Setting DMA on?

[Terry Pinnell]

On my new 200GB HD, according to this extract (from Nero Disc Info),
it does not have DMA switched on, unlike my other two 60GB Maxtor HDs.
How do I achieve that please? I assume enabling DMA is desirable for
maximum speed?

Come to that, so far I can't find where the setting is in WinXP for my
two older drives, which do have DMA enabled.


=== Scsi-Device-Map ===
DiskPeripheral MAXTOR 6L060J3 atapi Port 0 ID 0 DMA: On
DiskPeripheral MAXTOR 6L060J3 atapi Port 0 ID 1 DMA: On
CdRomPeripheral DVDRW IDE 16X atapi Port 1 ID 0 DMA: On
CdRomPeripheral TEAC CD-W524E atapi Port 1 ID 1 DMA: On
DiskPeripheral Maxtor 6L200P0 BAH4 HPT302 Port 2 ID 0 DMA: Off
OtherPeripheral HPT RCM DEVICE HPT302 Port 2 ID 0 DMA: Off

The HD is a Maxtor, here:
http://www.misco.co.uk/productinfor...or 200GB 7200RPM Internal Hard Disk Drive.htm
and the PCI card (Highpoint Rocket 133) I fitted in order to add the
drive is here:
http://www.highpoint-tech.com/USA/r133.htm

 

[Rod Speed]

On my new 200GB HD, according to this extract (from Nero Disc Info),
it does not have DMA switched on, unlike my other two 60GB Maxtor HDs.
How do I achieve that please?

I assume enabling DMA is desirable for maximum speed?

Yes. Or more strictly minimum impact on other processes.

Come to that, so far I can't find where the setting is in WinXP
for my two older drives, which do have DMA enabled.

That varys with what you have done drivers wise.

=== Scsi-Device-Map ===
DiskPeripheral MAXTOR 6L060J3 atapi Port 0 ID 0 DMA: On
DiskPeripheral MAXTOR 6L060J3 atapi Port 0 ID 1 DMA: On
CdRomPeripheral DVDRW IDE 16X atapi Port 1 ID 0 DMA: On
CdRomPeripheral TEAC CD-W524E atapi Port 1 ID 1 DMA: On
DiskPeripheral Maxtor 6L200P0 BAH4 HPT302 Port 2 ID 0 DMA: Off
OtherPeripheral HPT RCM DEVICE HPT302 Port 2 ID 0 DMA: Off

I'd try other utes that list that stuff, in case
Nero is getting confused about that controller.

What does the HighPoint bios say about DMA ?

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Yes. Or more strictly minimum impact on other processes.


That varys with what you have done drivers wise.


I'd try other utes that list that stuff, in case
Nero is getting confused about that controller.

What does the HighPoint bios say about DMA ?

Went to the BIOS screen with Ctrl+H. It just says Mode = 'ATA/133'. No
mention of DMA.

I had this reply earlier from Highpoint:
"The card automatically enables DMA - there is no reason why this
would be turned off (unless the card feels a disk cannot handle this
mode).It's hard to say what Nero is looking at to determine this
setting."

What do you reckon. Does that 'ATA/133' imply the card has *not*
automatically enabled DMA?

 

[Peter]

On my new 200GB HD, according to this extract (from Nero Disc Info),

Went to the BIOS screen with Ctrl+H. It just says Mode = 'ATA/133'. No
mention of DMA.

I had this reply earlier from Highpoint:
"The card automatically enables DMA - there is no reason why this
would be turned off (unless the card feels a disk cannot handle this
mode).It's hard to say what Nero is looking at to determine this
setting."

What do you reckon. Does that 'ATA/133' imply the card has *not*
automatically enabled DMA?

Which Nero Disk Info did you use (version)?

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Which Nero Disk Info did you use (version)?

It's part of the package. The Product Summary I can display says:
Installed version
NeroVision Express 2 2.1.2.16
Nero OEM 6.6.0.13
InCD 4.2.15.0
Nero Media Player 1.4.0.22

As Nero Disk Info is part of Nero Express, which I understand is the
equivalent of Nero OEM, I suppose the answer is therefore 6.6.0.13.

 

[Peter]

Which Nero Disk Info did you use (version)?

It's part of the package. The Product Summary I can display says:
Installed version
NeroVision Express 2 2.1.2.16
Nero OEM 6.6.0.13
InCD 4.2.15.0
Nero Media Player 1.4.0.22

As Nero Disk Info is part of Nero Express, which I understand is the
equivalent of Nero OEM, I suppose the answer is therefore 6.6.0.13.

Try if Nero Info Tool gives the same results:
http://www.cdspeed2000.com/files/NeroInfoTool_301.zip

 

[Rod Speed]

Went to the BIOS screen with Ctrl+H. It just says Mode = 'ATA/133'. No
mention of DMA.

I had this reply earlier from Highpoint:
"The card automatically enables DMA - there is no reason why this
would be turned off (unless the card feels a disk cannot handle this
mode).It's hard to say what Nero is looking at to determine this setting."

What do you reckon.

They're right. You should be able to check if DMA
is enabled by copying a decent sized file to that
drive and check the cpu usage in the Task Manager.

