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What's better: ATA/33 w DMA or ATA/66 w/o DMA ?

 
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Michel S.

External


Since: Nov 24, 2005
Posts: 1



(Msg. 1) Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 11:26 am
Post subject: What's better: ATA/33 w DMA or ATA/66 w/o DMA ?
Archived from groups: comp>sys>ibm>pc>hardware>storage (more info?)

Hi !

I'm working on one friend's "old" computer (Compaq Presario 5304),
running Windows 98 se.

It has a Quantum Fireball CR 4.3 Gb hard disk.

On Maxtor site, there's a utility offered for this disk, allowing to
fix a problem with some BIOS (including mine), where the "DMA" box in
the disk properties can't be set properly.

The program allow to change the disk from Ultra ATA/66 to Ultra ATA/33
and back.

Under Ultra ATA/66, the DMA check box can be set, but it will be
uncheck on next reboot. Under Ultra ATA/33, it stays checked.

I didn't noticed significant performance difference between the two
modes, but I didn't made extensive testing.

In theory, which mode is better ?

Thanks.

 >> Stay informed about: What's better: ATA/33 w DMA or ATA/66 w/o DMA ? 
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J. Clarke

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Since: Feb 19, 2005
Posts: 784



(Msg. 2) Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 12:02 pm
Post subject: Re: What's better: ATA/33 w DMA or ATA/66 w/o DMA ? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

Michel S. wrote:

> Hi !
>
> I'm working on one friend's "old" computer (Compaq Presario 5304),
> running Windows 98 se.
>
> It has a Quantum Fireball CR 4.3 Gb hard disk.
>
> On Maxtor site, there's a utility offered for this disk, allowing to
> fix a problem with some BIOS (including mine), where the "DMA" box in
> the disk properties can't be set properly.
>
> The program allow to change the disk from Ultra ATA/66 to Ultra ATA/33
> and back.
>
> Under Ultra ATA/66, the DMA check box can be set, but it will be
> uncheck on next reboot. Under Ultra ATA/33, it stays checked.
>
> I didn't noticed significant performance difference between the two
> modes, but I didn't made extensive testing.
>
> In theory, which mode is better ?

Can your disk at the electromechanical level transfer data faster than 33
MB/sec? If not then 66 is irrelevant. DMA doesn't have a large effect on
disk throughput, what it _does_ affect is CPU utilization--watch that with
and without DMA enabled and I think you'll see a marked difference.
>
> Thanks.

--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

 >> Stay informed about: What's better: ATA/33 w DMA or ATA/66 w/o DMA ? 
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Egil Solberg

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Since: Nov 28, 2003
Posts: 165



(Msg. 3) Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 1:55 pm
Post subject: Re: What's better: ATA/33 w DMA or ATA/66 w/o DMA ? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

Michel S. wrote:
> Hi !
>
> I'm working on one friend's "old" computer (Compaq Presario 5304),
> running Windows 98 se.
>
> It has a Quantum Fireball CR 4.3 Gb hard disk.
>
> On Maxtor site, there's a utility offered for this disk, allowing to
> fix a problem with some BIOS (including mine), where the "DMA" box in
> the disk properties can't be set properly.
>
> The program allow to change the disk from Ultra ATA/66 to Ultra ATA/33
> and back.
>
> Under Ultra ATA/66, the DMA check box can be set, but it will be
> uncheck on next reboot. Under Ultra ATA/33, it stays checked.
>
> I didn't noticed significant performance difference between the two
> modes, but I didn't made extensive testing.
>
> In theory, which mode is better ?

