Prices?

Ned Flanders · Post by **Ned Flanders** » Fri May 24, 2002 8:16 am

I'm stumped then. The specs supply ample speed for cd writing and if all files are local, buffer problems shouldn't happen. Of course, they are, so we've got a problem; or, you've got a problem. What is the brand name of cd writer and what writer software (and version) are you using. I'll dig around and see if I can find any answers. Knowing your Internet savvy, I doubt I'd look anywhere you already haven't.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Fri May 24, 2002 8:42 am

Originally posted by Ned Flanders
I'm stumped then. The specs supply ample speed for cd writing and if all files are local, buffer problems shouldn't happen. Of course, they are, so we've got a problem; or, you've got a problem. What is the brand name of cd writer and what writer software (and version) are you using. I'll dig around and see if I can find any answers. Knowing your Internet savvy, I doubt I'd look anywhere you already haven't.

Adaptec. Nero 5.(something or other) I have no problems with source from the Hard Drive, merely on the fly and normal CD to CD-RW. Thanks for your any help and don't worry about it too much

Quark · Post by **Quark** » Fri May 24, 2002 9:26 am

Adaptec shouldn't be the brand of your actual drive. They just release software for writers and tons of connection/gateway hardware (I.e. SCSI/RAID cards, Firewire, USB, Ethernet, etc ...)

One big factor is the general 'newness' of your writer. If it's a newer IDE burner it should have 'Burnproof' technology, which prevents buffer underrun by pausing the burn.

Buffer underrun is definately most common when the two devices are on the same channel, that's why I always try to place a burner on it's own channel (and one reason I want that ABIT AT7 so much!).

Ah, here's a question: do you have ATA100 set up right in Windows? It defaults to 66, so you're losing a good 33% of your bandwidth if that's not set right. I think you can change it by checking 'Properties' of the hard drive in the System/Device Manager area.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Fri May 24, 2002 9:44 am

Originally posted by Quark
Adaptec shouldn't be the brand of your actual drive. They just release software for writers and tons of connection/gateway hardware (I.e. SCSI/RAID cards, Firewire, USB, Ethernet, etc ...)

Don't have the machine in front of me, so i will check later

One big factor is the general 'newness' of your writer. If it's a newer IDE burner it should have 'Burnproof' technology, which prevents buffer underrun by pausing the burn.

As i stated it is fairly old, the Burnproof tech isn't that reliable apparently, but it will surely help

Ah, here's a question: do you have ATA100 set up right in Windows? It defaults to 66, so you're losing a good 33% of your bandwidth if that's not set right. I think you can change it by checking 'Properties' of the hard drive in the System/Device Manager area.

I don't know, i presume so, good question i will check later. During boot it says ATA100.

K0r/\/f1@k€$ · Post by **K0r/\/f1@k€$** » Sat May 25, 2002 1:34 pm

If you are still looking for a CDRW, I just picked one up on http://www.ebuyer.com for under £50. It's 40x16x10 and BURN proof. I have copied CDs from CDROM drive to CDRW drive (on the same IDE channel) at 16x without BURN so I'm happy

PS Everything on ebuyer is cheap! Buy stuff there - make them grow!

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Wed May 29, 2002 5:47 am

@Kornflakes, i have seen cheaper but they seem pretty good. It is something i am considering, i have been using the CD-RW as a primary cd-rom drive for a while so maybe that is effecting things.

I have been tinkering. Apparently there is a problem in actually reading on the fly from the secondary CD-ROM drive, i have tried two different one's now and they both take an absolute age to read anything and don't seem to be doing anything, i can however burn a CD image in no time at all. Music and Data both seem to have the same problem. It might be the secondary CD_Rom, but that seems unlikely since i don't usually have a problem with them. I haven't had a look at what the actual brand is yet, i will later today hopefully.

Could i also get some advice on a new device i just heard about, apparently one can get a PCI IDE device that gives you 4 more IDE channels, does anyone now anything about it?

