NEC ND 3500a OEM Firmware confusion

[gba]

I have ordered an OEM NEC ND 3500A and just got done researching firmware for it... I have become thoroughly confused about which version I should use... as far as I can tell... the winner would be "TDK 1616n v2.C8 firmware with RPC1 (Region Free), Riplock Removed and Support for Ritek D01" available here.

This may sound like a dumb question but I have to ask it... It doesn't matter that this is intended for the TDK badged drive, right? It just means that drive will appear as a TDK in Nero Info Tool, etc??

Thanks in advance for some opinions...

 

[Davegod]

my nec 3500a seems fine out the box tbh, i had a look at the firmwares and promptly thought 'ah heck that'.

 

[Steelerz37]

for firmware this site:

http://forum.rpc1.org/

is great, you should be able to find out any info you need. I have a Pioneer 108 and am using firmware patched for dvd-r 16x4all, seems to work great. For pioneers I know you need to worry about 2 parts of firmware, the kernel part and the (?) general/ normal (?) part. For my pioneer say it was badged as a lg, or cendyne or something(not sure who even sells rebadged 108's but just for example.) I think I would need to worry about the kernel part. But that site should give you all the info you need to know. Good luck

 

[Tab]

First of all why should I flash a 3500A? Can't it burn pretty much everything anyway?

 

[NeezyDeezy]

I have the same question. I just got my 3500A BG from newegg. What does the BG part stand for?

Also, what are some recommendations for media to go with this drive. SL, R+ I guess. Something cheap to back up DVDs reliably. If they burn at 8x or faster that would also be a plus. Thanks!

 

[gba]

THX Steelerz37.... I think I was just burned out when I made my OP. I have just revisited a few of the forums where I had gotten info overloaded earlier and found the answer to my question... No it doesn't matter if firmware is intended for the OEM drives or one of the rebadged drives... duhhhh!!!... and the current coolest firmware version actually appears to be the TDK 1616n v2.C8 SE, discussed here.

Here are the highlights....

a) Support for TraxData (Ritek D01) and Ricoh DVD+R DL at 4X (official firmware supports only 2.4X, not yet tested!)
b) RPC1 (Region Free)
c) Riplock Removed (7X MAX DVD Ripping with CSS DVD-Video DL and 12X with SL Discs)
The firmware will Auto Booktype settings to DVD-ROM for DVD+R & DVD+R DL respectively (feature embedded)

Tabb.... here's a great place to go get the the basic stuff
I think the main reason I flash my burner firmware is the same as why I flash everything... because I am a hopeless tweak!

 

[gba]

Originally posted by: NeezyDeezy
I have the same question. I just got my 3500A BG from newegg. What does the BG part stand for?

NeezyDeezy.... I was confused about the BG as well, I think it has to do with the the color, but I'm only guessing, really. I am pretty sure at this point that there is only one 3500A, though... if you have the time, you might want to check out the links in my last post also there is an excellent NEC FAQ and Troubleshooting Guide at CDFreaks.