Buffer to Host v1.01
(c) copyright 1996 Marnix Timmermans; All rights reserved

INTRODUCTION

Buf2host includes the same buffer to host throughput test as featured in
Check Harddisk. The data is gathered by reading different blocks of multiple
sectors over and over again. The buffer to host throughput determines the
speed at witch the harddisk is able to move the data from the internal buffer
to the host computer.

NOTE: I don't want anyone to start thinking that the speeds reported by
buf2host are the REAL speeds that you harddisk works with! The real
sustained throughput is the minimum of the buffer to host speed and the
internal physical speed at witch the drive can read the data of its platters! 

Check Harddisk will tell you those numbers and more. Please read the on-line
help of CheckHD for more information.

WHY A SEPARATE PROGRAM?

      Buf2host can be run in a dos-box in Windows or Windows 95 (but
       not in OS/2 or Windows NT) and CheckHd can't. With buf2host it is
       possible to compare the throughput in DOS with the throughput in
       Windows. This makes sense because a special driver is needed to get
       better performance than PIO mode 0 in Windows. If you don't have one,
       your hard drive might still be restrained by the controller, even if
       CheckHD says it doesn't. You can also test your new busmaster drivers
       this way!

      Buf2Host will give you an overview of the buffer to host throughput of
       all attached bios-supported harddisks. A good harddisk controller is
       smart enough to use both a PIO mode 3 harddisk and a PIO mode 0
       hard drive on the same cable at their optimal speeds. If you don't have
       such a controller, buf2host might point you to it.

      If CheckHD says your hard drive is incompatible, you could still use
       Buf2host.

COMMAND-LINE PARAMETERS

Buf2host [0|1|2|3]

       0 1 2 3    Bios drive 0, 1, 2 or 3  (default=all)

Disable any caching-programs that work at the sector level (e.g. Hyperdisk) if
you don't want to get figures like 30 MB/s.
