please take a look at this info

[james636]

SONY DVD RW DRU-500A 2.0g
Current Profile: DVD-R

Disc Information:
Status: Empty
Erasable: No
Free Sectors: 2,298,496
Free Space: 4,707,319,808 bytes
Free Time: 510:48:46 (MM:SS:FF)
Supported Write Speeds: 1x, 2x, 4x

Pre-recorded Information:
Manufacturer ID: ONIDTECH

Physical Format Information (Last Recorded):
Book Type: DVD-R
Part Version: 5
Disc Size: 120mm
Maximum Read Rate: Not Specified
Number of Layers: 1
Track Path: Parallel Track Path (PTP)
Linear Density: 0.267 um/bit
Track Density: 0.74 um/track

Above is some info on the discs that I have. As you can see, it supports 1x,2x,4x write speeds, but I'm only getting a 1x burn speed. I forced a 4x write speed, but no go. I've used Nero 6, DVD Decrypter, and Alcohol 120%; I forced 4x on each software, but onlt burned at 1x

I have DMA mode turned on.

[flaninacupboard]

if you check the media listing you'll see it's a mixture of old firmware in your drive and shoddy discs.

[james636]

First off let me say this, the firmware I have installed is the firmware that is reccomended by the seller inwhich the discs were tested with. Secondly, before I rolled backed to 2.0g, I was running 2.1a, which is the newest firmware update for my drive. Man, I have checked a Gatrillion sites looking for answers to this problem and came to find that there was a billion-trillion other people experiencing the same problem that I am. The main qestion that people who offer help ask is, are you sure you're in DMA mode? Now come on, do you think that a trillion people would be experiencing a problem with their sony drive not burning 4x because of something like DMA mode not enabled. I know that there has to be something that someone knows that can help us. I don't think Sony and the manufacturers of DVD/CD media can falsely state that there product can do something that it relly can't. I will try my best to offer as much important information about my system in order for those that might can help to have the necessary information to offer the best solution.

Please tell me everything that I need to specify about my setup (outside of taking it apart) that would be necessary to draw a conclusion. I ran Nero info tool and it stated that my drive was in working order. It also stated that it was capable of a max burn of 3.1x (Sony says it was supposed to be able to do 4x) I bought some Verbatim 4x from Sams and they only did 2x. I also just recieved some dvd-r 1x,2x,4x, from ebay and they only did 1x. below is the link inwhich I purchased the dvd-r

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41796&item=4135285061&rd=1

[flaninacupboard]

ok, if you're sure your firmware is good, try some better discs. Ritek G04 or taiyo yuden have a good reputation.

[james636]

Ritek and the other brand you named is also a no go with me and a zillion other people having this 4x burn problem. Anything else.

[flaninacupboard]

if your drive is under warranty return it and buy a pioneer drive? it sounds like a piece of junk. what is sony's response on the matter?

[HAMP]

The link you gave for the DVD's, I would not buy those, they are like 3rd or 4th class media but I'm pretty sure the other Zillion people who are having problems are not using those, but you did say you got better speed with better media, what media code were those? do you know or can you give it to use to review?

[james636]

How do you determine the media code?

[HAMP]

You can use either of these programs.

http://www.dvdinfopro.com/index.php

or

http://dvd.identifier.cdfreaks.com/

[james636]

Drive capabilites:


** INFO : An Empty Writable Disc Is Recommended For Accurate Results
** INFO : Drive = SONY DVD RW DRU-500A [FW 2.0g]
** INFO : Write Capabilities = DVD+R DVD+RW DVD-R DVD-RW
** INFO : Disc = [DVD-R:ONIDTECH]
** INFO : Write Speeds (Supported By This Drive On This Disc) Listed Below

** INFO : GET PERFORMANCE Write Speed Descriptor(s)
Descriptor #1 = 5540 KBPS ( 4.00x) - [CLV/Non-Pure CAV]
Descriptor #2 = 2770 KBPS ( 2.00x) - [CLV/Non-Pure CAV]
Descriptor #3 = 1385 KBPS ( 1.00x) - [CLV/Non-Pure CAV]

