DVD Burner Speeds

[paruhd0x]

I'm using a Sony DRU500AX 4x DVD+-RW burner. Whenever I burn a DVD-R the speed of my burning is -alway- at 2x even when it reports burning at 4x, it takes 30minutes to burn a DVD which is 2x speed.

Media I've used and have had same result: Ritek DVD-R and DVD+RW

Software I've used and have had same result: Nero 6, Alcohol 120%

My system is P4 3.0GHz with Hyperthreading, 1GB of PC3200 RAM, 120GB 7200 RPM HD.

Any ideas, suggestions, solutions appreciated.

Thank you for your time.

 

[Shooters]

Have you looked at the buffer to see how full it's staying? That may give you some insight as to what's causing the problem.

DMA enabled?

 

[paruhd0x]

Buffer is always 100% during burn, and DMA is enabled.

 

[Shooters]

tried another IDE cable?

 

[paruhd0x]

Hmmm. Good idea. I dont have any better ones around (all dumb ATA 33) I suppose I'll purchase a good one, any personal suggestions on IDE cables? Otherwise I'm going to pick randomly at the name brands I think.

 

[Shooters]

I've always bought the generic ones and haven't had any problems...usually like $1.50 each at the local computer parts store.

By the way, you've installed all the necessary chipset drivers right?

 

[paruhd0x]

Although I am using a generic ATA100 one right now, and this problem occurs. I thought maybe it is possible that it is because it is generic that this is happening.

 

[Shooters]

Well, I've never had a problem with generic cables. I was thinking maybe the cable you're using is just faulty for some reason, not necessarily justt because it's generic though. I've actually never had an IDE cable go bad on me, but I figured if you've already installed the chipset drivers, enabled DMA, etc, then the cable would be the next easiest thing to test.

When you get the 2x burning speeds are you burning on the fly or from your hard drive? Also, how are all your hard drives and optical drives set up master/slave wise?

 

[paruhd0x]

I am burning from my 7200RPM Hardrive, 120GB HD Primary Master, DVD+-RW is Primary Slave. Then an extra 20GB hardrive is on my 2nd IDE channel as Primary Master.

I would put the DVD+-RW on the second channel but the IDE cable doesnt reach. Need to purchase another.

Hmm I do not recall installing any chipset drivers that have to do with my IDE on the motherboard. This is my drivers for my motherboard that are available.

 

[n0cmonkey]

I've had cables of pretty much all types go bad on me.

I try to seperate all devices in my systems, one device per channel. Unless it's my scsi system.

 

[JonTom]

Once I moved my DVD-R to master on the secondary IDE channel, I at least doubled my burn speeds... I would try that, or if cabling makes it impossible, put the data to burn on the HD that is master on the 2nd IDE and leave the DVDR on the 1st IDE.

 

[Shooters]

The drivers that you linked to should be all that you need.

Try moving the burner to secondary master like someone else mentioned.

 

[Atlantean]

Did you install the dvd burner when the system was first built and the os was first installed? Or did you install the burner after the os was installed. It could be the media... is it generic brand? Are you running other programs in the background while you burn the dvd? Try reinstalling windows that should fix the problem, or at least it did for me.

 

[Childs]

Make sure DMA is enabled, and make sure that the bios is set to look at that channel. This happened to me a few days ago. I saw the device in Windows but burning was slow. Turns out the bios was set to None for that device.

 

[paruhd0x]

Thank you for the suggestions, I am going to be moving the drive as soon as my ordered IDE cables arrive. I'll check my bios shortly to see if that is the solution also.

I am using Ritek media, and I installed the drive before installing the OS (using Windows XP)

Will post when I get the drive transfered or I find another solution.

Thanks again.

 

[paruhd0x]

I haven't gotten my new IDE cables to test yet. BIOS was detecting device fine also.

I just realized my hardrive only has a 2MB cache on it, it is a IBM Deskstar 120GXP. (Got it before they went Hitachi)

If this is the culprit, I guess I'm looking to get a new hardrive... though I'd like a second and maybe third opinion.