[Jamos]

If you do get the bytecc (ie prolific 3507 chipset) at newegg you can flash your enclosure to the latest version of firmware from downloads at prolifics site. http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/downloads.asp?ID=44

the flasher you want is rw_pl3507_icp_v23.zip
then find the latest firmware. back up your original first by reading the existing rom. Flash with usb2.

[chas0039]

Originally Posted by hardtool

The bottomline is: Is it possible that the root of all my problems is the external enclosure? If true, what type or enclosure brand would you recommend?

Sorry for the long story!

Thanks in advance for all your help!

You got it. I also have an ALI chipset and it is worthless for all but reading.

You need a chipset from Prolific, the 3507, or the new Cypress AT2+ chipset.

Either one is here: http://www.dealsonic.com/pl52usb20enf.html

[Jamos]

Originally Posted by chas0039

the new Cypress AT2+ chipset.

Either one is here: http://www.dealsonic.com/pl52usb20enf.html

you can actually achieve 16x with usb2? I never have.

[chas0039]

Originally Posted by Jamos

you can actually achieve 16x with usb2? I never have.

I haven't but others here have reported that they have. Probably with a UMDA 4 drive like the LG 4166 or one of the newer Liteon drives. I know my burst rate is 24107 KB/sec. I only burn 16X media on one drive, my LG 4166. I might hook it up with the Plumax with the Cypress USB chip and see what happens. I do know it works for my Pioneer 111 at 12X and it also does not turn out a good 12X burn with my BenQ 1655. It burns at 12X when it should, but there are more PIF errors than I like to see. This is not the case with the Prolific 3507, where the 12X burn is good. If you look at the details at the bottom of the Plumax Cypress USB case, it does not mention 16X for the BenQs.

[Muageto]

And someone told me to go away from Cypress AT2+. I knew I should have listened to myself.

[Jamos]

Originally Posted by chas0039

I haven't but others here have reported that they have. Probably with a UMDA 4 drive like the LG 4166 or one of the newer Liteon drives. I know my burst rate is 24107 KB/sec. I only burn 16X media on one drive, my LG 4166. I might hook it up with the Plumax with the Cypress USB chip and see what happens. I do know it works for my Pioneer 111 at 12X and it also does not turn out a good 12X burn with my BenQ 1655. It burns at 12X when it should, but there are more PIF errors than I like to see. This is not the case with the Prolific 3507, where the 12X burn is good. If you look at the details at the bottom of the Plumax Cypress USB case, it does not mention 16X for the BenQs.

yes as I stated above you should get 16x with any drive that is higher than udma 2 on a good desktop and firewire. the case does say it is compatable with benq 1640 so I would hope it could reach 16x. and my burst rate for my external liteon 1693 is just a little bit higher as yours but I can get to 16x with it no problems as it is udma 4 (constant bitrate is the key, not burst).

hmm i also see this plumax enclosure listed as firewire/usb2 strange..

[OneSickPup]

Originally Posted by chas0039

You got it. I also have an ALI chipset and it is worthless for all but reading.

You need a chipset from Prolific, the 3507, or the new Cypress AT2+ chipset.

Either one is here: http://www.dealsonic.com/pl52usb20enf.html

I have a question about the Plumax with the Cypress AT2+. Is that unit satisfactory for periodic swapping of drives or would you not recommend for frequent swap outs? Also: Hard to tell from pics - will it accomodate short drives well? Thanks in advance.

[chas0039]

Originally Posted by OneSickPup

I have a question about the Plumax with the Cypress AT2+. Is that unit satisfactory for periodic swapping of drives or would you not recommend for frequent swap outs? Also: Hard to tell from pics - will it accomodate short drives well? Thanks in advance.

I swap out drives all the time with a lot of cases. The Plumax cases are fine for this, the only real wear is on the plastic side panels and they are rubust. I don't think you will wear out the drive connections. Short cases are actually easier to fit in the drive; the only drive I have found that would not fit was a Pioneer 106 which was too long. Every other drive I have tried in the last 2 years has been fine.

