DMA transfers data directly from the drive to memory without involving the CPU. PIO involves the CPU and is slower than DMA mode.
DMA transfer mode
The direct memory access or DMA mode of data transfer is the fastest amongst all the modes of data transfer.In this mode ,the device may transfer data directly to/from memory without any interference from the CPU.The device requests the CPU through a DMA controller to hold its data,address and control bus so that the device may transfer data directly to/from memory.
DMA
DMA (direct memory access) transfer mode or PIO (programmed input/output) transfer mode
ECP is faster (because it uses a DMA channel).
Ultra Direct Memory Access (UDMA) is just an advanced, updated version of Direct Memory Access. It introduced features such as double transition clocking (similar to DDR used with memory) and CRC checks. DMA offered speeds up to 16.7 MB/s whereas UDMA offered speeds up to 133 MB/s per channel (UDMA Mode 6).
The normal operation to move data in a computer system is via the processor but many bulk transfer devices use "direct memory access" or "DMA". The transfer process uses data buses to move data from one peripheral to another without loading the data into the processor. Not only is this a faster way to move large amounts of data it also frees the processor to carry out other tasks. DMA is generally performed under the supervision of the processor even though the processor is not directly involved in the operation.
The DMA controller can be used to steal memory cycles from the processor. Hence this interweaing technique is called cycle stealing The DMA Controller may be Given exclusive access main memory to transfer the block of data without interruption this is known as block or burst mode
DMA is faster it has 7 modes when PIO only goes up 4 modes
PIO
PIO
DMA (Direct Memory Access) is a better transfer mode than PIO (Programmed Input/Output) for PATA drives because it allows data to be transferred directly between the drive and memory without involving the CPU for each byte. This reduces CPU overhead and frees up processing power for other tasks, leading to improved system performance. Additionally, DMA can achieve higher data transfer rates compared to PIO, which is limited by the CPU's ability to manage data transfer. Overall, DMA enhances efficiency and speed in data handling for PATA drives.