Possible to speed up I/O subsystem of 5150? - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

9 Dec 2004

"Eric Smith" wrote:
...
 Steve Thatcher wrote:
  considering that the ATA-1 spec included 8 bit
transfers from the
 harddrive, I don't understand why no IDE drives that supported ATA-1 would
 not work on a PC/XT (unless the DMA speed was the problem). 
I wasn't aware that 8-bit was included in ATA-1; I don't have a copy of
ATA-1 or ATA-2.  Was the 8-bit support mandatory or optional?  In any
case, it was certainly gone by ATA-3.  I very much doubt that any ATA
drive manufactured in the last 15 years has 8-bit support. 
I'm out of my depth here, but I am curious - all of the CF drives I use
support 8 bit access.  I thought they were somehow "ATA compliant".  I
assume you're talking about the interface between the drive and the
controller, right?

sorry if I'm lost - it happens :-)

-brad