What are the main features of EIDE and Fast-ATA?
The fast transfer modes (PIO modes 1-4 and DMA mode 0-2) are the cornerstone of Fast-ATA and EIDE. Both Fast-ATA and EIDE are marketing terms contrived by three different disk drive manufacturers. Fast-ATA is a term coined by Seagate, and endorsed by Seagate and Quantum; EIDE is coined and endorsed by Western Digital. EIDE supports these fast transfer modes, along with: • LBA mode (explained in the Tech section) • Four devices on the ATA controller (secondary port) • Translation: larger than 1024 cylinder limit (WD EBIOS) • Tape Backup and CD ROM devices on the ATA controller (ATAPI) Fast-ATA and Fast-ATA-2 also support these modes, along with: • Multiple Read/Write commands • LBA mode The difference between the two schemes is mainly in the scope of EIDE. This specification encompasses many facets of drive/device technology which haven’t been fully ironed out yet. With EIDE, many things can be called Enhanced, and in practice hardware is tagged EIDE even if it doesn’t support all of EI
