IDE Block Mode and IDE Prefetch

[DasFox]

Is it a good thing to be using IDE Block Mode and IDE Prefetch in the BIOS?

What is the story on these two?

THANKS

 

[Jiggz]

I would say yes! Here's a link for Bios Optimization Bios

 

[DasFox]

Thanks, but nothing there about IDE Prefetch, that was one I heard can be problems in XP.

 

[Bozo Galora]

there are two "prefetches" - WinXP and HDD/chipset/cpu

Win XP Pro can prefetch commonly used files so apps load quicker under C:\windows/prefetch
sometimes it gets too big and chokes system
you can create a reg enry that auto empties the file at an interval
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/23-ways-to-speed-up-windows-xp.html

and yes, link above DOES have IDE hardware prefetch setting explained - directly accessed HDD controller with cpu calls

http://www.rojakpot.com/showFreeBOG.aspx?lang=0&bogno=288

 

[DasFox]

So is the IDE prefetch in the BIOS dealing with the samething? Is it good to turn this off?

THANKS