Mode 4 vs ATA/33 between CD readers

[Maverick]

I've noticed that my Pioneer 16X DVD drive performs very very bad.
My TDK 12/10/32x CDRW performs much better when just reading CDs in explorer.

I also noticed that when I bootup, the table that pops up and gives system information lists two different things about the connection for these devices. It looks like this:

Primary Master: ATA/100 <--this is a hard disk
Primary Slave: ATA/33 <--this is the DVD
Secondary Master: Mode4 <--this is the CDRW
Secondary Slave: ATA/33 <--this is a hard disk

Shouldn't both drives be using ATA/33 or Mode4? Is this the reason there's such a performance and reading difference between the two? The pioneer is loud, gets hot, and just reads sluggishly. Is there a way to make it Mode4 instead of ATA/33? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Noriaki]

Mode4 is programmed I/O mode 4, that uses a fair bit of CPU time when doing I/O operations. You want your DVD ROM in DMA (ATA) mode. DVDs will play horridly if you don't. A DVD ROM is suppose to be in ATA33 mode...I have the 10x Pioneer drive. Sounds like their might be something wrong with your drive...

 

[Maverick]

really?
damn that sucks.

 

[Maverick]

when I enable DMA mode my DVD programs crash when trying to playback
if I don't have it, the DVDs play like crap.

Does this mean my drive is bad?

 

[Fumiup]

Here is how to change your CDRW PIO 4 to ATA33.

On the back of the drive there are 2 pins on the far left looking at it from the back. They might be labeled 'Reserved'. Put a jumper on those pins and your drive is now ATA33.

 

[NuovoTech]

Fumiup - I've read about this in other threads, is this really fact or myth? Does the drive show &quot;ATA33&quot; at post &amp; work any different?

 

[Maverick]

see right now my CDR is Mode 4 and it works fine.
The DVD drive doesn't work when DMA is enabled...it crashes all DVD programs.
Does this mean the drive is bad?

 

[Fumiup]

Yes it works. Without the jumper it boots up showing PIO 4. With the jumper it boots up showing ATA33. As far as the difference I couldn't tell you. I haven't done any tests.

 

[NuovoTech]

Shiva112 - Try setting back your MB to AGP2X &amp; enable DMA. That's if your are
running AGP4X? I had 2 do this B4 my DVD would play movies.

Fumiup - I'll try jumping Plex &amp; run benchmarks...will post results here.