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Wed May 29, 2002 7:02 am

I've seen some PCI expansion cards that add 2 IDE channels to your computer. I am not sure if you need to update your BIOS after installing such a card or if it replaces the IDE channels on your motherboard.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Wed May 29, 2002 7:22 am

Originally posted by HighLordDave
I've seen some PCI expansion cards that add 2 IDE channels to your computer. I am not sure if you need to update your BIOS after installing such a card or if it replaces the IDE channels on your motherboard.

This seemed to indicate it added more *shrugs*

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Wed May 29, 2002 8:16 am

I just checked the Promise Technology website and they claim that their ATA-133 expansion card will add two more IDE channels (4 devices) in addition to the ones on your motherboard and apparently it comes with a BIOS update so that your computer will recognise the additional channels.

Personally, if I were going to be adding more drives and would be going to the hassle of adding expansion cards, I'd just go with SCSI.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Wed May 29, 2002 8:43 am

Cheers

It might be a solution to CD problem refered to earlier

K0r/\/f1@k€$ · Post by **K0r/\/f1@k€$** » Wed May 29, 2002 12:11 pm

That sounds damn useful. How does it actually work, becuase I was under the impression the bottleneck was also present in the motherboard proper, not just in the number of cable connectors?

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Wed May 29, 2002 1:13 pm

Originally posted by K0r/\/f1@k€$
That sounds damn useful. How does it actually work, becuase I was under the impression the bottleneck was also present in the motherboard proper, not just in the number of cable connectors?

That was my impression as well, i assume the BIOS update sorts the problem out though?

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Wed May 29, 2002 1:19 pm

Originally posted by Mr Sleep
That was my impression as well, i assume the BIOS update sorts the problem out though?

That's what the Promise Technology website led me to believe, although it stands to reason that they would need to have a BIOS update for each motherboard and chipset. I would wait around and see if our friends Ned Flanders or Mr Flibble have ever added IDE channel expansion cards; they may know for sure.

Ned Flanders · Post by **Ned Flanders** » Wed May 29, 2002 1:58 pm

I've never added PCI IDE channels to a PC. This seem like something more attuned ot SCSI, which has been pointed out. Older Dell's used to use the ATA66 Quantum Fireball, about four years ago. This drive came with a PCI IDE expansion card and some proprietary drivers.

The thing I fear with this cards is the BIOS changes to made. BIOS updates are pretty specific so I doubt one BIOS update would work on all system boards. Perhaps the manufacturer of the PCI card collaborated with various system board manufacturers to get each to write respective BIOS updates and then published a CD.

Again, I must point out, I haven't adding IDE channels via PCI cards. Maybe Quark or Flibble will check in.

Another consideration is USB 2.0 drives.

Mr Flibble · Post by **Mr Flibble** » Wed May 29, 2002 2:14 pm

The PCI IDE controllers work in a very similar method to SCSI controllers when integrating with the motherboards BIOS and detecting drives. All the ones I've seen have an onboard BIOS on the card itself, so removing the card simply takes those IDE channels away from the system. Very handy if you've only got an ATA33 interface or need to be able to run more than 4 IDE devices.

@Sleep, this may very well solve your buffer underrun problem, especially if you can put each CD drive on it's own IDE channel. I usually don't bother with on-the-fly copying, as it is usually too troublesome to get working reliably and both CD and CD-RW drives I have here are fast enough that it doesn't really make much difference anyway.

@Ned, you are seriously a big fan of USB2 aren't you?

Ned Flanders · Post by **Ned Flanders** » Wed May 29, 2002 2:42 pm

D'oh! (wrong avatar). BIOS on the card, indeed. Well. that's certainly a matter of convenience.

@Mr. Flibble, not a fan of USB 2.0 yet. I'll be trying new products associated with USB 2.0 and then decide. The DVD writer is way backordered so I won't have it for a couple of weeks.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Wed May 29, 2002 2:51 pm

Originally posted by Mr Flibble
@Sleep, this may very well solve your buffer underrun problem, especially if you can put each CD drive on it's own IDE channel. I usually don't bother with on-the-fly copying, as it is usually too troublesome to get working reliably and both CD and CD-RW drives I have here are fast enough that it doesn't really make much difference anyway.

Sounds good

They were only 16 squids, so i might consider it, i am thinking of altering a few things in my machine anyway so it might be purchased at the same time.