Burn speed?

[bwesley8]

My home system (PIII 800-MHz, WinXP Home, WD 120-Gb HDD, 384-Mb RAM) has a
recently-installed Sony DVD RW DRU-710A burner. I just burned a backup of
~3.9-Gb of general data files (PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Access files, lots
of JPG's) onto a Maxell DVD-R 8X disk. The burn took a bit over 44 minutes.

I'm considering upgrading to a new MB with Celeron 2.4-Gb CPU, using same
HDD, install same amount of RAM, etc. Assuming the same set of data files,
can someone give a good estimate of the improvement in burn speed that could
reasonably be expected?

Thanks,

Bart

 

[CBFalconer]

My home system (PIII 800-MHz, WinXP Home, WD 120-Gb HDD, 384-Mb
RAM) has a recently-installed Sony DVD RW DRU-710A burner. I just
burned a backup of ~3.9-Gb of general data files (PowerPoint,
Word, Excel, Access files, lots of JPG's) onto a Maxell DVD-R 8X
disk. The burn took a bit over 44 minutes.

I'm considering upgrading to a new MB with Celeron 2.4-Gb CPU,
using same HDD, install same amount of RAM, etc. Assuming the
same set of data files, can someone give a good estimate of the
improvement in burn speed that could reasonably be expected?

Approximately zero. The device is the limitation. Apart from the
JPGs most of what you are saving looks highly compressible. If you
want to speed up backups look up ARJ, which will compress, output,
check readable, etc. You can easily create a batch file to do the
whole job, but you will need to study the myriad ARJ options first.

 

[Quaoar]

My home system (PIII 800-MHz, WinXP Home, WD 120-Gb HDD, 384-Mb RAM)
has a recently-installed Sony DVD RW DRU-710A burner. I just burned
a backup of ~3.9-Gb of general data files (PowerPoint, Word, Excel,
Access files, lots of JPG's) onto a Maxell DVD-R 8X disk. The burn
took a bit over 44 minutes.
I'm considering upgrading to a new MB with Celeron 2.4-Gb CPU, using
same HDD, install same amount of RAM, etc. Assuming the same set of
data files, can someone give a good estimate of the improvement in
burn speed that could reasonably be expected?

Thanks,

Bart

Check out this excellent anantech DVD burner review. It suggests that
your burn speed is excessively high, perhaps due to the media used (my
conclusion, not anantech's). The Sony drive should burn (under the
conditions of the testing) of the order of 8 minutes. Note their
conclusion that the Sony drive is not reliable for dual-layer media.
http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=2260&p=1

This review has been updated for 16x DVD burners.
http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=2370

Q

 

[bwesley8]

I knew the Sony wasn't a top pick, but I got a deal too good to pass. As
for the dual-layer media, I haven't tried it -- too expensive, and not
needed at this time. The thought that the speed is limited by the media had
occurred to me -- what would be a proven better choice than Maxell?

Thanks,

Bart

 

[Mike Walsh]

A faster processor will not change anything, the problem is elsewhere. The speed you are getting is approximately what you would expect in PIO mode. Try enabling DMA on the writer and hard drives.

 

[bwesley8]

Can you elaborate a bit on your suggestion? I assumed the Hardware Manager
would provide access to the DMA settings, but can't find anywhere to do
that(?)

 

[Quaoar]

I knew the Sony wasn't a top pick, but I got a deal too good to pass.
As for the dual-layer media, I haven't tried it -- too expensive, and
not needed at this time. The thought that the speed is limited by
the media had occurred to me -- what would be a proven better choice
than Maxell?
Thanks,

Bart

I've been using Verbatim, both +/-R with excellent results. I've used
Maxell products for years, but not DVD media, again with excellent
results. Have you checked for firmware updates for the Sony drive?

Q

 

[Quaoar]

Can you elaborate a bit on your suggestion? I assumed the Hardware
Manager would provide access to the DMA settings, but can't find
anywhere to do that(?)

Check Device Manager, IDE/ATAPI controllers, Primary/Secondary IDE
channels, the setting should be DMA if Available and UDMA Mode 2 for the
DVD drive. If this is not correct, then it might be a controller driver
problem or chipset/mainboard drivers are not installed.

Q

 

[geezer]

Check Device Manager, IDE/ATAPI controllers, Primary/Secondary IDE
channels, the setting should be DMA if Available and UDMA Mode 2 for the
DVD drive. If this is not correct, then it might be a controller driver
problem or chipset/mainboard drivers are not installed.

Q

I read your post with interest. Thinking I would like to be sure my
two systems are set up fastest in this area, I checked Device
Manager>...IDE Channels. This is what I find and I am just wondering
what comments you might have.

System 1
ASUS P4B533-VM MOBO w/Intel 2.4GHz CPU - 512 DDR
DVD drive is on Secondary IDE Master.
Primary IDE Channel>Advance Settings shows Transfer Mode = DMA if
available and Current Transfer Mode = PIO Mode.
Secondary IDE Channel>Advance Settings shows Transfer Mode = DMA if
available and Current Transfer Mode = PIO Mode.

