Nec2500 A problems

[overloaded_ide]

This is not a cross post, I posted much of this in another subject but going back to edit it out.

My system is set up correctly.
I have taken the Toshiba 5002 2X burner I have and the NEC2500 and swapped around and traded places and installed each as the only burner ect.. already. Many combinations!

My NEC2500 as the only burner, IDE2, master (no slave) was in PIO mode when I last looked. Use DMA if available was choosen though.
This drive when tested with DVDinfo showed to be reading DVD-R disk and Comercail pressed disk both at average of 2.4x only. Watching the numbers, it jumped from 2.35 to 2.45 often, the graph was a straight line across with tons of little downward spikes! My burns are now only about 2X on 4X disks. Little over 20 Minutes for a full disk! Plus I had alot of other problems before. Also I used DVDshrink and ripped a disk with NO compresion and it took over 50 minutes, compared to normal of less than 20minutes when also compressing! So the slow reads in testing are correct

I have the Toshiba 5002 now installed on the same IDE2 connecter, Master, No slave.
It is using UDMA, on the same disks used to test the NEC I have gotten 5X read on DVD-r and little over 6X on pressed disk.
This drive is only a 2x drive so of course the burns are only 2x even on 4x disks. And for a test rip I got my normal speed.

Since the problem is only with the NEC I am figuring all other system/software/hardware etc.. is fine.

Why would I have dropped back into a PIO mode. It used to work great, then 2x only burns, then 3 coasters in a row, locked up the system and caused failed boots with a disk in the drive. After moving to a new system for testing I have not had any problems now other than speeds and have installed and tested in original system again now with only speed problems. Could it be an internal problem and moving the drive around shook it enough to get it working again, but still only 2x?

I do have an RMA number now to send it back, but if it's not actually broke might as well keep it. I have till Monday to decide, that's when I'll ship it.

As for the coasters the NEC made, both burners were installed at that time, the NEC failed 3 times in a row, but the Toshiba burned the same files and disks from the same spindle perfect. And the disks were working perfect up till then in the NEC, so the coasters were not disk or system problems either I am sure.

Now for something alittle strange, since I had last posted abit about this in a differnet post (now deleted) I have done nothing except take the IDE cable off the Toshiba and put it back on the NEC, look at device manager and it shows UDMA now. This is the exact same setup that showed the NEC to be in PIO mode last time I had it installed. I am now runining DVDinfo on that same comercail disk I used last time in both drives and last I looked it was getting about a 6x read speed. Other test it never got above the 2.45x all the way through asI mentionned above on this disk!
Just looked and test completed, 5.28X was average and it ended showing the current as having been in the 4x range.
Average on Toshiba for this disk was 6X, SO my nec is still not right but is better than it was.
On to more testing with other disks!

Anyone have Ideas on this? I have an RMA number, but if drive works correctly I'll keep it, if not I ship it Monday.

Thanks

[overloaded_ide]

Here are the currant test results if I can upload them

First test is a DVD-r backup I had made, it got alomost 8X read max.

This second is a comercail disk


Looking in the docs, but what is that green line?

So when working properly, what is a true average speed I should be looking for? I mean does a 16x reader get a true average of like 12x, should a 12x get an average of 10x or maybe 8X?

I know I am getting far better than I was at 2.4X, but am I getting the correct speed in now is my question. I have to look up the drive and see what the specs claim, not sure if 12x or 16x read speed?

I will be trying a burn soon and see how that goes, just need to find something to burn now. I have done everything I need right now, though I could burn a disk of my own I don't really need right now.

[tompika]

Looking in the docs, but what is that green line?

Rev?

[Bob W]

I would make sure the drive jumper is set to master then in windows hardware manager remove the drive, re-boot the computer and see if DMA is then enabled. If it is not then perhaps it's a bad drive. I have the 3500A and it actually burns some 8X media at 16X however it's locked at 2X for playback or ripping.

I also have another burner that is a screamer for ripping (as high as 15X)which I bought from here. http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=27-182-025&depa=0

[overloaded_ide]

Thanks Bob.

I have it running UDMA now in the above tests. Also I just did a 4X burn on a 4X disk again.

I have NO idea what happen to it to cause all the problems I had.
Was working great with both drive instaled at once, then problems, swapping it around etc.. and then I saw a PIO mode before disconnecting it the last time and connecting the Toshiba. UDMA for toshiba was automatic, and now this time I connect the NEC and it is in UDMA like it should be and now working about like it was when first installed new!

Goofey, and there was never any system changes or installs that should have triggered any type of problems like this. That system is not ever connected to the NET either!

Hopefully it is working now and will stay working.

[billcay62]

If you had it connected to the middle instead of the end of the 80 pin cannector can often cause that problem??????

[overloaded_ide]

Not sure where it was conneted to begin with, but it worked pefect for months before problems started, and it did not work correctly last time it was connecte as it is now. All I did was remove cable and put back on basically between last time and this time, I did use it on the 5002 drive in between. But as far as the NEC no other changes.

[overloaded_ide]

Last update, unless it breaks again!

At this time my NEC2500A IS working again. I still have not decided why it stopped working or what the actaul problem has been with only 2x burns on other systems I tested it in ect.., but I am glad it is working!!

As much as I hated to do it, I bought a 3 pack of Maxell 8X +R hardcoat disks at wal-mart yesterday for around $8 and tested with one of those.

Got a nearly full (4.4gig) burn in about 9-10 mintutes. Started 11:58 ended just right when the clock flipped to 12:08, so give or take some seconds it was 10minutes.

So not only am I back to 4X burns on 4X disks, but I have burned my first 8X disk now also and it did burn fast, 4.4gig in 10 minutes, is that about 6X average or closer to the full 8X?