What write speeds do you use?

[tperricone]

I used to burn everything at 1x since I am cheap, but now media is around 60 cents per disk using Ritek only and have been burning from 4-8x depending if I know I will be doing something else in the next 20 minutes or so otherwise i'll burn at 2x just in case. Although I have never had a problem with the faster burnt disks. My 20x cdrw drive is still going strong and don't feel like spending any money to save a couple of minutes per burn. By the time I remember to check my cd it is done buring anyway. If you want to be save burn 50% of what your drive can handle and you should be in the clear with no data corruption or coasters.

[indolikaa]

Always burn at the maximum speed that your burner supports. CD and DVD recorders were specifically designed to perform optimally at their maximum speed.

If you burn at less than maximum speed, this will only lead to more heating of the media during the recording process. Unfortunately, if your source is another optical device, or a highly fragmented drive, you *may* have to burn at less than maximum speed.

Quit wasting your time burning slowly! The verify function of Nero has a purpose - use it!

That's nonsense!

Just because a burner can burn at X speed doesn't mean that is the optimal speed for burning everything, especially with CDs. Just look at the 3T tests done on 'hi-speed' media and you will see that faster is not always better. Just because an optics package can burn at 52X CD or 8X DVD doesn't mean the media is up to the job.

One of the purposes of the PCA is to establish what write strategy is appropriate for the media in question. Just because the drive says 8X and the media says 8X doesn't mean the PCA will pass an 8X spin-up.

If you burn at less than maximum speed, this will only lead to more heating of the media during the recording process.

I would love to see a study that proves this, because I haven't seen one yet and that's why I don't believe it. I have burned literally thousands of 48X and 52X CD-Rs at 12X and 16X. I have an older collection of 24X CD-Rs that were burned at 4X and they are still fine. I would be much more worried about 3T errors than heat.

[chas0039]

Here is a link to other links on the longevity of DVD media and upcoming tests. Mention of the slower burning process and increased life is also linked.