** INFO : MODE SENSE Write Speed Descriptor(s) [Legacy Command]
Descriptor #1 = 5540 KBPS ( 4.00x) - [CLV/Non-Pure CAV]
Descriptor #2 = 2770 KBPS ( 2.00x) - [CLV/Non-Pure CAV]
Descriptor #3 = 1385 KBPS ( 1.00x) - [CLV/Non-Pure CAV]

Media code for the unname brand:

** INFO : Hex Dump Of 'Media Code'-Block Listed Below
** INFO : 4-Byte Header Preceding 'Media Code'-Block Discarded
** INFO : Format 0Eh - Pre-Recorded Information In Lead-In
0000 : 01 40 c1 fd 9e d8 52 00 02 fa 0e 11 fe ff c0 00 .@....R.........
0010 : 03 4f 4e 49 44 54 45 00 04 43 48 00 00 00 00 00 .ONIDTE..CH.....
0020 : 05 cc c8 88 88 80 01 00 06 0b 16 11 87 78 80 00 .............x..
0030 : 07 88 80 00 00 00 00 00 08 09 1c 0e 12 08 09 00 ................
0040 : 09 95 06 0d 0b 80 00 00 0a 00 00 00 00 00 10 00 ................
0050 : 0b 06 21 13 a8 87 95 00 0c 99 99 88 80 00 00 00 ..!.............
0060 : 0d 00 00 d0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
0070 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
0080 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
0090 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00a0 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00b0 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00c0 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00d0 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00e0 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00f0 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................

Media code for the Verbatim:


** INFO : Hex Dump Of 'Media Code'-Block Listed Below
** INFO : 4-Byte Header Preceding 'Media Code'-Block Discarded
** INFO : Format 0Eh - Pre-Recorded Information In Lead-In
0000 : 01 40 c1 fd 9e d8 52 00 02 87 0d 11 66 78 80 00 .@....R.....fx..
0010 : 03 4d 43 43 20 30 31 00 04 52 47 32 30 20 20 00 .MCC 01..RG20 .
0020 : 05 a8 82 00 20 00 02 00 06 09 11 11 87 78 90 00 .... ........x..
0030 : 07 a8 82 00 20 00 00 00 08 05 16 0d 10 0a 09 00 .... ...........
0040 : 09 97 07 0e 0b 58 88 00 0a c0 00 00 00 00 10 00 .....X..........
0050 : 0b 07 1c 13 a8 89 65 00 0c b6 89 88 80 00 00 00 ......e.........
0060 : 0d 00 00 d0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
0070 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
0080 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
0090 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00a0 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00b0 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00c0 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00d0 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00e0 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00f0 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................

[HAMP]

ok, let me put 2 & 2 together and see what we come up with.

1. You used Nero 6, DVD Decrypter, and Alcohol 120%; forced 4x on each software, but only burned at 1x or 2X with Verbatim
2. You say you are sure the DMA is turned on(what motherboard do you have)
3. You say you have the lastest firmware.
4. The media code MCC 01..RG20, I have pushed that to 8X myself
5. You say you have visited other site's and other's are having the same problem

Sounding like a bad drive!!! only thing I can come up with. The other thing I thought about is a bad IDE cable but I doubt all those other people have that problem, except if all the IDE cable that came with the drive are bad and everyone used the same cable's. Did you used the cable that was supplied with the drive?

[james636]

Nero6, DVD Decrypter, and Alcohol 120% are my choice of software also (Great choices). DMA is on. How do I find out the motherboard info? Yes, I used the cable that was supplied with the purchase; Don't know what size though. I've tried 4 different firmware options. You think the drive is bad? I rarely get coasters; maybe once every blue moon. And most of the time its an error on my part. Nero info, DVD identifier, and Drive Check say that my drive is in working order.

[HAMP]

I would hate to tell you to go buy another IDE Cable, I don't use the cable that came with my drive. The standard cable's are 40 pin ribbon cable's but they do sell a highier quality IDE cable, high-speed Ultra drives require a higher quality cable(which are 80-character cables, they are still the 40 pins just a highier quality) some will not agree and some will agree, I use these on both my drives and I noticed a diffrence in speed