Micropolis Speedier Still

We appreciate the positive points made about the Micropolis 2217AV drive in the review ``Speedy Data Delivery'' (December 1994); however, we challenge the accuracy of your drive throughput results. We refer to the comment that the 2217AV ``did not meet the expectations created by Micropolis.'' Micropolis uses a proven caching technique and stringent performance testing to ensure that our AV drives can deliver the sustained, uninterrupted data flow required in digital audio/video applications. Micropolis stands firmly behind its claim to an uninterrupted sustained data rate of 2.9 MBps for the 2217AV drive. (Our new 4.3-GB Capricorn AV drives provide an even higher guaranteed data rate of 4.0 MBps.) If you revisit your testing methodology, we are certain you will find Micropolis' stated throughput specifications are accurate.

Kumar Sre ekanti
Senior Director of Engineering,
Micropolis Corp.
Chatsworth, CA
kumar_sreekanti@microp.com

As technical editor of that review, I must apologize to Micropolis for a flawed test. First, the throughput test reset the drive, putting it into asynchronous mode (SCSI), thus reducing overall throughput. Second, the test did not adequately mimic audio/video applications in its timing of read requests, which led to pauses in data flow. After reconfiguring the test, I discovered that the 2217AV was capable of significantly higher throughput (average 3.7 MBps sustained) than we first reported. In addition, when read requests are paced at even intervals, the 2217AV delivers an uninterrupted data flow of 2.9 MBps. I also tested Micropolis' 4-GB Capricorn drive and verified that it provides a guaranteed sustained throughput of 4 MBps.

--Dave Rowell