Sony DRU-500AX works but slowly

[SkgKnwldg]

my 500AX writer works but awfully slow, anyone has any insight will be grateful.

I have upgraded to firmware 2.0e, but it didn't help.

Max DVD reading speed is 2x, my old DVD-ROM reads the same DVD at 4x speed.
Burning CDR, most of the time it took over 25 minutes, sometimes it did do it within 4-5 min.
Never experienced more than 1x DVD burning, so far I've only burned a few Princo's and a Optodisc RW. These discs are only certified at 1x.

I have tried the Sony on another computer, same problem.

My system consists of MB MSI KT4V-L, Athlon XP 2200+, WD80GB+8M cache

[Gazorgan]

2x is all you get on most writers and some DVDROM drives. You can try all the common solutions such as making sure DMA is enabled, and your not sharing the IDE cable with a slow mode4 device. But, most DVD writers are locked at 2x for reading encrypted disks.

[mcubed91]

I have AX, no upgrade, stock out of box. First in my xp1600, winXP now in my poweredge1600sc. Same burn times.
The 2x rip/read dvd is locked so I don't think you can change that.
Haven't burned any cd's on it so...
I didn't know you can burn dvd's faster than what it is rated at, I'm I missing something?
I use Verbatim dvd+r media, the 4x burn at 4x. The 2.4x at 2.4x. When set to max burn speed. I never seen my 2.4x run any faster than 2.4.
You might try different brands.
Off the sony website, these are recommended brands:
sony
verbatim
tdk
pioneer
start lab inc
hitachi
mitsui

[charly86]

Yes DRU locked to 2X thats why i bought another DVD Reader (Pionner DVD 117) Ripping speed is always between 6X and 8X I'm happy with it

And more I'm using Sony only to Burn.

[SkgKnwldg]

Thanks to all the replies. Well, it is certainly disappointing to findout that the Sony writer or most writers are locked at 2x speed, eventhought it says 8x read on the box. I was pulling my hair out tried to figure out why, and thought it was a defect with the writer.

Thanks to the kind people here in this forum, now I know.

[joshcali]

thanks for the info!
I was having the same problem so I switched to ripping on my dvd-rom (toshiba sd-m1502) and I'm getting 10x rip speeds! I was ripping too a 5400rpm drive, I'm going to have to switch to a 7200rpm drive to keep up... lol