+R(DL) confusion.

[thelostpatrol]

Ok, here's another DVD writer speed question.

Write: CD-R (24x). CD-RW (10x), DVD-R (8x), DVD-RW (4x), DVD+R (8x), DVD+RW (4x), DVD-RAM (3x), DVD+R(DL) (2.4x)

This is the "official" spec for my writer, but I get 2.4x when writing +Rs, right now. Is there a way to boost this or do I call Toshiba and bitch about false advertizing? What is this (DL) at the end? I'm thinking mine could be burning in this way right now.

The model's MATSHITA DVD-RAM UJ-840S.

http://www.panasonic-industrial.com/..._l2/index.html

M.

[ChadLittle]

DL is dual layer and 2.4x seems like a good speed for a dual layer disc.

Also, you can never get a higher speed than the lowest rating....
example:
your writer specs states 24x and you buy 4x discs.... the fastest you'll get if the burning software has the highest priority is 4x; but you may dip down in to the 3's since there may have to be some error correction going on; God forbid if you antivirus kicks in; then you might get down to a low 2.

Also on the media, I find no-named branded to often write at less than their ratings; but if you are buying +R non DL DVDS that are rated at 8X or higher, then you should atleast be getting a 6 or 7 if there are no error corrections going on; unless the media was rated higher than it should have been.

[thelostpatrol]

I have Maxell 8x +R discs, and they only go at 2.4X.

M.

[ChadLittle]

Thats a bit lower than I expect if its not a dual layer disc, have you tired any other name brands? TDK and Sony seem to work great in my Sony DVD+/-RW-DL drive.

Does the software give you an option for speed, I use Roxio and I can have it limit the speed.... it should tell you what the max is.

[tntoak]

Also, you can never get a higher speed than the lowest rating....
example:
your writer specs states 24x and you buy 4x discs.... the fastest you'll get if the burning software has the highest priority is 4x; but you may dip down in to the 3's since there may have to be some error correction going on; God forbid if you antivirus kicks in; then you might get down to a low 2.

Actually, you can, depending on the specific media. I have personally been able to burn 4x media at 6-8x on my burner, and MaximumPC has also had success with several Plextor models.

[ChadLittle]

Originally Posted by tntoak

Actually, you can, depending on the specific media. I have personally been able to burn 4x media at 6-8x on my burner, and MaximumPC has also had success with several Plextor models.

What burner do you have?

[thelostpatrol]

This is the problem, no other speeds are detected.

Anyone?

M.

[ChadLittle]

Originally Posted by thelostpatrol

This is the problem, no other speeds are detected.

Anyone?

M.

Even with different media?

[thelostpatrol]

+R shows up at 2.4x, -R does even worse, 2 and 1x only.

M.

[ideas]

To summarize things: Speed at which burns are done is dependant on:
1. Media you use
2. What you are using to connect the drive to your computer (Internal/external/SCSI etc.)
3. Software you use

DL = Dual Layer

[madmook1]

Burner programs oftentimes allow user-selectable burn/write speeds. Check if your proggy has speed settings.

[thelostpatrol]

I'll try it with different media before I get upset.

M.

[freonchill]

download this program
http://dvd.identifier.cdfreaks.com/

and then look @ the "recording speeds" line
that will show the MAX that the disc should be written @

now, if you have "good" media, then you will be able to right it faster
e.g.
nec3500a
[DVD-RW/+RW: 4x
DVD-R/+R: 16x
DVD+R DL: 4x]

verbatim 8x dvd+r media
shows max write speed 8x
memorex 2.4x dvd+rw
shows max write speed 4x

so even though i can write 16x, i cant right 8x media faster than 8x
in the same regard, if the media was cheap (short dye media) or errors during writing will require that the disc (media) be wrtten slower than its MAX speed

so say this 8x media i had was cheap ritek media
so it starts out @ 2x and starts to ramp up to 8x, but it cant handle it over 6x, so it doesnt burn any faster than 6x even though its 8x media

this also could happen due to ability of hard drive to get data to burner "fast enough" or running other programs in the background that either fill the bandwidth between the two devices, or that the cpu is being used "too" much that it cant keep up for the transmissions between the two devices

also newer firmware updates for dvd+rw drives allow for better optimization for different / newer types of media (different brands, etc) so that you can get a faster burn w/ more types of media

so, in theory, if you were using nero and nothing else, no background apps, no system tray apps and w/ 19 different types of +R media and none of them did over 2.4x then yes, you could have a problem, but my guess is that the MATSHITA either has an older firmware or just doesnt like the media that you have.

[ChadLittle]

Might be the drive, what laptop do you have... you mentioned toshiba, but have you looked at waht Toshiba calims the drive will so rather than Panasonic? Toshiba should give you the speeds in the spec section of the support website.

[thelostpatrol]

I have done so already.

M.