Does that 'ATA/133' imply the card has *not* automatically enabled DMA?

Nope, that says nothing about DMA.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

They're right. You should be able to check if DMA
is enabled by copying a decent sized file to that
drive and check the cpu usage in the Task Manager.

OK, thanks - but what would I be looking for?

Nope, that says nothing about DMA.

Since had a further email:
"ATA133 is also known as UDMA133 (Ultra DMA).
DMA is enabled by default (in fact, it cannot easily be turned off)."

So I'm ready to relax and assume the HD is DMA-enabled...

 

[Rod Speed]

OK, thanks - but what would I be looking for?

The cpu usage in the task manager. Do it with one of the
drives that Nero claims has DMA enabled, do it with one
of the drive that Nero claims has DMA disabled, see if
there is any difference in the cpu usage in the task manager.
It will stand out like dogs balls if DMA is disabled.

Since had a further email:
"ATA133 is also known as UDMA133 (Ultra DMA).
DMA is enabled by default (in fact, it cannot easily be turned off)."

So I'm ready to relax and assume the HD is DMA-enabled...

And that test using the task manager will prove it.

 

[old jon]

They're right. You should be able to check if DMA
is enabled by copying a decent sized file to that
drive and check the cpu usage in the Task Manager.


Nope, that says nothing about DMA.

Hi T.Check this out for MS help
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/storage/IDE-DMA.mspx
bw..OJ

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Hi T.Check this out for MS help
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/storage/IDE-DMA.mspx
bw..OJ

Thanks. Looks like I'm OK.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

The cpu usage in the task manager. Do it with one of the
drives that Nero claims has DMA enabled, do it with one
of the drive that Nero claims has DMA disabled, see if
there is any difference in the cpu usage in the task manager.
It will stand out like dogs balls if DMA is disabled.

Not sure this is what you meant, but I copied a group of 3 MPG files
totaling 100MB to same folder on J: (the 200GB drive in question).
That took CPU up from around 14% (where it had been fairly steady,
running a variety of stuff) to about 31%. I got similar result by
copying same files from J: to a folder XYZ on D: (one of my 60GB
drives). Then I copied the 100MB from XYZ to same folder, and again
got about the same increase for a few seconds.

That seems to confirm J: is running OK, presumably on DMA. Do you
agree?

 

[Rod Speed]

Not sure this is what you meant,

Yes it is.

but I copied a group of 3 MPG files totaling 100MB to same
folder on J: (the 200GB drive in question). That took CPU up
from around 14% (where it had been fairly steady, running a
variety of stuff) to about 31%. I got similar result by copying
same files from J: to a folder XYZ on D: (one of my 60GB
drives). Then I copied the 100MB from XYZ to same folder,
and again got about the same increase for a few seconds.

That seems to confirm J: is running OK,
presumably on DMA. Do you agree?

Yes. Nero is clearly getting confused about
DMA with the drives on the addon controller.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Yes it is.



Yes. Nero is clearly getting confused about
DMA with the drives on the addon controller.

OK, great. Thanks for your help on this.

 

[MotoCrazy]

I suddenly started having this problem where it would take like 4
minutes to burn a DVD from my secondary HD. Turns out, ANY time
was accessing my secondary drive (120GB Maxtor) my computer would us
100% CPU. I also saw in Nero that DMA is disabled. I found thi
thread and didn't really find any help, but found some info on MS'
KB I thought I would point out. I THINK this all started when
paused and never resumed a defrag of the drive, or maybe just
coincidence. You can try to re-enable it in the device manager, o
if that doesn't work, this page says the only way to re-enable DMA o
a drive that windows disabled is to physically remove and reinstal
the drive. When windows recognizes the drive, it automaticall
enables DMA

I'm gonna give it a shot on mine right now

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/storage/IDE-DMA.msp

 

[MotoCrazy]

EDIT
Sorry, double-post monster strikes again

 

[MotoCrazy]

THANK GOD!!!! That fixed it. Click the link in my last post, an
scroll to the bottom of the page. There are a few registry entrie
to delete and a couple to add. Rebooted, and both drives are readin
as UDMA5 now. Gotta love Micro$oft. :\

Maybe this is related to Nero? Maybe related to DVD-R drives? Wh
knows, but my problem's solved. :

 

[Folkert Rienstra]

I suddenly started having this problem where it would take like 45
minutes to burn a DVD from my secondary HD. Turns out, ANY time I
was accessing my secondary drive (120GB Maxtor) my computer would use
100% CPU. I also saw in Nero that DMA is disabled.

I found this thread and didn't really find any help,

Yeah, that link supplied by 'old jon' was particularly unhelpful, wasn't it.

but found some info on MS's KB I thought I would point out.
I THINK this all started when I paused and never resumed a defrag of
the drive, or maybe just a coincidence. You can try to re-enable it in the
device manager, or if that doesn't work, this page says the only way to re-
enable DMA on a drive that windows disabled is to physically remove and
reinstall the drive. When windows recognizes the drive, it automatically
enables DMA.

I'm gonna give it a shot on mine right now.

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/storage/IDE-DMA.mspx

Gosh, you found that all by yourself, did ya?