Warning: NEC ND-3500a burning CD-R's

[bucknasty]

Take note CD-R burners, it will NOT write faster than 32x with CD-r's if you don't use Ritek media ie; TDK or Verbatim.

It doesnt' matter that the media is rated 52x or 48x, if it isn't Ritek media, 32x is all you get

Yep, if you are happy with 32x being your MAX CD-R write speed, use Taiyo Yuden media. Buy Ritek media and enjoy 48x burning speeds on the CD-R side of things.

The DVD side of the drive ROCKS! Great speed, everything. But man can not live on DVD "rips" alone.

NEC needs to fix this drives firmware so you can use all CD-R media that is rated at 48x, not just theirs!

[ViRaL1]

52x CD burners can be had for cheap these days. Why would you want to burn out your 16x DVD with high-speed CD burning?

[QuaiBoy]

Since when are Verbatim CDRs Ritek media? Mine have always been CMC (Datalife) or MCC (DatalifePlus), and I've been buying them off-and-on for years. I just MID'd the Datalife cake I bought last week and they are CMC.

x2 on having a separate CD writer. I have a Lite-On 52327S I would never give up. Writes a full disk in 2.5 minutes or less.

-Evan-

[tonyp12]

32x is darn fast.

And probably less chance of a coasters at this speed.
So I think it's a benafit that it maxes out at 32x.

[bucknasty]

The main issue is that people are expecting to be able to burn 48x with the 3500a and it disappoints on the CD-R side unless you are using the correct media.

Just wait for the forum questions and support calls about the NEC not burning CD-Rs at 48x.

It is going to put a bad "taste" in peoples mouth finding out it won't write 48x with all 48x rated media.

This is a great burner, but unless NEC unlocks the firmware, they are going to get some heavy flack over having to use Ritek media.

just my 2 cents

[dun4cheap]

Burn baby burn. Who would want to waste a drive bay just for a cd burner. Speaking of that, the nec 3500 and pioneer 108 were only $82 this weekend at the local computer fair. So the question is why would you waste $40 on a cd burner when for a little more you get it all. Besides in 2 weeks it will all be old technology.

[ViRaL1]

Burn baby burn. Who would want to waste a drive bay just for a cd burner. Speaking of that, the nec 3500 and pioneer 108 were only $82 this weekend at the local computer fair. So the question is why would you waste $40 on a cd burner when for a little more you get it all. Besides in 2 weeks it will all be old technology.

If you're imaptient enough that the less than 1 min difference between 32x and 48x burning puts a cramp in your style, maybe a bay and $40 isn't that much to give up. On one hand I do agree with you about getting what you paid for but on the other hand it's almost like saying 'The mileage on my Lamborghini Diablo in stop and go traffic isn't really what I expected.'

[dun4cheap]

Well I guess the next question I would have, is how often have you actually seen a burner sustain 52x. Typically CLV kicks in and I wonder if you really see a minute difference. You could also try so hacked firmwares.

[TerminalVeloCD]

Well I guess the next question I would have, is how often have you actually seen a burner sustain 52x. Typically CLV kicks in and I wonder if you really see a minute difference. You could also try so hacked firmwares.

I have never had a fallback problem with my LiteON LTR-52327S. When I select 52x, it will always write at 52x if the media code is supported at this speed.

Regards,
TerminalVeloCD

[waheed]

why would burining at higher speeds really matter. of course, its only a minute difference or so, you're not in a hurry or need to burn some 100+ discs or so in one go.

burning at speeds in excess of 48x or 52x poses a risk. i used to have a 52x cd burner and once was burning at 52x when the cd shattered in the drive. i couldn't get the drive open and when i returned it to the store i bought the cd burner from, they said cds shattering in the drive is not covered under my warranty terms and conditions.

thats one cd burner in the bin.

i dont mind waiting an extra minute or so. besides, i dont burn that many cds as i used to, its all now dvds mainly.