my NEC 3520...

[Bacardi151]

recently bought a NEC 3520A, and for some reason it's not 16x, but only 4x, do i have to do a firmware update for it? if so, does anybody know a link to a stable firmware??

thanks in advance

 

[fuentefan]

You need to make sure you are using good quality media, i.e. Fuji Made in Japan, Maxell Made in Japan, or Sony (Taiwan, but will burn at 16x)

You can find newer firmware at cdfreaks.com, on the NEC page

 

[fell8]

Make sure the drive is set to UDMA mode in properties. For some reason Windows likes to default to PIO mode for optical drives.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Bacardi151
recently bought a NEC 3520A, and for some reason it's not 16x, but only 4x, do i have to do a firmware update for it? if so, does anybody know a link to a stable firmware??

:shocked:

 

[Bacardi151]

blain, your post is so insighful!!!! i love when there are people out there like you handing out a hand. thank you so very much NOT

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: fell8
For some reason Windows likes to default to PIO mode for optical drives.

No it doesn't.

 

[sharkeeper]

Originally posted by: fell8
For some reason Windows likes to default to PIO mode for optical drives.



No it doesn't.

It won't DEFAULT to PIO mode UNLESS the drive encounters errors reading a dirty disk. This is a well documented event.

 

[14k]

What "rev.xxx" should this drive be using? I got mine delivered the other day and it describes itself as a ND-3520A (rev. 1.04)

 

[fell8]

Originally posted by: Dopefiend

Originally posted by: fell8
For some reason Windows likes to default to PIO mode for optical drives.

No it doesn't.

Well, okay.

I wonder I have to manually set the optical drives to UDMA from PIO every time I build a new computer.

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: sharkeeper

Originally posted by: fell8
For some reason Windows likes to default to PIO mode for optical drives.



No it doesn't.

It won't DEFAULT to PIO mode UNLESS the drive encounters errors reading a dirty disk. This is a well documented event.

Precisely. By default, drives are started with DMA turned on.

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: fell8

Originally posted by: Dopefiend

Originally posted by: fell8
For some reason Windows likes to default to PIO mode for optical drives.

No it doesn't.

Well, okay.

I wonder I have to manually set the optical drives to UDMA from PIO every time I build a new computer.

<shrug>

Maybe you suck at computers, or you buy crappy parts?

 

[fell8]

Originally posted by: Dopefiend
<shrug>

Maybe you suck at computers, or you buy crappy parts?

Well, if putting the Windows disc in, following some simple instruction, and never having a problem with the installation is suck, that might be it. Otherwise, I always use top-rated parts from reputible vendors, so that's probably not it. The Windows discs I use (the only discs the machine sees before I set to UDMA mode) are new or in good condition, so that's likely not the problem either.

Yeah, it's probably that first one, the problem-free installation and set-up of Windows.

I guess I should have said "In my experience..." in my initial post. I apologize deeply if I confused you. I will try my hardest not to let it happen in the future.

I just hope that making sure UDMA is enabled doesn't make the computer explode or something.

 

[McArra]

It must be your discs, my 3520A works at 12x with my vervatim 8x discs.

 

[Bacardi151]

yeah, it's my disc. i just thought that regardless of what disc was in it, the description of the DVD burner would show 16x under "choose recorder" in nero, but it doesnt, it just showed 4x, and when i popped out the dvd disc out of the tray it turned into 48x CD-R so it's just a matter of what disc is in it i suppose.

 

[ribbon13]

http://www.cdfreaks.com/article/178
http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=129381