System 2
ASUS K8V SE MOBO w/AMD Athlon 64 3400+ CPU - 512 DDR
DVD drive is on Secondary IDE Master.
Primary IDE Channel>Advance Settings shows Transfer Mode = DMA if
available and Current Transfer Mode = Ultra DMA Mode 5!.
Secondary IDE Channel>Advance Settings shows Transfer Mode = DMA if
available and Current Transfer Mode = Ultra DMA Mode 2.

The PIO modes in System 1 bother me, and the Ultra DMA Mode 5 in
system 2 startled me.

What do you think?

Thanks

 

[S.Heenan]

System 1
ASUS P4B533-VM MOBO w/Intel 2.4GHz CPU - 512 DDR
DVD drive is on Secondary IDE Master.
Primary IDE Channel>Advance Settings shows Transfer Mode = DMA if
available and Current Transfer Mode = PIO Mode.
Secondary IDE Channel>Advance Settings shows Transfer Mode = DMA if
available and Current Transfer Mode = PIO Mode.

Update the chipset drivers for the P4B533-VM. You may need to install the
Intel Application Accelerator V2.3 as well.
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df/Product_Filter.asp?ProductID=663

System 2
ASUS K8V SE MOBO w/AMD Athlon 64 3400+ CPU - 512 DDR
DVD drive is on Secondary IDE Master.
Primary IDE Channel>Advance Settings shows Transfer Mode = DMA if
available and Current Transfer Mode = Ultra DMA Mode 5!.
Secondary IDE Channel>Advance Settings shows Transfer Mode = DMA if
available and Current Transfer Mode = Ultra DMA Mode 2.

The PIO modes in System 1 bother me, and the Ultra DMA Mode 5 in
system 2 startled me.

UDMA5=ATA100=100MB/sec This is as it should be for a HDD.
UDMA2=ATA33=33MB/sec This is fine for a CD/DVD burner.

 

[geezer]

Update the chipset drivers for the P4B533-VM. You may need to install the
Intel Application Accelerator V2.3 as well.
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df/Product_Filter.asp?ProductID=663


UDMA5=ATA100=100MB/sec This is as it should be for a HDD.
UDMA2=ATA33=33MB/sec This is fine for a CD/DVD burner.

Thanks - I will try to get/install the downloads for machine 1.
I will let ya know how it turns out.
My machine 2 is okay then. Not surprised - it is a new one.

G

 

[S.Heenan]

Thanks - I will try to get/install the downloads for machine 1.
I will let ya know how it turns out.
My machine 2 is okay then. Not surprised - it is a new one.

G

Machine 2 looks fine. Machine 1 needs the drivers and the IAA ver.2.3

Note: On some chipsets, Windows XP will notice CRC errors and lower the
transfer rate. I've seen this a few times on the older 810/815 chipsets.

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/storage/IDE-DMA.mspx

 

[geezer]

Update the chipset drivers for the P4B533-VM.

Could I prevail upon you to provide the URL address for these drivers?
I searched and searched, but did not find anything that recognized as
what I need, Old age setting in further.

I did successfully download and install IAA vers 2.3 however. Thanks
for that one.

Thanks

G

 

[S.Heenan]

Could I prevail upon you to provide the URL address for these drivers?
I searched and searched, but did not find anything that recognized as
what I need, Old age setting in further.

I did successfully download and install IAA vers 2.3 however. Thanks
for that one.

Thanks

G

http://www.asus.com/support/download/item.aspx?ModelName=P4B533-VM&Type=Latest

inf5021003.zip is the file you want.

 

[geezer]

http://www.asus.com/support/download/item.aspx?ModelName=P4B533-VM&Type=Latest

inf5021003.zip is the file you want.

I downloaded/de-compressed the zip file - installed/executed
it/rebooted. System runs fine.

I thank you even though I fail to understand the Device Manager
displays (locations 0(0) and location 1(1)) for the IDE channels now.

Cya

 

[S.Heenan]

I downloaded/de-compressed the zip file - installed/executed
it/rebooted. System runs fine.

I thank you even though I fail to understand the Device Manager
displays (locations 0(0) and location 1(1)) for the IDE channels now.

0(0) is Primary Master. 0(1) is Primary Slave.
1(0) is Secondary Master. 1(1) is Secondary Slave.

 

[bwesley8]

OK, I did that and found:

Primary (5-yr old 20-Gb HDD, Sony DVD burner)

0 -- DMA if available
PIO mode

1 -- DMA if available
PIO mode

Secondary (new 120-Gb HDD, LG DVD player)

0 -- DMA if available
Ultra DMA Mode 3

1 -- DMA if available
Ultra DMA Mode 1

Maybe I should swap positions of the two DVD drives?

Thanks,

Bart

 

[geezer]

0(0) is Primary Master. 0(1) is Primary Slave.
1(0) is Secondary Master. 1(1) is Secondary Slave.

Now I am more confused. You see - I only have two devices connected
to IDE. C hard drive to Primary Master and DVD writer to Secondary
Master. How then does Device Manager ONLY show 0(0) for Primary IDE
Channel and 1(1) for Secondary IDE Channel?

Thanks

G

 

[Mike Walsh]

You might have better results with the hard drives on primary and DVD drives on secondary. If that does not work try the Sony as secondary master with nothing as slave. It is possible that DMA does not work at all on the primary port, try it with the 120 GB drive as master and no slave.