Adaptec AHA-1510B 16-Bit ISA Fast SCSI-2 Host Adapter💾 Add SCSI to a Classic ISA Computer
Offered here is an authentic Adaptec AHA-1510B ISA-to-Fast SCSI-2 host adapter, manufactured in Singapore during the mid-1990s.
This card was designed to add both internal and external SCSI connectivity to an IBM-compatible computer equipped with a conventional 16-bit ISA expansion slot. It is appropriate for a period-correct 386, 486, Pentium or similar vintage PC restoration.
The AHA-1510B can connect a wide variety of classic SCSI peripherals, including CD-ROM drives, tape drives, scanners, removable-media drives, external enclosures and hard drives.
🔎 Exactly Which Model Is This?
The circuit board carries the shared family marking:
AHA-1510/20/22B
However, the factory identification label on the controller clearly identifies this card as:
AHA-1510B
It should therefore be identified and configured as an AHA-1510B—not as an AHA-1520B or AHA-1522B.
The circuit board was designed for several related Adaptec models. Consequently, some component positions are intentionally unpopulated on the AHA-1510B. This is the correct factory configuration and does not indicate that components have been removed.
🧠 Important Model Distinction
The AHA-1510B does not contain a SCSI boot BIOS.
This means that a computer cannot boot directly from a SCSI hard drive connected through this adapter. A conventional IDE or other boot device starts the computer, after which the appropriate operating-system driver provides access to devices attached to the SCSI card.
That made the AHA-1510B particularly useful for adding non-boot storage and peripheral devices without paying for capabilities the computer did not require.
🔌 Connections and Features
- 16-bit ISA host interface
- Fast SCSI-2 narrow, single-ended operation
- Maximum synchronous SCSI transfer rate of 10 MB/s
- Supports as many as seven SCSI devices
- Internal 50-pin ribbon-cable connector
- External 50-pin high-density SCSI connector
- Internal activity-LED header
- Four-position configuration switch block
- Selectable I/O address ranges of 340h–35Fh or 140h–15Fh
- Synchronous and asynchronous data transfer
- Disconnect/reconnect support
- Configurable active SCSI termination
- Plug and Play and SCAM support
- Adaptec ASPI and period operating-system driver support
- No RAID functionality
- No SCSI boot BIOS
📀 Appropriate Uses
This adapter is suitable for connecting period-compatible devices such as:
- Internal SCSI CD-ROM or CD-R drives
- External SCSI CD-ROM drives
- Tape backup drives
- Flatbed scanners
- Iomega Zip or Jaz drives
- Magneto-optical drives
- Removable cartridge drives
- External narrow-SCSI enclosures
- Non-boot SCSI hard drives
- Vintage hardware demonstrations and collections
As with any traditional SCSI installation, each device on the chain requires a unique SCSI ID and the two physical ends of the bus must be terminated appropriately.
🔧 Identification and Technical Details
- Manufacturer: Adaptec
- Model: AHA-1510B
- Adapter Family: AHA-1510B / AHA-1520B / AHA-1522B
- Interface: 16-bit ISA
- SCSI Type: Fast SCSI-2, narrow single-ended
- Internal Connector: 50-pin IDC
- External Connector: 50-pin high-density SCSI
- Maximum Connected Devices: Seven
- Controller Label: 9720B-01 A
- Manufacturing Code: 9646
- Assembly Number: 967706-02
- PCB Fabrication Number: 967707-00 Rev. A
- FCC ID: FGT1522B
- Serial/Barcode: BD0A84613ZK
- Country of Manufacture: Singapore
- Approximate Manufacturing Period: 1996
📋 What Is Included
- Adaptec AHA-1510B ISA SCSI host adapter
- Original full-height metal mounting bracket
- Installed configuration switch block
- All permanently installed components shown in the photographs
The exact card photographed is the card being offered.
🚫 What Is Not Included
- Internal SCSI ribbon cable
- External SCSI cable
- External terminating plug
- SCSI peripherals
- Driver disks or software
- Printed documentation
- Computer or operating system
- Original retail packaging
- Any accessories not shown in the photographs
✨ Physical Condition
The circuit board appears clean and complete, with its internal connector, external connector, switch block, LED header and visible components present.
The metal mounting bracket and external connector have normal discoloration, oxidation and handling wear consistent with the card’s age. The ISA edge contacts show ordinary installation marks.
Please examine all photographs carefully. They show the exact adapter being offered and form an important part of the condition description.
📦 Shipping and Packaging
The adapter will be enclosed in anti-static protective material, supported against bending and packed inside a sturdy shipping carton. Particular care will be taken to protect the circuit board, ISA edge connector, internal header and external SCSI connector.
Free shipping with tracking is included.
Everything we sell comes from a smoke-free, pet-free environment.
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❓ Have Questions?
If you have questions about visible markings, included contents, connector dimensions or photographed components, please contact us before purchasing. We are happy to clarify anything that can be determined from the card and its markings.
