PIO
Updated: 04/26/2017 by Computer Hope
PIO, or programmed input/output, is a method of transferring data from a device to another device, utilizing the computer processor and not the memory or DMA. Because PIO modes utilize the computer processor, using PIO is slower than DMA.
| PIO Mode | Max Transfer Rate | ATA Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Mode 0 | 3.3 MB | ATA |
| Mode 1 | 5.2 MB | ATA |
| Mode 2 | 8.3 MB | ATA |
| Mode 3 | 11.1 MB | ATA-2 |
| Mode 4 | 16.6 MB | ATA-2 |
Note: There are no plans for a PIO Mode 5 (or anything beyond Mode 4), although some computer and hardware manufacturers have advertised computer or hardware with acceptance to PIO Mode 5.
ATA, Bus mastering, Computer acronyms, DMA, Hard drive terms, IDE