Advantages of DMA and type of devices that use it

DMA is implemented in computer bus architectures to speed up computer operations and allow multitasking. Normally, the CPU will be fully occupied in any read/write operation; enabling DMA allows reading/writing data in the internal memory, external memory and peripherals without CPU involvement, thus making the processor available for other tasks. This ensures streamlined operations, as movement of data to/from memory is one of the most common computer operations and freeing the CPU of this overhead can lead to a significant improvement in performance. DMA is useful in real-time computing applications where critical operations must be done concurrently. Stream processing is another application of DMA, where transfer and data processing are done simultaneously. Many hardware systems use DMA including floppy and disk drive controllers, graphics cards, network cards, sound cards and graphics processing units.

Following are the DMA modes of operations:

1. Block Transfer Mode In block transfer mode the DMA is programmed to transfer a block and does not pause or halt until the whole block is transferred irrespective of the requests received meanwhile. The DMA retains control of the memory bus for the duration of the memory transfer. The negative aspect of operating in this mode is that the CPU will not be able to access the memory bus until the DMA controller completes the memory transfer. While the CPU will be able to access its L1 and L2 cache, it wont be able to access any other memory; this will obviously limit what the CPU can accomplish and may result in the CPU having to wait until the DMA controller has completed the memory transfer and relinquished control of the memory bus back to the CPU. 2. Single Transfer Mode In Single transfer mode the DMA transfers a single byte on each request and updates the counter registers on each transfer and the registers need not be programmed again. On the next request the DMA will again transfer a single byte beginning from the location it last ended. While operating in this mode, the DMA controller relinquishes control of the memory bus after transferring each byte of memory. This then gives the CPU the opportunity to utilize the memory bus for its own purposes without having to wait for any significant amount of time. Unfortunately there is a down side to the DMA operating in this mode. When the DMA controller relinquishes control of the memory bus it must then send a request to the CPU to regain control of the bus and must then wait for an acknowledge signal from the CPU before regaining control of the bus for another transfer of a memory block. Thus, having to repeat the request/acknowledge sequence many times the total time taken to complete the memory transfer is increased. 3. Demand Transfer Mode Demand transfer is same as block transfer, only difference is that the DREQ signal remains active throughout the transfer and as soon as the signal deactivates the transfer stops and on reactivation of the DREQ signal the transfer may start from the point it left.