Possible to speed up I/O subsystem of 5150?

[Eric Smith]

Steve Thatcher wrote:
> considering that the ATA-1 spec included 8 bit transfers from the
> harddrive, I don't understand why no IDE drives that supported ATA-1 would
> not work on a PC/XT (unless the DMA speed was the problem).

I wasn't aware that 8-bit was included in ATA-1; I don't have a copy of
ATA-1 or ATA-2.  Was the 8-bit support mandatory or optional?  In any
case, it was certainly gone by ATA-3.  I very much doubt that any ATA
drive manufactured in the last 15 years has 8-bit support.

Eric