ok, so i tried with another ide controller and new cable. the speed is 
still the same (i.e. low). so i really suspect that it is hardware 
problem... i'll try to check it in different computer (unfortunately 
only linux machines are here)

i wanted to check the drive using smartmontools, but i am not able to 
build it. configure complains about dev/ata/atavar.h:
present but cannot be compiled
check for missing prerequisite headers?
proceeding with the preprocessor's result
it starts the build but later crashes with
In file included from os_netbsd.h:31,
                  from os_netbsd.c:28:
/usr/include/dev/ata/atareg.h:462: error: redefinition of `struct 
ata_smart_selftestlog'
In file included from os_netbsd.h:33,
                  from os_netbsd.c:28:
/usr/include/dev/ata/atavar.h:77: error: field `sc_dev' has incomplete type
os_netbsd.c: In function `escalade_command_interface':
os_netbsd.c:340: warning: unused parameter `fd'
os_netbsd.c:340: warning: unused parameter `disknum'
os_netbsd.c:340: warning: unused parameter `command'
os_netbsd.c:340: warning: unused parameter `select'
os_netbsd.c:340: warning: unused parameter `data'
gmake[2]: *** [os_netbsd.o] Error 1

the same result from pkgsrc-wip version. authors claim that it was 
tested on 1.6zg (i have 1.6zk) :( i'll have to somehow solve this...

regards,

-- 
Lubos
_@_"