CDC 94205-51 43MB MFM Hard Drive Half Height Control Data HH Vintage

CDC 94205-51 43MB MFM Hard Drive Half Height Control Data HH Vintage

The CDC 94205-51 is a 43MB half-height 5.25-inch hard disk drive manufactured by Control Data Corporation (CDC) under its Magnetic Peripherals Inc. (MPI) brand. It uses the MFM (Modified Frequency Modulation) interface, the dominant hard drive standard for IBM PC/XT/AT-class personal computers throughout the early-to-mid 1980s. This drive was tested and is in good working condition.

Specifications & What's Included

• Model / MPN: 94205-51
• Manufacturer: Control Data Corporation (CDC) / Magnetic Peripherals Inc.
• Capacity: 43 MB
• Interface: MFM (Modified Frequency Modulation)
• Form Factor: Half Height (HH), 5.25"
• Front bezel: black, with red activity LED indicator
• Controller PCB: green, full-length along bottom edge, MFM and power edge connectors present
• Flag track log label present on top cover with handwritten defect entries
• Includes: drive only — no cables or mounting hardware

Applications

The CDC 94205-series drives were widely used in IBM PC/XT and PC/AT compatible systems during the 1980s, a period when MFM was the standard hard drive interface for desktop computers. MFM drives require a separate MFM/RLL controller card — common examples include the Western Digital WD1003 and WD1006, as well as compatible controllers from DTC, Adaptec, and others. Today these drives are sought after for restoring vintage IBM PC, XT, AT, and compatible systems, as well as for use in retrocomputing projects, CP/M machines, and other period-correct builds that rely on MFM storage. The half-height 5.25-inch form factor fits standard drive bays of the era and mounts with standard 5.25-inch hardware.