Chapter 4: AMI BIOS
4-7Block (Multi-Sector Transfer)
Block mode boosts IDE drive performance by increasing the amount of
data transferred. Only 512 bytes of data can be transferred per interrupt
if block mode is not used. Block mode allows transfers of up to 64 KB
per interrupt. Select "Disabled" to allow the data to be transferred from
and to the device one sector at a time. Select "Auto" to allows the data
transfer from and to the device occur multiple sectors at a time if the
device supports it. The options are Auto and Disabled.
PIO Mode
IDE PIO (Programmable I/O) mode programs timing cycles between the IDE
drive and the programmable IDE controller. As the PIO mode increases,
the cycle time decreases. The options are Auto, 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4. Select
Auto to allow AMI BIOS to auto detect the PIO mode. Use this value if the
IDE disk drive support cannot be determined. Select 0 to allow AMI BIOS
to use PIO mode 0. It has a data transfer rate of 3.3 MBs. Select 1 to
allow AMI BIOS to use PIO mode 1. It has a data transfer rate of 5.2 MBs.
Select 2 to allow AMI BIOS to use PIO mode 2. It has a data transfer rate
of 8.3 MBs. Select 3 to allow AMI BIOS to use PIO mode 3. It has a data
transfer rate of 11.1 MBs. Select 4 to allow AMI BIOS to use PIO mode 4.
It has a data transfer rate of 16.6 MBs. This setting generally works with
all hard disk drives manufactured after 1999. For other disk drives, such
as IDE CD-ROM drives, check the specifications of the drive.
S.M.A.R.T. For Hard disk drives
Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology (SMART) can help
predict impending drive failures. Select "Auto" to allow BIOS to auto
detect hard disk drive support. Select "Disabled" to prevent AMI BIOS
from using the S.M.A.R.T. Select "Enabled" to allow AMI BIOS to use the
S.M.A.R.T. to support hard drive disk. The options are Disabled, Enabled,
and Auto.