Technical data

3.3 IDE/ATA/SATA

IDE controllers, the first two channels are scanned for connected drives. HDShredder recog-

nizes available PCI IDE controllers automatically and scans them for connected drives.

Note: If there are one or more PCI IDE controllers available in the system, ISA controllers that

are possibly present, too, will not be taken into account.

Regarding the PCI IDE controllers supported by HDShredder, this refers to a standardized pro-

gramming interface, which is supported by a large majority of IDE controllers. Nevertheless,

there are also others, especially external PCI hard disk controllers, which implement a different,

usually proprietary interface. They are often also called “IDE controllers”, as they allow IDE hard

disks to be connected. Since ‘IDE’ stands for a programming interface (program  controller) as

well as for a hardware interface (controller  drive) it results in a double meaning. Refer to

chapter 3.2.1 Compatibility test to determine whether your PCI controller is compliant with

the PCI IDE standard).

3.3.2 SATA/SATA-II controllers

Precondition for the support of SATA drives is an SATA controller with IDE interface or an SATA

II controller with AHCI interface. All popular chipsets from Intel with ICH-5/-6/-7 incorporate

such an IDE-compatible SATA controller. Regrettably, many other SATA controllers only offer a

proprietary programming interface. Nevertheless, it may be possible in case of onboard SATA

controllers to activate a compatibility mode in BIOS setup, which would allow HDShredder to

access the SATA controller. As for SATA II controllers, many models already implement the

AHCI interface supported by HDShredder.

Tip: With the Free Edition of HDShredder you can easily check out whether your SATA or

SATA-II controller is supported (3.2.1 Compatibility test). Connect at least one SATA drive

and start HDShredder. If the SATA drive is recognized, HDShredder also supports the associ-

ated SATA/SATA-II controller.

Note: It might possibly be necessary to adjust the SATA settings in BIOS. As mode of opera-

tion, “IDE”, “ATA”, “compatible” or “AHCI” should be chosen, but in no case “RAID” or “SATA”.

Additionally it may be necessary to set the controller configuration to combined, especially

for allowing simultaneous use of IDE and SATA hard disks. In this case there are only ports 0/2

or 1/3 available for SATA. Please connect the SATA hard disks accordingly in this case.

3.3.3 Multiword DMA and Ultra-DMA

HDShredder automatically recognizes and uses bus master IDE controllers, which allow data

rates up to 133 MB/sec resp. 7.8 GB/min. Hereby, Multiword DMA (up to 16.7 MB/sec) as well

as Ultra-DMA (UDMA) are supported. This can increase achievable data transmission rates by a

multiple higher of the rates that can be achieved without DMA (in PIO mode). HDShredder re-

cognizes automatically, whether controller and hard disk support DMA and then automatically

selects the fastest usable mode (Multiword DMA or Ultra-DMA 33/66/100/133).

Note: Take into account that both, hard disk and IDE controller have to support a certain

DMA mode. If the actually achieved speed values do not match the technical data of a hard