True 4x Burn rate problem

[johnson636]

I have tried All different types of media, from memorex to verbatim and I have not yet burned at 4x. Although I have a 4x burn option, I've noticed with DVD Decrypter and Alcohol 120% that I'm actually only achieving a 2x burn rate.

I have a Sony500a-DRU, 2.1a Firmware, XP Home Edition, 1.7GHZ, 256MB RAMs of Memory. Primary and secondary IDE channel set a DMA

A 2x burn is not bad, but I'm paying extra for 4x dvd-r, so I would like to get what I am paying for. Is it something that I have to do or change in order to achieve a 4x burn. Let me point out again, I'm sure it is not a media problem, for I have used a number of different types of 4x DVD-r media with the same results.

I know a lot of people will reply that they have burned at 4x, but you need to be sure that you are actually burning at 4x. If you use DVD Decrypter or Alcohol 120%, it will acually show you what burn rate you are achieving.

[rdgrimes]

The only way to confirm you actual burn rate is by the elapsed time.
If you are burning a full DVD in about 15 min, it's 4x.
What is your actual burn time? Programs show a "calculated" burn speed based on the data transfer rate.

[johnson636]

I'm sure that I'm burning 2x. I burn 2GB in about 17min. I've visited other forums with members that own the same Sony 500a_DRU and they have the same problem that I have. Most people that replied to person's post concerning 4x burn said that that the Sony drive is crap. Those who switched to Pioneer replied that they now achieve an actual 4x burn rate. I'm thinking of doing the same. By the way, I thought anything that says Sony was somewhat the best; guess not.

[rdgrimes]

If it takes you 15 min to burn 2 GB, then it's probly not 4x, but you have to actually time it to know. In that case you either have the wrong media for 4x burning, or you are running the drive in PIO mode instead of UDMA.
It has nothing to do with the brand of your burner.

[johnson636]

I've had every type of media From princo to verbatim in which claimed a 4x burn and still the same 2x results. I'm sure I am running in DMA mode. The only other problem I can think of is the drive. I've burned with nero 6 and the only way to check whats your burn rate is the way you are implying, but if you use DVD Decrypter or Alcohol 120%, you do not have to wait until the movie is finished to determine the burn rate. DVD Decrypter and Alocohol 120% displays a constant real time burn rate; nero doesn't have that feature, it only displays the 4x option that you choose and thats it.

[rdgrimes]

I'm sure I am running in DMA mode

How do you know that?

Nero does have the option to display real time burn speed. You can read about it HERE

Blaming the burner for inadequate data transfer rates is a bit silly. If there is a problem, it lies somewhere besides the burner, unless you're using 2x media. The fact that the media says 4x on it does not mean that a given burner will burn it at 4x.

BTW, your drive does not support 4x burning with the stock FW.

[johnson636]

I check DMA mode by clicking properties on my computer, Hardware, then device manager, right click Primary and secondary IDE, Advanced tab and there I check for DMA mode. If blaming the burner is silly, then I appoligize. Its just that I've tried so many different types of media with the same results; all claimed a 4x burn. I know there's a problem, but sometimes its frustrating when it seems you have gone through every step to find a resolution. what do you recommend I do. What media do you recommend that actually burns 4x. I'm all ears

[gurgenpb]

Hey Guys

I haven't posted in ages... But I am having the same problem

I have got a 500A and only yesterday upgraded the firmare to 2.1a. Now the drive is NOT burning at 4x (even though it says it does). My previous firmware did NOT have this problem. 2.0h worked perfectly.

Here is the proof.

[rdgrimes]

Best I can see from reading around a bit is that the 500a is very picky with media. Firmware changes will bring this out with one media type or another, and it may be different on every drive. Bout all you can do in this situation is keep looking for the right media, or buy an NEC.

[gurgenpb]

in my experience, it has not been very picky at all. After the firmware upgrade, all of a sudden, it will just not burn at 4x ON THE SAME MEDIA!

[johnson636]

Since I've posted my problem with 4x burn speed, two other people have
voiced the same problem as I, so one can't say that it is something that I'm doing or not doing. Obviously this problem consists with a number of people. I know someone out there can help with this problem, we just have to be patient and hopefully someone will come along and help with this problem.

BTW, Can anyone tell me how to copy an image of a program and paste it in a post to show an ilistration in a post as gurgenpb did with his nero illistration; I've always wondered how that was done

[ClayBuster]

http://www.caninecastle.net/rick/11.8.PNG

You have to host it on your webspace. Most ISP's provide you with some.

[johnson636]

Hey ClayBuster, what do you mean host it on your webspace

BTW, What burner and media are you using to burn at 16x. You're burning 4GIGS in only 5min ; Thats blazing. I want one of those. Please reply with purchase info

[ClayBuster]

Start here.

http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=8826


The Drive is a Plextor 712A 12x NOT 16x. Best advise dump the Sony!

[Pacis]

It says 11.8x (16,300KB/s) - This is 12x writing, and not 16x
And the burner used is the Plextor PX-712A, which allows to write media at 12x.

[johnson636]

Sorry, I meant to say 12x but 16x came out. Maybe it was because I was overwelmed when I saw how fast he's able to burn. How much does the drive cost? Is the media expensive? I'm gonna dump the sony and get one of those for sure

[ClayBuster]

Sorry, I meant to say 12x but 16x came out. Maybe it was because I was overwelmed when I saw how fast he's able to burn. How much does the drive cost? Is the media expensive? I'm gonna dump the sony and get one of those for sure

It is a great drive but a little pricey at the moment $180 to $200

Read the review.

http://www.cdrlabs.com/reviews/index.php?reviewid=231

[johnson636]

ClayBuster Wrote:

It is a great drive but a little pricey at the moment $180 to $200

Thats All! I paid 350.00 for my Sony 500a combo. Is it good with copying games.

[ClayBuster]

Read the Reviews!

Ian spent a lot of time on it. He gave it a 10 out of 10

http://www.cdrlabs.com/reviews/index.php?reviewid=231

http://www.cdfreaks.com/article/144

http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Article ... d&Series=0

[gurgenpb]

hey guys

I don't know what the heck is going on? I downgraded to the 2.0h firmware that worked so flawlessly for SO long, and I am still having this problem.

Here is how it goes. The drive starts writing at 4x then at some point halfway (40, 66% down the line) the light begins to flash kinda rapidly (quick blinking, much like the HDD LED during harddrive seeks) and the speed stutters (falls from 3.9x to, say, 3.5, 3.4) or just goes right down to 1.9x !

Is it possible that the firmware messed up the drive? I also upgraded Nero to the latest version a few days ago from the previosu release; could that be it?

Thanks guys, i really love this forum. Very different from the G35driver forums of which i am an active member, where people can lash out at one another pretty quickly!!!

Gurgen

[dvdevil]

same problem here

(Here is how it goes. The drive starts writing at 4x then at some point halfway (40, 66% down the line) the light begins to flash kinda rapidly (quick blinking, much like the HDD LED during harddrive seeks) and the speed stutters (falls from 3.9x to, say, 3.5, 3.4) or just goes right down to 1.9x !)

and it's a nec 2500

[XXXXX]

I must chime in here to say I began having problems on my Sony DRU 500 AX after this firmware, with erratic and dramatic increased failure rates using the same batch of media.

I got pissed off at it, and just went out and bought a new Memorex 8x True Image drive, and have had no problems since then. I did not try Taiyo media on it, which if I get bored I might do...but I figure I got my money's worth out of this now 2 year old DVD burner.

I do now think that they screwed the pooch with that firmware, rather than it being a sudden hardware failure.