its actually from summer of 1994:
Date: August 18, 1994
EIDE2300PLUS Enhanced IDE Disk Controller for the VESA Bus
Promise Technology is pleased to announce the latest addition to our product line: the EIDE2300PLUS disk controller. The EIDE2300PLUS is designed to provide a cost-effective, high performance IDE disk controller to fully comply with and support the latest Enhanced IDE specifications for 32-bit VESA local bus-based PCs. In addition, the EIDE2300PLUS adds high-speed I/O ports (UART 16550), a bi-directional enhanced parallel port (EPP/ECP) and a game port -- making it a universal, single-slot, multi-functional disk controller...a one-of-a-kind IDE controller product.
The EIDE2300PLUS targets mainstream PCs and PC users that require high capacity, faster IDE disk drives and low-cost IDE-based peripheral attachments (such as CD-ROMs), for multimedia and Windows-based applications.
We have compiled the following information in order for you to become fully aware of the major product features, positioning in the market and our competition. Our product launch information covers: market overview, product specifications, product features & benefits, competitive analysis, product positioning and cost vs. performance/features comparisons.
Market Overview
With the increasing variety of multimedia and Windows-based application software and rapidly falling computer hardware prices, PC users are demanding lower-cost, higher performance, higher capacity storage solutions. To answer this ever-growing demand, Western Digital, the creator of IDE technology, introduced the Enhanced IDE specification (EIDE) in 1993. These specifications extend the realm of the IDE interface well beyond what was available previously. EIDE supports higher capacity IDE disk drives exceeding the 528MB barrier, faster data transfer rates (up to 13MB); allows up to 4 IDE devices to be driven by one controller, and includes attachment of low-cost peripherals such as IDE-based CD-ROMs. All this while maintaining traditional "plug 'n play" compatibility -- the mainstay of IDE technology.
EIDE serves as a realistic way to extend the life of the IDE interface and supports the growth of the 32-bit VL bus architecture which we believe will continue to evolve and grow despite the emergence of PCI. EIDE definitely serves the high-volume needs of stand-alone Windows and multimedia users who want flexibility and performance but do not require the additional cost or complexity of the SCSI environment.
The EIDE2300PLUS answers these needs through higher storage capacity support, faster data throughput, and IDE device support. But Promise adds even greater value by adding a full set of faster computer communication ports that support high-speed telecommunication transfers, printer transfers and add-on parallel port devices. With over 25 million VL Bus PCs installed, the potential upgrade market for the EIDE2300PLUS is tremendous.
EIDE2300PLUS Product Specifications
Model EIDE2300PLUS
Drive Type EIDE/IDE
Bus VL (complies w/ VESA 2.0)
Onboard BIOS for EIDE Drive YES
Support
Number Of IDE Devices 4
Supported 2 EIDE + 2 Standard IDE Drives
or
2 EIDE HDD and IDE CD-ROM
(IDE CD-ROM needs manufacturer's
drivers)
Primary And Secondary Support YES
Number Of Floppies 2 (1.2MB, 1.44MB, 2.88MB)
Floppy Tape Support with Yes
1Mb/s Transfer Rate
I/O Supplied 2 high-speed serial (UART 16550), 1
enhanced parallel port, 1 game port
Maximum Data Transfer Rate Up to 16MB/sec
Supported PIO Mode 3&4 w/ I/O Channel Ready,
DMA Mode 1&2
Operating Systems Supported DOS 6.2, Windows 3.1, Windows for
Workgroups 3.11, Windows NT 3.1,
OS/2 2.0, 2.1, Novell 3.11, 3.12,
4.01, SCO UNIX 3.2.4.2, UNIX SVR
4.0.2, Lantastic 6.0
Device driver supports 32-bit I/O,
ATA read-multiple and
write-multiple commands
Product Features & Benefits
The following section highlights features and benefits of the
EIDE2300PLUS.
IDE Device Support
Features Benefits
Supports up to 4 independent IDE Expands peripherals options for
devices simultaneously PCs that are internally "maxed
out".
Supports 2 EIDE disk drives Allows IDE drives to exceed
528MB and supports higher data
transfer rates
Onboard BIOS supports LBA mode. Perfect solution for high
capacity drive support. The
EIDE2300PLUS handles higher
capacity drives without
requiring external software
drivers that can cause
incompatibility problems.
Offers PIO Mode 3&4 with IORDY Allows higher data transfer
and DMA modes 1&2 and Multiple rates up to 16MB/sec for higher
Read/Write Sector performance.
