Slow CD Burner

[Jusick]

Just recently, I bought a LG 32X 10X 40X CD Writer, before I had an Iomega 12X 4X 32X CD Writer and the Iomega burned a full 74 or 80 minute CD close to the estimated time of 6 and half minutes.

However, I've been noticing that the estimated time of my new LG CD burner is about 11 and half minutes off. For instance, when I set the burn speed for like 12X, the estimated burn time is like 6 and half minutes. But, according to my stopwatch, it usually takes like 11 and half minutes for me to finish burning a CD. It doesnt' only burn at 11 and half minutes at the speed of 12x but at speeds higher like 16X, 24x, and 32x

As I close, I would like to know is there anyway that I can correct the estimated CD burning time of my CD Writer? I really thought that by buying a 32X burner that I would at least be able to burn a CD within 2 and half minutes.

Yours Truly, Jusick

 

[Jakespeare]

Just maybe it is the software you are using to burn.

I once read a very interesting article about CD-R burning software, which compared the two leading software apps, Adaptec 4.0 and Nero 5.0, which at the time where both the newest versions. It clearly showed Nero to be much faster on the identical CD-RW, and in the same machine.

So, did you get some off brand software with you LG burner ?
Have you run the "tools" part of the app to see what the LG burner is operating like ? I know in Adaptec, now ROXIO that you can do system tests, checking out all of your drives performance capabilities, and thus assure that all of your hardware is working correctly. I would start there.

 

[Jusick]

Dear Jakespeare,

Right now, I'm using Roxio's Easy CD
Creator 5.02d version. I've done a system test. Since I copy most of my songs from my hard drive, I will only give you the results from the system test of my hard drive.

Data transfer rate test:

Small files:19x(2893/KB)

large files:31x (4784/KB)

Yours Truly,
Jusick,

 

[Jakespeare]

Those numbers are EXtremely low.

When I test my machine,,,, for LARGE files, it is
228X / 34,252.
small = 78x / 11,748

I use ROXIO 5.01 with the Windows XP Update.

Of course, I have a state of the art machine, with a really fast hard drive, but ALL the computers that I build and set up, including the budget computers, all have numbers that are not too much slower than my own.

So, what is your computer ?

** How do you have the hard drive hooked up, and with what ?

It is running like it is a CD-ROM, and that means your hard drive performance is crippled.
Why ?

 

[Jusick]

Dear Jakespeare,

At the moment, I'm using Win ME. My computer is custom built.The following is a brief description of my PC:

1) AMD Athlon Thunderbird 900 Mhz System (mainboard supports Socket-462 processor
front-side bus speeds of 200 Mhz)

2) PC Chips M810 ATX Motherboard(Socket A)

3) 20 GB Ultra ATA/100 5400 RPM IDE Hard Disk Drive

4) Integrated 128-bit 3D AGP video

5) AC-97 Sound System

6) 52X Max CD-ROM Drive

I have one data cable connected between my hard disk drive and IDE controller, which is connected to my motherboard. So far, I've used like almost 5 GB of hard disk space.I can't really think of what would be crippling the performance of my hard disk drive. Do you think that I might need to adjust a setting in System Prop. Do you think I might need to make an adjust in my BIOS? Do you think that I might need to close out running programs in the background when I do my system tests? Do you think I need to adjust my power management? If you have a theory that could help me, I would appreciate it if you could enlighten me with that theory.

Yours Truly, Jusick

 

[Jakespeare]

That machine is new enough, and has the capabilities to be 10X's faster than the numbers that you show.

The hard drive should be by itself.

> Do you have an 80-wire ribbon cable on that hard drive ? (they are usually called an ATA/66 capable ribbon cable)

Next: Go into DEVICE MANAGER, and look at the hard drive settings,,,,,,,,,
DMA should be CHECKED.
If it is not, check it, and reboot.

RE-TEST

> During BOOT UP, is there a BIOS Screen for you to see ?
If so, when it hits the screen that shows the computer parts, like RAM, and CPU, MEMORY & * hard drive, hit PAUSE.

What does it say about the hard drive ?

Ok. I'll check back.

 

[Jusick]

Dear Jakespeare,

I don't think it's necessary for me to tell you what was on my BIOS screen concerning my hard drive because after I checked the DMA box for my hard drive, the numbers for my system tests on my hard drive increased, 55x-small files/ 96x-large files, and I tested my CD Writer and the timing was perfect.

I did a little reading on DMA(Direct Memory Access). Direct Memory Access is suppose to relieve total stress on the CPU when activated, but my question is after activating the DMA on my hard drive, will more of my system resources be taken up?

As I close, I want to thank you for your concern and help.

Yours Truly, Jusick

 

[cdogg]

Jusick,

Enabling DMA actually doesn't have a direct effect on system resources. Like you've probably already read somewhere, DMA lets the device use System Memory without having to go through the CPU first (thus freeing the CPU for other activities). For example, you may experience 100% cpu usage with DMA turned off while burning a cd. With DMA on, it's probably closer to 10% (depending on other apps running in the background).

In any case, your problem is solved. You never did mention whether any other devices share the same IDE cable as the hard drive. Making sure the hard drive is on its own channel could further improve your speed.


~cdogg

 

[dadaemdo]

what program do u use for system tests?

 

[cdogg]

dadaemdo,

Jusick said in his 2nd post: Roxio's Easy CD
Creator 5.02d

 

[Jusick]

Thanks guys! It's been awhile since I've had any responses. Man, I hope the following is helpful:

IRQ 0 System timer OK
IRQ 1 Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural
Keyboard OK
IRQ 2 Programmable interrupt controller OK
IRQ 4 Communications Port (COM1) OK
IRQ 5 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering OK
IRQ 5 SiS 900 PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter OK
IRQ 5 HSP56 MR OK
IRQ 5 ATI-TV Wonder Bt878 - Video Driver OK
IRQ 5 ATI-TV Wonder Bt878 - Audio Driver OK
IRQ 6 Standard Floppy Disk Controller OK
IRQ 8 System CMOS/real time clock OK
IRQ 10 MPU-401 Compatible MIDI Device OK
IRQ 11 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering OK
IRQ 11 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering OK
IRQ 11 SiS 7001 PCI to USB Open Host Controller OK
IRQ 11 SiS 7001 PCI to USB Open Host Controller OK
IRQ 11 SiS 7018 Audio Driver OK
IRQ 12 PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port OK
IRQ 13 Numeric data processor OK
IRQ 14 SiS 5513 Dual PCI IDE Controller OK
IRQ 14 Primary IDE controller (dual fifo) OK
IRQ 15 SiS 5513 Dual PCI IDE Controller OK
IRQ 15 Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo) OK

I have two hard drives which are on my Primary IDE Controller, and two drives(CD-ROM & CD-RW) ond my Secondary IDE Controller.

 

[Jusick]

To all of those who were concerned with my slow cd burner problem:

I want to thank you all. I figured out what my problem was. I didn't check my DMA box for my cd burner. How dumb of me? LOL!

Yours Truly, John B. Turner, III aka Jusick