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Is hda1 using ultraDMA or PIO?


Posts: 6

How can I find out whether hda1 is using ultraDMA mode or PIO?

I had to force Windows to use ultraDMA transfers on this drive. I just want to make sure that MEPIS is using the fastest possible transfer mode. Thanks and God bless.

hparm is your friend

To find out what settings your drive is using, go into Konsole,
then use su to become root.
then type hdparm -I /dev/hda1
In the info that prints, you'll see a section like this:

Capabilities:
LBA, IORDY(can be disabled)
bytes avail on r/w long: 4 Queue depth: 1
Standby timer values: spec'd by Standard, no device specific minimum
R/W multiple sector transfer: Max = 16 Current = 16
Recommended acoustic management value: 128, current value: 0
DMA: mdma0 mdma1 mdma2 udma0 udma1 udma2 udma3 udma4 *udma5
Cycle time: min=120ns recommended=120ns
PIO: pio0 pio1 pio2 pio3 pio4
Cycle time: no flow control=240ns IORDY flow control=120ns

In the line that shows all the dma modes, the one with the asterisk in front of it is the mode you are currently using.

That worked perfectly!!

I appreciate you help.
Will

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