Has the Nec ND-3520 got bitsetting?

[dvdbunny]

Hi there,

I live in the United Kingdom and i was about to order the NEC ND-3500A off this website http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/ ... rives.html
but then on that website link i noticed the second DVD writer on that page is the NEC ND3520 OEM Black, I was thinking is that a better version, Does it have all the features of the NEC ND3500A? but is it more improved?

I have looked on the NEC UK and USA website and i cannot find any information on this drive and not even firmwares, I have even surfed the web and i found one review which was dated a few months ago, but i am sure this is not an old drive, but the review said it does not support bit setting, but i know from reviews of the 3500A that has bit setting. So i thought if this Website in the UK is selling the ND3520 then the last two digits (20) means its a newer version to the 3500A

I would like to use the ND3520 to burn DVD R movie backups and Playstation 2 Backups, is it good for that? of course backups of which i legally own, i don't like playing with originals as for scratching reasons for if i want to sell them in the future.

Does anyone have a review and know of any offical firmwares of the ND3520, i am thinking perhaps the ND3520 is another name that perhaps is used for one of the NEC drives here in the UK, but on the UK website that i was going to order from, you know the one i posted above they also have in stock the NEC ND3500A.

Also I have seen names used all over the internet as the NEC ND3520A and NEC ND3520 are both these names the same model?

Please help me


Thank you very much



Yours Robert

[Bhairav]

The NEC3520A is an updated version of the 3500A, offering 6X -RW and 8X +RW speeds. The DVD+/-R speeds remain at 16X Max. The +R DL speed also remains unchanged at 4X Max.
It is a very new drive, and those are probably the first ones trickling in. The original 3500 did not offer bitsetting in stock firmwares, and there is no reason to believe this will change in the 3520.
3520 and 3520A will be the same model, yes.[/b]

[dvdbunny]

Thanks for the reply

So let me just get this straight, you are definitely sure that the ND3520 does not have bit setting or as it is called book type, but probably in a firmware it will have bit setting.

What about in a hacked firmware?

Also in my country i have found both the 3500A and the 3520 as an OEM product and the price difference is only a 5 great british pounds, so for that difference getting the 3520 OEM at £45 would be better do you think than the 3500A?

[Bhairav]

It is worth getting the 3520, especially if the difference in price is only 5 pounds. NEC's OEM customers, eg. Mad Dog will request a bitsetting enabled firmware from NEC, and that will be up for download from here, CDFreaks or RPC1.org. You should be able to use that, of course, your warranty will be voided by the usage of non-official firmware.

[dvdbunny]

I have a a few last things to say

If i was to go ahead and buy this ND3520 as it is OEM does that mean i can only use unoffical firmwares, or will NEC release a offical firmware for bit setting for the OEM version?

Also is this ND3520 OEM drive good for burning PS2 game backups and PC latest version of Secure Rom backups, and DVD movie backups.

please answer those last few questions and i think i will go ahead and order one.


Thanks and Merry Christmas

[Jim]

If i was to go ahead and buy this ND3520 as it is OEM does that mean i can only use unoffical firmwares, or will NEC release a offical firmware for bit setting for the OEM version?

Also is this ND3520 OEM drive good for burning PS2 game backups and PC latest version of Secure Rom backups, and DVD movie backups.

You can use any firmware you desire, but technically your warranty is voided if you use a non-NEC firmware like Mad Dog or a hacked firmware. They haven't released an official NEC bitsetting firmware in the past that I'm aware of so my guess is they don't plan one for this drive either.

I think it is too early to tell about the PS2 games. Although in the past NEC had some issues burning compatible Xbox games. I believe it was fixed with a firmware update and this was with one of their older generation models.

[dvdbunny]

when you say older generation models are you talking about the firmware or is it the drive your talking about?

Also did NEC not release an offical firmware for the ND3500A to enable bit setting, was bit setting only available in an unofficial firmware i.e hacked firmware?

thats it now for questions last answers and then i buy whatever.

thanks

[Jim]

when you say older generation models are you talking about the firmware or is it the drive your talking about?

Also did NEC not release an offical firmware for the ND3500A to enable bit setting, was bit setting only available in an unofficial firmware i.e hacked firmware?

Older model drive is what I'm talking about.

No official firmware for bitsetting. All of that came through firmware from drives like Mad Dog or hacked firmware. So Yes to your last question.

I follow a couple console sites and by far the drive of choice for those guys are the Pioneer DVR-10x series drives. I think part of this is that DVD-R was initially the most compatible media format for older DVD-ROM drives found in the consoles and the Pioneers had excellent DVD-R media compatibility and write quality. The reputation just built on itself.

[dvdbunny]

Hi there Jim,

I should still be able to use the ND3520 to burn PS2 games like PS2 DVD backups to work on my new slimline PS2, will it still burn them and work well?

[Jim]

I haven't seen anyone confirm or deny it yet. You should check out some PS2 console sites and see if anyone has had success or failure with the new drive. My guess is that it is too new to find much feedback on that question.

[Alnath]

DVD+R DL is bitset to DVD-ROM by default but +R cant be changed, well i should say have not managed to change it.

[Silentbob343]

As has been repeated many times before.

NEC suppots Bit setting on Dual layer media but not single layer. You can flash your NEC with Mad Dog F/W or a hacked F/W.

As others have posted -R was best for older DVD based consoles, but the newer PS2s are rated for +R media so is the new PSTwo.

My brothers V1 PS2 purchased on release day has no problem playing my movie back ups or his both of us are using +R media. So take that for what it's worth.

[Alnath]

There are no hacked firmwares or otherwise for the 3520, non of the dumpers support the new chipset.

[dhc014]

TDB have a dumper and flash tool working, and BinFlash 1.10 was just released adding support for the ND-3520A

[Assimilator1]

I'm getting a 3520 tomorrow

So is there hacked (or mad dog) f/w for it yet?

[carl]

Just get the IO-Data 1.24 from TDB's site. It has automatic +R bitsetting as well as the +DL bitsetting.

[Assimilator1]

Can you give me a link to that website?

I'm new here
<------

[Ian]

tdb.rpc1.org

[Assimilator1]

Thx

[HardwareHarry]

I bought yesterday a NEC 3520, I found SONY 8x DVD+R wich burns @12x
(Tawanese Sony Made)

And now I'm testing 2.4x Ricoh and 4x Ricoh, will be posted !

Harry

[Assimilator1]

Cool ,I haven't even used my drive yet! ,I guess I ought to at least test it!

[morkys]

Hello,

I too would like to grab an NEC 3520. Of course, its annoying to find out that a 3530 is coming out but not now.

What is bit setting? Without bit setting, what are the drawbacks? What does bit setting allow you to do? Is this refering to the bit rate of the recorded DVD?

thanx

[Assimilator1]

Some setting you can alter that will allow DVD Rs to be 'more compatible' with older stand alone DVD players....... at least thats my understanding in my limited knowledge of such things

I expect someone more knowledgeable will be along soon

[Bhairav]

You don't have to look further than this site's very own FAQ section!

http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=15289

Hope that helps