Plextor PX-716A - Burns in 15 minutes at 8X Dvd-r

[storm]

Hi All,

Just got the Plextor PX-716A - it replaced my old pioneer 4X dvd-r burner.
Firmware is 1.02 the latest. Did not have to flash it, that was the firmware.

Using Nero 5.5.9 with update patch, Also Roxio 7 that came with it.
Using 8X rated DVD-r media from Sony -japan made
Memorex 8X - Tiawan made

Burn speed is 8x but for the first two or three minutes the burner is at lead and it seems to be testing the media or something, this adds total burn time of a full dvd-r to about 15 minutes.

Both Nero and Roxio do this with both medias, not sure why but I am thinking that the firmware is the issue. Running Windows XP Pro and had no issues with my old pioneer 4x dvd burner. Also, had about three coasters with burner so far.

Thinking of returning this, I have read on the forum here about hardware problems. I am not impressed with this plextor.

Any ideas???

Thanks

[rkr1958]

Make sure that you have DMA enable. The slow buring speed could be the result of having PIO only. If you don't know how to check this ... check this ==>

start ==> settings ==> control panel ==> system ==> hardware ==> device manager ==> IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers

Check both your Primary and Secondary IDE channels (properties ==> advance setting) to make sure that the Transfer mode is "DMA if available".

[handyguy]

Yeah I went through that but is this a new thing all of a sudden?

for me after much checking, I found out my bios listed my writer as none, so I changed it to AUTO & it was fine.

[borax]

The slow buring speed could be the result of having PIO only

I don't think so... Actually it happened to me (after a regular Windows Update ) that my drive was set to PIO only. But then the burning process was about 40 minutes...
15 Minutes is IMHO impossible without DMA enabled.

[nic2k4]

Usually, when the drive is not in DMA mode, you'd see the drive buffer empty and re-fill itself several times and the drive light would blink off momentarily. At 8x, you should expect a burn time around 12 min., 15 isn't so bad.

More likely, what's happening the drive is slowing down during the burn. This is normal and happens with media that is not recommended for the drive. You should go to Plextor's site and download the recommended media list for your drive.

[rkr1958]

The slow buring speed could be the result of having PIO only

I don't think so... Actually it happened to me (after a regular Windows Update ) that my drive was set to PIO only. But then the burning process was about 40 minutes...
15 Minutes is IMHO impossible without DMA enabled.

Usually, when the drive is not in DMA mode, you'd see the drive buffer empty and re-fill itself several times and the drive light would blink off momentarily.

You're right ... the time that I didn't have DMA enabled (PIO only) I only got 2x burn speeds and the buffer did empty and refil. So you guys are correct ... it's probably not a DMA issue.