Entering Drive Parameters

Chapter 3

BIOS Configuration

Fast Programmed I/O Modes: Programmed Input/Output is a method of transmitting data between devices that uses the system’s CPU as part of the data path. There are 6 modes - 5 with their own transmission speed and 1 auto mode. To use modes 3 and 4, you must be using an Enhanced IDE drive.

	PIO Mode	Data Transfer
	PIO Mode	Rate (MBps)
		Rate (MBps)

Auto

03.3

15.2

28.3

311.1

416.6

32bit Transfer Mode: If On, allows for the transmission of 32 bits in parallel (i.e. at the same time). If Off, only 16 bits will be transmitted in parallel.

If you select User for the drive Type, you can enter the hard disk drive parameters yourself. The drive parameters are as follows:

	Parameter	Description

	Type	The number for a drive with certain identification parameters (see the next
	Type	page for a table of drive types).
		page for a table of drive types).

	Cylinders (Cyl)	The number of cylinders in the disk drive.

	Heads (Hd)	The number of heads.

		The actual physical size of a sector gets progressively smaller as the track
		diameter diminishes. Yet, each sector must still hold 512 bytes. Write
	Write Precompensation	precompensation circuitry on the hard disk compensates for the physical
	(WP)	difference in sector size by boosting the write current for sectors on inner
		tracks. This parameter is the track number on the disk surface where write
		precompensation begins.

		The number of sectors per track. MFM drives have 17 sectors per track.
	Sectors (Sec)	RLL drives have 26 sectors per track. ESDI drives have 34 sectors per
		track. SCSI and IDE drives have even more sectors per track.

		The formatted capacity of the drive is the number of heads times the
	Size	number of cylinders times the number of sectors per track times 512 (bytes
		per sector).


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Tyan S1857, Trinity 371 Motherboard specifications

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Chapter 3

Entering Drive Parameters

Parameter

Description

The number of heads.

precompensation begins.

track. SCSI and IDE drives have even more sectors per track.

Tyan S1857, Trinity 371 Motherboard specifications