Nero scans

[drfsupercenter]

Alright, I updated the firmware, and tried some more discs.

A KHypermedia 48x CD-R:

Pretty good, but no idea why it tops off at 40x.

Now, here is the odd part - same type of disc, different drive:


Why the heck it is so slow I do not know. But that burner has gotten slower and slower over the years - it came with my computer when I bought it in 2002.

A Verbatim DVD+R, took 3 discs to get the file saved right:


This looks good, goes all the way up to 16x like it should, but then suddenly drops down to 3x at the end. What the heck is that?

Any insight on these?

[geno888]

Burning speed are stored in firmware. Your old drive maybe don't have correct writing strategies to burn 48x certified media, and then burn these discs only @16x.

Regarding DVD, maybe it's better to burn it @12x.

[drfsupercenter]

I will wait and see what Chewy says... the odd thing is that when I got the computer it burned at 48x, and now it doesn't. It's like it's deteriorating. Is that possible? Anyone know of a firmware upgrade for that drive? (Look on the Nero scan to get it's techical name)

[geno888]

Maybe is not deteriorating, but only dirting. Try to clean lens to see if this improve burn speed.

[Chewy]

don't worry about the cdburner, after you get your new dvd burner, the samsung can take it's place. try 12 and 8x with the verbatims.
or leave a lot of credits at the end of a backup

geno knows burning very well! Almost as well as Italian.

[drfsupercenter]

What do you mean as soon as I get my new burner? I only have one. I was not planning on buying a new burner, unless the Samsung is really that horrible - I bought it cuz it was cheap

I like having 2 drives so that I can copy CDs faster.

[Chewy]

Sooner or later you will retire the samsung to a secondary drive.
Can it do bitsetting?

[drfsupercenter]

Not that I know of, but you can change the booktype. Is there a firmware upgrade for the CD burner?

[drfsupercenter]

Also, should I look for a new drive, what is the cheapest one that will do everything a DVD burner should? Use www.microcenter.com for links.

[Chewy]

Give the samsung a little more time with it's new firmware and use it for
cd's too, that's the point with burners so cheap, try to get as much good use out of them as you can, because their replacement will usually be better.
The best time to buy a burner is right before the next model comes out,
by then the burner has had time to prove itself and has mature firmware.

[drfsupercenter]

That's what we did for my dad's Sony one. The store said they were discontinued and a new model was coming out, so we bought the old one.

So for copying CDs, should I put the source in the bottom drive (CD burner)?

[Chewy]

I wouldn't bother with that older cd drive, as it's sharing a cable.
Go to the hard drive from the dvd burner and then back to the dvd burner
at 32x for cd's.
Even with all my drives as standalone masters I only copy cd's(COF)
at 16x.(4x for dvd's)
Testing and real use are 2 different things.

[drfsupercenter]

Hmmm... what's wrong with burning at max speed on CDs? Its always worked fine for me... oh well. Why not do an on-the-fly copy? I am sure that the CD burner can read discs perfectly fine - should I test it?

[Chewy]

burning cd's at 52x is problematic, some I tried(accidently) worked,
others had loud pops in them. I use 32x for music, 16x for critical data

[drfsupercenter]

What about 40x? That is the max speed for the CD-R's I am using. BTW, IS there a firmware update for my CD burner?