Mode-less Ata Timings

Tom Hanan (714)932-7472 HANAN_T at a1.wdc.com
Sat Jan 8 00:42:00 PST 1994


The discussion over why we should or should-not continue to extend the 
data transfer performance of ATA via discreet timing modes has come up 
again.

To help those who may not have been present, or remember why we chose this 
methodology, here is a brief refresher.


1)	Mode-less timing definitions promote timing flexibility
	at the cost of inter-operability. If you do not identify a well
	defined set of timing parameters it is almost impossible
	to predict the inter-operability of multiple products with 
	different setup, hold and recovery times within a given system.

	Modes are intended to limit the number of these timing sets (modes)
	to a manageable (Characterizable) number.



2)	Mode-less timing makes it very hard for the retail channel to
	match peripherals and systems of similar performance.

	Today system integrators use Mode 3 to identify drives, IDE
	interface cards, and system BIOS capable of Enhanced IDE
	data transfer rates.

	Mode-less timings would blur that distinction and their faith
	in the flexibility and inter-operability of ATA.



3)	Mode-less timings will not eliminate customized OEM solutions.
	It is hard to imagine that some OEM's would not push peripherals
	past the timing modes that the manufacturer can guarantee to be
	inter-operable across the industry. 

	Pushing the limits in a controlled scenario where the system and 
	peripheral are well defined and characterized is nothing new. The 
	thought of doing this without the proper characterization is 
	however a little scary to the very OEMs who are know best for 
	doing this. They know that state of the art performance requires a 
	greater attention to details than an off the shelf design. 


The bottom line is simple. The concept of standardizing inter-operable 
timing modes has maintained ATA's ease of use at a given performance.
 
Custom configurations are integrated using device specific information 
obtained via a dialog with the peripheral manufacturer and 
characterization testing performed by the integrator. 

There is nothing implicit in the concept of inter-operable timing modes 
which prevents or limits the integration of faster peripherals in well 
designed and characterized systems.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
   _/    _/ _/_/_/  _/_/_/  Western Digital Corporation 
  _/ _/ _/ _/   _/ _/       Tom Hanan 
 _/_/_/_/ _/   _/ _/        Ph.  714 932-7472,  Fax. 714 932-7312 
_/    _/ _/_/_/  _/_/_/     E-Mail hanan_t at a1.WDC.com 
 
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