What Is This Tool?
This converter helps translate data transfer speeds from IDE (UDMA mode 1), a vintage transfer mode for Parallel ATA devices, into gigabytes per second (SI definition), a contemporary data throughput metric using decimal prefixes.
How to Use This Tool?
-
Enter the value representing your data transfer rate in IDE (UDMA mode 1) units.
-
Select IDE (UDMA mode 1) as the source unit and gigabyte/second (SI def.) as the target unit.
-
Perform the conversion to obtain the equivalent throughput in gigabytes per second.
Key Features
-
Converts IDE (UDMA mode 1) transfer rates to gigabyte/second (SI def.) consistently.
-
Uses a clear conversion based on the standard 1 IDE (UDMA mode 1) = 0.025 gigabyte/second ratio.
-
Supports benchmarking and performance comparison between legacy and modern transfer units.
-
Browser-based tool accessible anywhere without installation.
Examples
-
4 IDE (UDMA mode 1) equals 0.1 gigabyte/second (4 × 0.025 = 0.1).
-
10 IDE (UDMA mode 1) converts to 0.25 gigabyte/second (10 × 0.025 = 0.25).
Common Use Cases
-
Diagnosing and setting transfer modes on vintage PCs using old PATA drives.
-
Benchmarking older IDE hard disk drives or optical drives performance.
-
Comparing legacy transfer speeds with modern data center or network throughput units.
-
Assisting in troubleshooting IDE drive and controller compatibility issues.
Tips & Best Practices
-
Use the converter to benchmark old hardware relative to current standards for accurate context.
-
Ensure consistent unit definitions when comparing gigabytes based on SI and binary systems.
-
Remember legacy transfer rates are theoretical maximums; real performance varies.
-
Apply this conversion to clarify communication about data transfer speeds between device generations.
Limitations
-
Conversion reflects theoretical max speeds; actual throughput can be lower on legacy IDE devices.
-
Gigabyte/second here uses SI decimal definitions, different from binary-based gigabytes.
-
Real-world factors like hardware state, cable quality, and protocol overhead are not considered in the calculation.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What does IDE (UDMA mode 1) represent?
-
It is an Ultra DMA transfer mode of the Parallel ATA interface used in older PATA devices, offering a max theoretical rate of about 25 MB/s.
-
What is the definition of gigabyte/second (SI def.)?
-
It’s a data rate unit where 1 gigabyte equals 10^9 bytes transferred each second, using decimal SI prefixes.
-
Why convert from IDE (UDMA mode 1) to gigabyte/second?
-
To compare legacy transfer rates with modern standards, improving benchmarking and understanding of hardware performance.
Key Terminology
-
IDE (UDMA mode 1)
-
A legacy Ultra DMA mode of the Parallel ATA interface defining a max raw transfer rate around 25 MB/s for older PATA drives.
-
Gigabyte/second (SI def.)
-
A data transfer rate unit where 1 gigabyte equals 10^9 bytes per second, using decimal-based SI prefixes.
-
UDMA
-
Ultra Direct Memory Access, a transfer mode protocol used in IDE interfaces to improve data throughput and error management.