what are DMA MODE 1/2/3/4/5 and PIO MODE 1/2/3/4..

[invincible]

I was searching and don't know what are DMA MODE, how do you set them??

http://wdc.com/products/products.asp?DriveID=8

Mode 5 Ultra ATA 100.0 MB/s
Mode 4 Ultra ATA 66.6 MB/s
Mode 2 Ultra ATA 33.3 MB/s
Mode 4 PIO 16.6 MB/s
Mode 2 multi-word DMA 16.6 MB/s


And I see my Plextor cdwriter, it required to be set to PIO Mode 4 or DMA Mode 2.

I'm confusing all these.

[AllGamer]

yes my Plextor set on Auto, will automaically show ATA-33, or DMA mode2

[invincible]

i checked in my device manager under IDE ata/atap controllers

i got
---Primary IDE---
device 0 - Ultra DMA Mode 2 (40GB Western Digital HDD)
device 1 - Multi-Word Ultra DMA Mode 2 (DVD 4x)
---Secondary IDE---
device 0 - Ultra DMA Mode 2 (Plextor 40x12x40 CD writer)
device 0 - Ultra DMA Mode 2 (12GB HDD)


so since the mode 5 is 100MB/s which is fast, how do i change from mode 2 to 5 for my 40GB??

[Psycho Logical]

Once a drive is correctly installed and detected by the system, and DMA is enabled (if not the default) in Properties, there is nothing you can do to change from one DMA mode/speed to another. The drive should always run at the maximum speed it is physically capable of, which is determined by its electronics.

If the drive was manufactured when DMA-2 was the highest available, you can't make it run at DMA-5 by just changing a software setting.

You might be able to do so by flashing the drive, if that upgrade option is available from the manufacturer.

EDIT -- Of course, the drive must also be connected to an IDE port that supports the DMA speed required. If you connect a DMA-5 drive to a DMA-2 controller, or vice versa, the drive will only run at the lower of the two speeds.

[invincible]

i see... so my 40 hdd is Ultra ATA 100 and it runs at 33MB/s since its under the Mode 2?? that sucks.

what is DMA Controller?? is it IDE cable?? should i buy new one to be able to change to 100Mb/s speed? or tell me how to improve it. thanks

[mcjamesk]

set it to auto, then it'll run what it is made to run at. You'll experience difficulties if you run it faster than it's supposed too hard drives are not fast, you get your speed or most of it from memory

[AllGamer]

Originally posted by invincible
i see... so my 40 hdd is Ultra ATA 100 and it runs at 33MB/s since its under the Mode 2?? that sucks.

what is DMA Controller?? is it IDE cable?? should i buy new one to be able to change to 100Mb/s speed? or tell me how to improve it. thanks

We've been talking DMA amd PIO for a while, but how about your Mobo??

what model and brand is that?

maybe that's the key.

also the Cables, if you are not usig ATA-100 that can also downgrade your HDD to DMA instead of ATA-100 as it was suppose to run.

so lets take a look :t

[invincible]

umm my computer is HP Pavillion 8496. it's 500MHz. I dunno what motherboard i have. I didn't built it, it came from the desktop HP. I also replaced new video card, hdd, cdwriter, & sound card.
man my computer is old but still working GREAT ;) I dunno how to find out if my IDE cable is ATA 100. I guess i'll buy new one and try them on.