Firmware question NEC3500

[stiltman]

I was thinking about buying the mad dog (NEC 3500 OEM)

1st question, can I flash it to make it a NEC?
....If not, how good is MD firmware?

2nd question, can I flash it to a 3520?

Compusa sale ends on the 10th

[-jsl-]

1) Mad Dog gets more firmware updates than NEC's own drives and the Mad Dog firmwares also support bitsetting unlike the NEC versions so there is no reason to flash it with NEC's firmware.
Many of the various patched NEC firmwares (with overspeeding, riplock removed, RPC1) are in fact based on the Mad Dog firmwares. They of course work on all OEM NEC drives including the Mad Dog.

2) No, not if you get the ND-3500 model (MD-16XDVD9) because they are based on different hardware. Mad Dog also has a ND-3520 model though (MD-16XDVD9A2), at least there is a firmware update at their website for it.

[drjtech]

You can get more info on NEC firmware at the CD Freaks NEC Forum.

[Mikeysoft]

... the ND-3500 model (MD-16XDVD9) because they are based on different hardware. Mad Dog also has a ND-3520 model though (MD-16XDVD9A2), ...

I got the Mad Dog MD-16XDVD9A2 yesterday, Sunday March 6 from CompUSA. What is the differance between the MD-16XDVD9 and the MD-16XDVD9A2?

[drjtech]

As -jsl- said, the MD-16XDVD9 is based on the ND-3500 hardware, while the MD-16XDVD9A2 is based on the ND-3520 hardware.

The 3520 is an update to the 3500, although I've seen arguments both ways over which is "better". The hardware is different, so you must use the proper firmware family.

-drj

[stiltman]

... the ND-3500 model (MD-16XDVD9) because they are based on different hardware. Mad Dog also has a ND-3520 model though (MD-16XDVD9A2), ...

I got the Mad Dog MD-16XDVD9A2 yesterday, Sunday March 6 from CompUSA. What is the differance between the MD-16XDVD9 and the MD-16XDVD9A2?

Was this the $49 special?
May have to make sure tomorrow.
Either way, I don't want this BTC/Emprex anymore