ASC-26190N / 19160
NOTE: My Micro Channel urges have pushed me towards returning my HP 6100c ScanJet back into operation. But my main system now is a Dell 7010 MT, PCI-ish based, running under Windows 7 x64.

That "x64 bit" makes using an AHA-2940AU into a bother. The last released Win7 driver was x32, and that is it. There are two ways to get the 2940-AU to function under Win7 x64, but there is another Adaptec SCSI Controller with SE / LVD support...

An interesting ability is the AIC-3860Q transceiver chip, which separates an SE channel off of the main AIC-7892 controller. This means that you DON'T have to force the LVD SCSI channel down into SE compatibility mode...

WARNING! This material is provided "As-Is". This page is a collection of crib notes that I need to satiate MY mysterious needs. What this information and files will do to YOUR system is utterly unknown to me.

The last Adaptec BIOS for the ASC-x9160N SEEMS to be 3.10, what it does is beyond me... Good fortune to us all! [LFO]

AIC-7892 Single-Channel PCI-to-Ultra160 SCSI Single-Chip Host Adapter 
Transition to Adaptec Ultra160 SCSI  

ASC-29160N User's Reference  
ASC-19160 Install Guide 
ASC-19160 User's Reference  

ASC-29160N/19160 Win7 x64 Drivers Yes!
Adaptec SCSI Card 19160, 2915/2930LP, 29160, 29160N, 29160LP, 39160
  NOTE: "Generic" probably refers to the OEM adapters like Micron, Dell, Gateway, Compaq, and Apple [Mac].

ASC-19160 Flash BIOS v3.10  
ASC-29160N Flash BIOS v3.10  

Caution: These BIOS are for ASC-29160N / 19160 retail versions. Using these utilities for OEM adapters [S  for 'Special' version], designed-in controller chips, or other Adaptec adapters may render those adapters unusable.

29160N OEM BIOS Flashing [post]

ASC-29160N  32-bit PCI  



NOTE: See the "19160/29160N" silk-screened on the PCB to the lower left corner of the AIC-7892 controller? My SWAG... they share the same PCB, but the PAL might have different special sauce between the 19160 and the 29160N...

NOTE: A quick way to sort between the 19160/29160 and 39160 SCSI adapters is the size of the PCI connector.

J5 SE - TE and J4 LVD - TE Force Termination 
Forces termination on the segment / channel to be enabled at all times. Useful if:
A. troubleshooting
B. sharing a device between two computers (one computer MUST stay powered off)

The default for all term jumpers is OFF (no jumper installed). This allows the SCSI Select utility to control the termination setting for each segment / channel of the card.

ASC-29160N Block Diagram   Appendix G ADAPTEC 29160N SCSI Host Adapter

 The 29160N is based on the AIC-7892 SCSI controller. Full bus master capable, it supports data transfers up to 266 MB/s [burst mode] on a 66-MHz 32-bit PCI bus. The AIC-7892 is an Ultra160 controller with a 20-MIPS SCSI sequencer. The sequencer uses micro-code that is downloaded from the host during initialization. SE SCSI drivers are built into the controller and a 1-K data FIFO and an internal 4-KB SRAM memory. Ап LED indicates SCSI bus activity.



The AIC-7892 provides a memory interface that is used by the Serial EEPROM and the BIOS ROM. The serial EEPROM stores non-volatile configuration data and the BIOS ROM (which is a flash ROM) contains additional configuration data and SCSI functions. The PAL controls the Serial EEPROM-to-AIC-7892 interface.

The AIC-7892 supports dual-mode LVD SCSI I/O up to Ultra160 data rate of 160 MBs. Both SE and LVD devices can co-exist on the internal Wide SCSI bus, although the bus will default to SE mode. In SE mode, transfer rates are limited to the speed of the slower device. HVD devices are supported up to Ultra speeds.

The AIC-7892 supports CRC codes, an improvement over parity checking.

SCSI Devices on All Connectors 



AIC-3860Q - The AIC-3860 transceiver chip divides the SCSI bus into independent single-ended and LVD segments.





AIC-7892 Single-Channel PCI-to-Ultra160 SCSI Single-Chip Host Adapter.
Careful! The ASC-29160N was OEM'd for many companies. A few are Micron, Dell, Gateway, Compaq, and Apple [Mac]. If this sticker has the name of a non-Adaptec company, you might not be able to use the Adaptec BIOS ver 3.10 [YMMV...].

NOTE: Does the 29160N czech for the PCI ID? Is this ID stored in the lattice PAL? Or is it stored in the Flash?

J2 Activity LED jumper  4 pin connectors Activity - Ground - Ground - Activity



If your LED has only 2 pins, connect it to either the first or second pair of pins. If you don't see activity on your LED when the computer is powered on (a SCSI device helps but is not needed), then try reversing the connector - it may be backwards. If your LED still shows no activity, then you will need to test the LED itself.