52x CD-ROM is more like 24x

[FlymanX]

I just put together a new computer and I ordered a Sony 52x CD-ROM drive. After I got the computer up and running, the 52x drive felt a lot more like a 24x or even slower. Wehn I install a game, it takes forever!! I even tested the drive using the SiSoft Sandra utility and it reported that the drive only functioned at a speed of 23x!! What the hell?? Please help. If it's of any use, my system specs are:

-Asus A7A266 MB
-256MB DDR RAM
-AMD Athlon Thunderbird 1.333 GHz
-Leadtech GeForce 3 64MB video card

 

[Shooters]

Did you enable DMA for the drive?

 

[Konboy]

Did you do a format c: at the dos prompt..That will solve your problem.

 

[Viper GTS]

Definitely check the DMA setting. Also, is it on a shared channel, or it's own?

Viper GTS

 

[Shooters]

Damn Konboy, that's the second time you've used that joke today.

 

[DeeK]

CD-ROM drives are among the most over-specified parts in a computer. The only way you'll possibly get 52x on that drive is on a long, sequential read on the outer edge of the disc. At the inner part of the disc, or when there's seeking going on, it's going to slow down. The speed ratings don't even take into account the seek times. That's a much bigger factor in real-world use than the raw spindle speed, but the marketing guys latch onto the stat that put it in the best light - the absolute maximum read speed, even if it's incredibly unlikely to happen in a real-world situation.

 

[FlymanX]

Thanx deek

 

[Shooters]

If you still curious as to whether your drive is performing correctly then go to cdspeed2000.com and download the testing utility. Then compare your results with the results they got for your drive in their database.

 

[MWink]

The Sony 52X is a very poor drive. I ordered one for someone and tested it in my computer just to find that its performance was terrible. I used CD Speed99 and it did horrible (with DMA enabled). It was worse than my Panasonic 8X DVD that is only supposed to read CDs at 40X. I would stay away from Sony CD-ROMs.

 

[MrWhiteUK]

The creative 52x sucks too, noisy as hell.

 

[PliotronX]

Replace that sucker with a Teac 540E