DMA can transfer data to and from devices more quickly

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DMA can transfer data to and from devices more quickly

Posted	Message
ireland Inactive 3 Feb 2003 12:58 PM	dma is a technique to transfferring data from main memory to a device such as a cd/dvd writer or hard drive without passing the data through the central processing unit (cpu).While the data transfer takes place via the dma controller and dma process,the cpu is available for other functions.Computer with dma channels can transfer data to and from devices more quickly then computers without dma channels.
ireland Inactive 3 Feb 2003 1:19 PM	ENABLE DMA,WINDOWS 2000/XP click start,settings and control panel.double click the system icon,click the hardware tab,and then click device manager.double click the ATA/ATAPI controllers icon.double click the controller to whicn the cd dvd writer is attached usually the secondary ide channel...select the advanced settings tab.NEXT TO TRANSFER MODE,SELECT DMA,IF AVAILABLE FROM THE DROP-DOWN MENUE.. note- i hope this helps all with there copy speeds.
Whisperer Senior Member 3 Feb 2003 2:05 PM	Years in the future, we may have dvd writers that require a data transfer rate which is faster that PIO provides us with but not now. I suggest keeping your writer data transfer mode set at PIO for surer and more PLAYER COMPATIBLE backups. The primary bottleneck in copying speed has always been the writer(s) speed capability. DMA won't increase write speeds with any writer available for purchase at present. Even Mag66 has suggested, in past threads, that DMA mode on the writer IDE channel might be causing some of the compatibility probs with certain players. I think he said something like 'faster... does not always equate with reliable'. <That wasn't exactly what I was refering to... What I said was.. speed of burn can effect compatibility with certain DVD players.. for example, some players do not like DVD-R's burned at anything other than 1X.... Most Computers seem to be able to burn more reliably at 2X or 4X if they are set to DMA but that is not always the case.. (See below) However, and this is where my comment on speed comes in.. Its not always the best thing to burn at fast speeds.. Personally I burn almost everything at 2X (But only when using Ritec G03's + A04 + V1.31 firmware which is stunningly reliable IMOE at least) even though I have access to 4X DVD Burners.. but for almost any other brand of DVD-R I burn at 1X.. as this results in the most compatible result for every DVD Player> <Now, as far as PIO/DMA is concerned.. normally one would want to run everything in DMA mode simply because in theory, DMA mode works smoother and more efficiently..but some computer configs work better with PIO.. Its a case of try out both and see what works best but if you are having no issues with whatever mode you are in now.. then don't change it..! > <Hope that clears up any misunderstanding...> <Cheers.. Mag> But DO set your HDDs and Ripper at DMA mode because these will work faster than in PIO mode. Best regards This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 16 Feb 03 1:39 PM
ireland Inactive 3 Feb 2003 2:34 PM	Whisperer,I DO NOT AGREE WITH YOU AT ALL,i tried both pio and dma,with dvdxcopy.reads speeds are faster with dma. to prove my point a simple test if you have roxio,the program has a read test for all drives. try it with pio then dma,you will see that dma is faster.if you read my orignal post data does not pass through the cpu.roxio use to say do not use dma.now thay say use it if it works better.i have 5 computers with windows 98,2000 and xp all have dma enabled,i get better read speeds with dma enabled.also hp agrees that there writers should be used with dma enabled.i have 3 hp writers 2-200 and 300.i have been getting good and faster copy times with dma.
ireland Inactive 3 Feb 2003 2:50 PM	last line should say good READ times not copy times with dma,(SORRY) i will not have any further say on this subject........JUST TRYING TO HELP...(dmd will not increase burn speed just read speed)
Whisperer Senior Member 3 Feb 2003 3:10 PM	We DO agree on read speeds, you just misread my post. DMA DOES increase rip speeds. On the write speed; maybe HP has optimized their on board bios/buffer system (some kind of tweak) to work better with DMA and I can't speak to that point cause I went with Pioneer. Or maybe you are using the HP for ripping AND burning in which case DMA would give you a faster overall copy-completion time. But the kb/sec transfer rate of any writer just can't exceed what what PIO mode transfers data at. So to sum up: if your hp is working better with DMA it is not because of the faster DMA transfer rate, it's because of something else. And if it works well, stick with it. My opinion is theoretical and yours is real world. You obviously know what you are doing and there are factors which are making it work better for you. It's just that there are so many player compatibility issues and some of those issues were resolved for other DXC users with mag66's suggestion. Gotta go do some day-off chores but I'll check for posts on this thread later. I must say I'm having a blast backing up my collection and being part of this forum. Best regards
Whisperer Senior Member 3 Feb 2003 3:13 PM	ya...and I'm so busy getting my grammar correct and typing rate that you posted between my post. Sorry.
ireland Inactive 4 Feb 2003 12:56 PM	Whisperer,i did a read test on my 2000 pro computer between dma and pio. read test C-DRIVE PIO=8X1331 SMALL FILES PIO=19X2946 LARGE FILES READ TEST C-DRIVE DMA=23X3453 SMALL FILES DMA=212X31871 LARGE FILES (((A very big differnce))) also i did this other test with dvdxcopy useing pio dvdxcopy to copy disk 1hr 30min useing dma dvdxcopy to copy disk 19 min. also i did the same above tests on my xp computer.(the results were the same)
ireland Inactive 4 Feb 2003 1:30 PM	i got got to name the computers. #1=hp-vl420 2000 pro sp-3 2.4gh hp writer 200i #2=microtel sysmar540 pc 2.4gh xp/ hp writer 300 #2=a wal-mart special $599.00 no operating system,installed xp.this computer is as good as i use it more then No#1.i am getting ready to remove xp and install win 2000 on it.(((xp is crazy.......
Whisperer Senior Member 4 Feb 2003 7:51 PM	busy, busy, busy. I just wanna watch movies man!
ireland Inactive 16 Feb 2003 12:23 PM	I just found out the other day,to those who has windows 98se with a processor p4,2.4gh,windows 98se does not support intel (r)pentium (r)4 cpu 2.4.Is there a program out there to install to bring windows 98se up to date? windows 2000,me and xp supports p4.
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