+R(DL) confusion.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

What burner do you have?

Even with different media?

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.

is there a firmware update ?

or perhaps using different software (roxio has been notorious for speed issues)?

try other media... as well, check your IDE settings... you want DMA, not PIO

Go through Device Manager... look under the IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers... primary and secondary, go to the advances settings tab

The problem is simple bro, Matshita crap drives. DO NOT BURN more than 2x even is they state they can do more.

Its known all over the world that these Matshita pieces of crap are pure crap untill Panasonic releases a new firmware, which they won't cos they blame the Laptop company, Alot of companies use Matshita, Toshi, ASUS, DELL, and sooooo many more companies.

Sry bro but ur really outta luck for now, untill new firmware is released.

As for Media quality. Theres a bit of a difference.

Back when CDs and CD burning this made a difference, now we all look for the cheapest CDs on the market with the fastest speeds because all brand will burn at like 48x + speeds.

Once DVDs become even more mainstream, DVDs quality and brands should not matter much.

BTW i don't own any DVD burner, but i have read alot about this.

The only main subsitute Burner i've seens was a Samsung one which works well also a NEC one.

Sorry man, just double check for a firmware update if there's one, (been several months and people are still waiting for one) and if there's not one, your really outta luck.

So a Heads up about this CHECK your laptop before you buy it, Make sure it does NOT have a Matshita crap DL Drive, however the Combo drive is fine.

I was a best buy about 3 weeks ago and checked all of laptops there and many of them had Matshita crap DL drives and i laughed and walked off.

I am sorta pissed cos stupid panasonic is still blaming others for it and people have to deal with this shit. =-\ ITS NOT DAMN FAIR.

anyways good luck but i can suggest get an external burner or a burner for your Desktop, but if u really need a burner in ur laptop then you gotta change it, at this time. sry =\

Thanks,

MysticGolem