I/O
Features Benefits
Two high-speed serial ports Allows higher telecommunication
(UART 16550) speeds for newer fax/modem
models.
One enhanced parallel port Supports fast data transfers for
(EPP/ECP) higher printing speeds; allows
attachment of high performance
IDE-based parallel port
peripherals.
One game port Saves an extra expansion slot
with built-in I/O set.
Two floppies supported (2.88MB, Does not require separate floppy
1.44MB, 1.2MB) controller while supporting the
highest capacity standard
floppies
Compatibility
Features Benefits
Promise EIDE2300PLUS complies Highest level of hardware
with VESA 2.0 standard compatibility
specifications
Compatible with DOS 6.2, Windows Wider range of software
3.1, Windows for Workgroups compatibility with your IDE
3.11, Windows NT 3.1, devices
OS/2 2.1, Novell 3.11, 3.12,
4.01, SCO UNIX 4.2, UnixWare
1.1, Banyan 5.54, LANtastic 6.0
Competitive Analysis & Product Positioning
The feature-rich, cost-effective EIDE2300PLUS gives our customers the ability to match system requirements and to specifically target their markets. The EIDE2300PLUS goes well beyond the standard by providing higher IDE disk data throughput and larger IDE disk drive capacity support ... the ideal solution for users looking for a cost-effective upgrade solution for their existing VL Bus PC systems. Now these customers really do have a choice if their peripherals and capacity needs go beyond the norm.
The EIDE2300PLUS incorproates the widely-acclaimed Promise proprietary ASIC chip for proven reliability at a lower cost which is passed on to the customer.
With its on-board, auto-recognition BIOS, the EIDE2300PLUS offers an easy path to using the newer, higher capacity drive formats. Other competitors' products either use external drivers or require drive manufacturers to offer drivers. These external software-based drivers can cause various incompatibilities and other inconveniences to the user during or after installation - not to mention increased customer support needs.
Promise provides total customer satisfaction with additional state-of-the-art, value-added features such as our full set of high-speed I/O ports and floppy drive support up to 2.88MB capacity. The full set of high-speed ports not only eliminates the need for additional adapters to connect other communication and printer devices, but it also saves a valuable expansion slot in the user's system. In addition, the parallel port offers bi-directional data flow for printers and/or other external bi-directional devices. Finally, it gives the user the capability of handling ever higher serial and parallel data transmission rates while reducing transmission errors such as CRC Overflow.
The EIDE2300PLUS comes bundled with Promise's proven driver support for all major operating systems such as Windows, Windows NT, OS/2, SCO UNIX, Netware and more -- allowing you an extremely wide operating platform range.
No other major manufacturer offers all these features on a single-slot, low-cost Enhanced IDE controller card.
The following is a comprehensive product comparison chart showing the top four name brand EIDE disk controllers on the market today. The chart compares the major features of these cards that affect users the most.
Name Brand Product Comparison Chart
Features PROMISE Acculogic CMD DTC
EIDE2300PLUS sIDE-4/VL CSA-6210 2278
System Bus VL VL VL VL
Core Test (v2.92) 14.5 9.7 10.1 6.3
(larger is
better)
Max. Data 16 11 ? 8.3
Transfer Rate
Supported
(MB/sec) ***
PIO Mode Support 3&4 3 3 3
# of IDE Devices 4 4 4 2
Supported
On-board BIOS LBA YES NO* NO* NO**
Mode for higher
disk drive
capacity (see
note below)
# of Floppy 2 2 2 2
Drives
2.88MB Floppy YES YES NO NO
Support
High Speed I/O YES YES NO NO
(UART 16550,
EPP/ECP)
O/S
Compatibility: 3 3 3 3
DOS/Windows 3 3 3 3
OS/2 3 3 3 3
Windows NT 3.1 3 3 3 3
NetWare 3.x, 4.x 3 3 3 3
SCO UNIX
Warranty 2 YRS 1 yr 1 yr 1 yr
List Price $69 $138 $49 $49
* Uses external software drivers
** Needs disk drive manufacturer's drivers
*** All tests performed on a 50MHz VL system
w/4MB memory and a Conner CFA1080A drive
Note: Supporting LBA mode with an on-board BIOS does not cause compatibility problems
All trademarks are properties of their respective holders. Specifications subject to change without notice. Operating system and peripheral support quoted are current as of this publication date.