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Another setting you’ll want to enable if your computer supports it is
DMA (direct memory access). Normally data takes a path from the hard
drive to the CPU (central processing unit) to the system RAM (and vice
versa). DMA bypasses the CPU, letting the drive and the RAM communicate
more directly and efficiently. Enabling DMA on a drive, including CD-ROM
and DVD-ROM drives, that supports the technology can dramatically reduce
the stuttering and pauses computer users experience while playing games
or working with large, complex files.
I don't know if this will help or not in Win2000, but I get better
performance when "DMA" is set to "on" in Win98. Here are some
references:
I tried doing a search at Langa.com and on Techweb.com but came up empty
handed.
http://www.computing.net/windows2000/wwwboard/forum/13048.html
You enable DMA through the IDE/ATAPI controllers in DEVICE MANAGER.
Took me awhile to find them too. Set everything to DMA if available.
http://www.windows2000faq.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=13833
http://www.a1-electronics.co.uk/Operating_Systems/Win2000.html
As reported in our Hot off the Press pages, Microsoft Windows 2000 is
not any quicker. It is only quicker if you use it with your hard disk
set at DMA mode compared to the more usual setting of PIO mode. See our
Windows 98 tips & tune-up pages for information & details on how to
change to DMA mode. This setting makes any use of the hard disk much
quicker.
Bob Perry
San Jose, CA
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