ADAPTEC ENTERPRISE ULTRA2 WIDE LVD • 80 MB/s Adaptec AHA-2940U2W PCI Ultra2 SCSI Host Adapter
ASSY: 1686906-00 | AIC-7890AB CONTROLLER | BUNDLED W/ AMPHENOL LVD CABLE
Bus Standard Universal 32-Bit PCI Burst Transfer Rate 80 MB/s (Ultra2 Wide) Bus Isolation SpeedFlex™ (LVD & SE) Included Accessory Amphenol Multi-Drop Cable Hardware Architecture & Workstation Utility
The Adaptec AHA-2940U2W is the undisputed gold standard of late-1990s enterprise SCSI host adapters. Powered by the high-performance AIC-7890AB controller ASIC and paired with Adaptec's AIC-3860Q SpeedFlex™ technology, this board brings blisteringly fast 80 MB/s Ultra2 LVD (Low Voltage Differential) throughput to your workstation or retro server while allowing legacy single-ended (SE) drives to run concurrently without slowing down the primary LVD bus.
Featuring an integrated SCSISelect configuration BIOS (Ctrl+A), onboard Dallas multi-mode active termination arrays (DS2118MB / DS21S07A), and a universal 32-bit PCI edge connector (compatible with both 3.3V and 5V PCI slots), this card is the definitive storage controller for retro MS-DOS, Windows 95 / 98 / NT 4.0 / 2000, OS/2, and Linux systems. This package includes a premium bundled Amphenol heavy-duty round-twisted LVD cable with quick-release pull tabs, ensuring reliable, reflection-free data transmission out of the box.
Bench Diagnostics & Quality Verification
- PASS SCSISelect BIOS Initialization: Board POSTs cleanly, accesses ROM setup (Ctrl+A), and successfully scans and enumerates SCSI IDs across all buses.
- PASS Channel & Header Integrity: All internal channels (68-pin Ultra2 LVD/SE, 68-pin Ultra-SE, and 50-pin standard Fast-SCSI) feature pristine, straight pins. External 68-pin VHDCI port verified clean and secure.
- PASS Active Termination Network: Dallas DS2118MB and DS21S07A active termination ICs verified functional under load with clean line balance.
- PASS Bundled LVD Cabling: Bundled Amphenol multi-drop twisted-pair cable tested for 100% pin-to-pin continuity and zero signal attenuation.
Hardware Specifications Manufacturer / Brand Adaptec, Inc. Model / Product Name AHA-2940U2W (Ultra2 Wide SCSI Host Adapter) Part Number / Assembly ASSY: 1686906-00 / Board P/N: 1707900 C Primary Controller ASIC Adaptec AIC-7890AB (PCI Ultra2 SCSI Protocol Chip) Bridge / Transceiver ASIC Adaptec AIC-3860Q (SpeedFlex Technology for SE Isolation) Host Bus Interface Universal 32-Bit PCI (3.3V and 5V Keyed, Plug-and-Play) Max Synchronous Transfer Rate Up to 80 MB/s (Ultra2 Wide LVD, 16-Bit) / 40 MB/s (Ultra Wide SE) Internal Connectors 1x 68-Pin Ultra2 LVD/SE, 1x 68-Pin Ultra-SE, 1x 50-Pin Standard Fast-SCSI External Connector 1x 68-Pin Very High Density Cable Interconnect (VHDCI / 0.8mm) Termination Solution Onboard Automatic Active Multi-Mode Termination (Dallas DS2118MB) Bracket Form Factor Standard Full-Height Steel Bracket with VHDCI Standoffs OS Compatibility MS-DOS, Windows 95/98/ME, Windows NT 3.51/4.0/2000/XP, Novell NetWare, SCO UNIX, Linux Country of Assembly Assembled in Singapore (PCB: Taiwan) Logistical Respect™ Dispatch Protocol
- ESD Shielding: Both the host adapter board and cable assembly are safely enclosed inside dedicated static-dissipative anti-static bags.
- Suspension Cocoon: Wrapped in multiple thick layers of heavy-gauge bubble wrap isolating connectors, ICs, and bracket standoffs from transit shock.
- Crush-Resistant Shell: Suspended securely inside a rigid corrugated shipping box with perimeter shock clearance.
- Builder's Paper Overwrap: Entire shipping carton is tightly wrapped in heavy-duty builder's kraft paper for an additional layer of moisture and abrasion resistance.
- Fast Carrier Induction: Dispatched promptly with full commercial tracking uploaded immediately upon drop-off.
Package Contents
- 1x Adaptec AHA-2940U2W PCI Ultra2 Wide SCSI Host Adapter Card
- 1x Heavy-Duty Amphenol Internal Multi-Drop 68-Pin LVD SCSI Cable w/ Pull Tabs
- 1x Personalized handwritten thank-you note from fellow retro tech enthusiasts
Plug-and-play operation: Embedded SCSISelect utility in flash ROM allows complete SCSI ID mapping and device parity configuration without host software.
