Nforce 4 and the Plextor 716SA

[Topweasel]

In my main rig (the Ferrari one) I have a 716SA and A8N SLi Premium, but have used a Deluxe as well. When I am reading a DVD with scratches alot of times it locks my computer. Now I know that the SATA ODD drives are tricky to get working and that their are some inherant problems. But since this drive works correclty under most other circumstances I was wondering if people have had the same problem. I would hate to find out that the drive is bad instead of just a compatibility problem. I hope Nvidia fixes the Atapi over SATA issues in SLix16 chipset, but again I would hate to buy a A8N32-SLi and find out it has the same problem becuase the drive is bad.

So again, so you don't have to read my ramblings. Is any one running a PX-716SA on a Nforce 4 borad and if they are what types if any problems are you having.

PS on my other system I have a PX-716A (IDE) and it doesn't lock my system when I try to read or rip these same DVDs.

 

[SnoMunke]

I have two 716SAs on my MSI K8 Neo4 Ultra...they ARE very finicky about the drivers...

I have recently had problems with the drives not wanting to read some DVDs, but I had some other problems at the same time, so I don't know if it were the drives themselves, drivers, the DVDs, etc...

I will do some testing tonight and see if I can duplicate your problems...

 

[cool]

keep the firmware updated.
there was an issue with nforce4 and Plextor drives which has been fixed by updating the firmware (and/or going back to the MS IDE drivers)

 

[SnoMunke]

I haven't seen any of the firmware address this problem.

 

[Topweasel]

Originally posted by: cool
keep the firmware updated.
there was an issue with nforce4 and Plextor drives which has been fixed by updating the firmware (and/or going back to the MS IDE drivers)

See thats the thing I did a Bios update (latest i believe 1009.4 or something like that) firmware for the drive (1.09) and later formated my O/S (startup problem got worse each time system locked), this time I never loaded IDE drivers.

Sorry If I wasn't clear before I posted that at work. Again with latest everything on a fresh install, I lock up on scratched discs (mostly movies and only when I am ripping for the most part) and one game, farcry, which is also a DVD. Farcry is in perfect condition but everytime i use it my drive acts up and locks while reading but doesn't lock my system completely like the scratched movies.

Normaly I would just RMA the drive when this happens, specially considering I have the same drive in IDE on a Nforce2 board and it works well (in fact it is my backup for ripping these movies when I have problems). But with the ODD over SATA question marks I really wonder if it is a drive problem or a controller issue. I guess what really bugs me is the fact that problems reading the disc completely locked my computer as apposed to the usuall sluggishness and explorer locks but full systems locks don't seem right.

 

[Bozo Galora]

this drive was a lemon from the start
on top of the drive theres the stick on info label
there is a TLA number like
T0000
T0101
T0202
T0203
The first two digits is the controller version
the second two is the firmware vers
Anything less than T02 I would consider an iffy drive

Then theres all the nvidia isuues
http://techreport.com/ja.zz?comments=8989

(Just a small series of quotes - 131 posts)
Great, I just ordered an nForce4 Ultra-based motherboard... Well, it seems it's still a good idea to stay away from the nVidia SW IDE drivers. I currently run an nForce 2-based machine, and while I did not have any lockup or corruption-related issues when I installed the IDE drivers, I did lose access to my optical drives from Exact Audio Copy - my ripping weapon of choice -, so I promptly removed them. Does anyone know if this issue still persists with nForce 4?

It's absolutely revolting that even after one year from release ActiveArmor is still as bug-ridden as it is. nVidia's engineers really need to get their act together, or somebody should start handing out pink slips. This is simply unacceptable. How hard can it be to track down an issue like this? We're talking about a very common problem, not some elusive bug that shows up only when the stars are properly aligned!!!

EDIT: Could this be the reason why AMD is considering getting back into the chipset business? Right now, their good name is being dragged through the mud!

On a side note, is it possible that the problems lie with particular motherboard implementations of nForce chipsets? Even with the original nForce and nForce 2, motherboards were incredibly sensitive to the slightest variations in current and voltage levels, and I think that's why nForce 2 boards were very picky with RAM. Could it be that we're suffering due to cost-cutting measures of mobo makers? If so, nVidia should still kick some butts and make their customers follow their specifications to the T.

 

[Topweasel]

Mine is TLA0306 and I have read up on the problem. Since I was trying to go for an all SATA system it was my only real choice besides the fact I have had good success between me and my father with 3 other 716As. Now at first I was thinking that it was a bad drive but, again i understand a drive having problems with a scratched disc, I was wondering if the full system locks might be being caused by the Nforce4 chipset on not nessisarily the drive itself.

 

[Topweasel]

After reading spme things at CDfreaks (haven't visited there in a while) I noticed the Idea of running on the SI 3114 controller on my board isn't as hopeless as it used to be. I am going to try that when I get home and see if I get different results. I ordered a PX-740sw from newegg that should come in tommorow, if it does the same thing I might RMA it and use that short term even though I wanted to stay away from IDE.

Side comment... Apperently Toshiba/Samsung are releasing a Samsung DVD burner in SATA, and Plextor is releasing a 760SA that does 18x DVD+R. So even if I am dealing with the wierd problems that have plagued the 716, all is not lost on the SATA front.