM201F40 is available in a 176-pin TQFF
package and supports greater device connectivity
and longer cables with Low Voltage Differential
(LVD). This allows transfers over distances that
once required differential SCSI and the added
expense of external transceivers. Backward
compatibility is supported with Symbios Logic
LVDlink universal I/O transceivers that allow the
device to switch between LVD and single-ended
mode.
SCSI Features
LVDlink integrated transceivers
Supports all combinations of Asynchronous,
Fast, Ultra and Ultra2, both Narrow/Wide
Supports up to 80 MB/s data rate
Supports automatic write and read coalescing,
including non-sequential coalesces
Supports resumable automation after
exceptions
Supports XOR and Initiator functionality
Supports SCAM master/slave, levels 1 and 2
Complete, stacked, and maskable interrupt
status within three accesses
Single interrupt per I/O capable
Complies with SCSI-1, -2, -3 standards
Supports logical block sizes up to 4096 bytes
Host DMA/Multi-Context Engine
Automatically manages 2 on-chip and up to 4
buffer-based contexts
Full firmware control and interrupts available
Separate, linkable host and disk contexts
Buffer Manager
EDO DRAM support up to 4 MB
Buffer Bandwidth up to 140 MB/s (burst)
Configurable clock speeds optimize bandwidth
for all EDO speed grades
Supports VRC/parity protection of buffer tables
32-bit CRC protection with encoded Logical
Sector Address for data integrity check
Disk Formatter
Supports headerless formats using efficient
buffer-based defect/skip, split, and position look-
up tables
Simple servo interface - no custom
requirements
Maintains data integrity in headerless
environment
Supports 8-bit NRZ interface up to 40 MB/s
(320 Mb/s)