What matters is which transfer mode is really used. If you get PIOmode4 in
the case that the checkbox does not stay checked, it is best to try ATA33
(UDMA2) instead.
The disk's transfer rate is probably so low in any case that you may not
notice it, unless you need your CPU for other stuff. Running PIO4 is
seriously more taxing on the CPU than UDMA2.
Check both scenarios with HdTach.
 >> Stay informed about: What's better: ATA/33 w DMA or ATA/66 w/o DMA ? 
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Folkert Rienstra

External


Since: Nov 10, 2003
Posts: 1906



(Msg. 4) Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 7:55 pm
Post subject: Re: What's better: ATA/33 w DMA or ATA/66 w/o DMA ? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

"Egil Solberg" <egilso.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:4395cace$0$15793$14726298@news.sunsite.dk
> Michel S. wrote:
> > Hi !
> >
> > I'm working on one friend's "old" computer (Compaq Presario 5304),
> > running Windows 98 se.
> >
> > It has a Quantum Fireball CR 4.3 Gb hard disk.
> >
> > On Maxtor site, there's a utility offered for this disk, allowing to
> > fix a problem with some BIOS (including mine), where the "DMA" box in
> > the disk properties can't be set properly.
> >
> > The program allow to change the disk from Ultra ATA/66 to Ultra ATA/33
> > and back.
> >
> > Under Ultra ATA/66, the DMA check box can be set, but it will be
> > uncheck on next reboot. Under Ultra ATA/33, it stays checked.
> >
> > I didn't noticed significant performance difference between the two
> > modes, but I didn't made extensive testing.
> >
> > In theory, which mode is better ?
>
> What matters is which transfer mode is really used. If you get PIOmode4 in
> the case that the checkbox does not stay checked, it is best to try ATA33
> (UDMA2) instead.

> The disk's transfer rate is probably so low in any case

If it is capable of ATA66 then it is able to do at least 16MB/s or more,
30MB/s at most.

> that you may not notice it, unless you need your CPU for other stuff.

Can't follow that. What has that got to do with UDMA2/ATA33?

> Running PIO4 is seriously more taxing on the CPU than UDMA2.

PIO is also much less efficient in using the bus with all the handshaking so
you won't get the same transfer rate as with DMA. (And that's DMA mode 2
not UDMA mode 2). DMA mode 2 is 16MB/s, PIO4 is even less, more like 8-10.

> Check both scenarios with HD Tach.
 >> Stay informed about: What's better: ATA/33 w DMA or ATA/66 w/o DMA ? 
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Folkert Rienstra

External


Since: Nov 10, 2003
Posts: 1906



(Msg. 5) Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 7:55 pm
Post subject: Re: What's better: ATA/33 w DMA or ATA/66 w/o DMA ? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

"J. Clarke" <jclarke.usenet RemoveThis @snet.net.invalid> wrote in message news:dn4hrc054s@news4.newsguy.com
> Michel S. wrote:
>
> > Hi !
> >
> > I'm working on one friend's "old" computer (Compaq Presario 5304),
> > running Windows 98 se.
> >
> > It has a Quantum Fireball CR 4.3 Gb hard disk.
> >
> > On Maxtor site, there's a utility offered for this disk, allowing to
> > fix a problem with some BIOS (including mine), where the "DMA" box in
> > the disk properties can't be set properly.
> >
> > The program allow to change the disk from Ultra ATA/66 to Ultra ATA/33
> > and back.
> >
> > Under Ultra ATA/66, the DMA check box can be set, but it will be
> > uncheck on next reboot. Under Ultra ATA/33, it stays checked.
> >
> > I didn't noticed significant performance difference between the two
> > modes, but I didn't made extensive testing.
> >
> > In theory, which mode is better ?
>
> Can your disk at the electromechanical level transfer data faster than 33
> MB/sec? If not then 66 is irrelevant.

Not with RAID it isn't.

> DMA doesn't have a large effect on disk throughput,

Oh yes, it does.
PIO is limited to 16MB/s and in practice you won't even get close to that.

> what it _does_ affect is CPU utilization -- watch that with
> and without DMA enabled and I think you'll see a marked difference.

> >
> > Thanks.
 >> Stay informed about: What's better: ATA/33 w DMA or ATA/66 w/o DMA ? 
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