Too make it clear, the Prolific 3507 Plumax case seems to be a better chip for some drives that are picky, such as BenQ and LG. The Cypress AT2+ is a new chip, older Cypress chips were a problem. For BenQ, and maybe LG, the Cypress will work but you should probably limit it to 8X. This is what I found for the BenQ 1655; I have not tested LG.

I don't yet know how the Prolific chip will function in USB mode as the one I have now is firewire only. I will have more Plumax Prolific cases next week so I can see. As I don't have a 16X -R disc for simulated burning, so I have to wait until I have a SL copy I need to make, convert to an ISO, and then copy with CDSpeed's "create disc" function to see how it worked out. I am not qualified to interpret the CDSpeed burn graphs but I can scan after and se if it was a good burn or if there were problems after it jumped above 8X.

If anyone has a better way to determine the max speed for burning with different drives, please let me know, especially if it doesn't waste a disc. I have 10 different drives and it would be useful to test them all out on this new Cypress chip.

[OneSickPup]

Thanks chas0039 for the info. I have a Macally PHC-500BC FireWire / USB2.0 External Enclosure currently but it is better suited for hard drives in my mind. I've got a Benq 1650 and a Pioneer 111D on order and am trying to figure out how to do the "Drive Shuffle". I may order 2 Plumax enclosures (one Cypress - one Prolific) and see. Those prices aren't bad at all. Thanks again.

[chas0039]

Based on what I have seen, I would put the BenQ in the Prolific and the Pioneer in the Cypress.

[GrrRon]

chas0039 could you please state the power rating of your enclosures?
I would like to know because I had problems with my DW 1620, my enclosure delivers 5V-1,5A and 12V-1,8A and has a Prolific 3507 chipset.

[OneSickPup]

Originally Posted by chas0039

I don't yet know how the Prolific chip will function in USB mode as the one I have now is firewire only. I will have more Plumax Prolific cases next week so I can see. As I don't have a 16X -R disc for simulated burning, so I have to wait until I have a SL copy I need to make, convert to an ISO, and then copy with CDSpeed's "create disc" function to see how it worked out. I am not qualified to interpret the CDSpeed burn graphs but I can scan after and se if it was a good burn or if there were problems after it jumped above 8X.

If anyone has a better way to determine the max speed for burning with different drives, please let me know, especially if it doesn't waste a disc. I have 10 different drives and it would be useful to test them all out on this new Cypress chip.

I just placed an order for this: http://www.dealsonic.com/pl52usb20enf.html
and this: http://www.dealsonic.com/plpmblcousb22.html

One of each. I was cheap though - took the 5 day ground shipping. I will try to setup and test when I get them in. Keep us posted on your tests as I think we have a couple drives in common. Or at least will have once I get my 111D and 1650.

[chas0039]

I get decent transfer rates at 12X, which is the top speed for anything with this drive anyway.

Not sure why it slowed to 8X at the end but the burn was good.

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showpost.ph...&postcount=225

[FastAssEG]

I just purchased a laptop and I am making it my main computer. I have a NEC 3500a and want to put it in an enclosure that has the capability of me reaching 16x burns.

This is the enclosure I was thinking about getting. I believe it has the Oxford 911 chipset for firewire. I am not sure about the USB 2.O. Or should I just get the Plumax Firewire Prolific chipset case?

If needed this is the laptop I have.

[chas0039]

Originally Posted by FastAssEG

I just purchased a laptop and I am making it my main computer. I have a NEC 3500a and want to put it in an enclosure that has the capability of me reaching 16x burns.

This is the enclosure I was thinking about getting. I believe it has the Oxford 911 chipset for firewire. I am not sure about the USB 2.O. Or should I just get the Plumax Firewire Prolific chipset case?

If needed this is the laptop I have.

You won't hit 16X with an Oxford 911, only with the 911 Plus. In any case, probably not on USB. The best you will get with the 911 is 8X and the best with the Prolific 3507 is probably 12X.

Go here and get this. It is the best you can do for any drive.

http://www.dealsonic.com/plpmblcousb22.html

You still may be slower depending on the USB in your laptop.
My 3500 burns beautifully at 8X with TY T02 +R 8X. You should just stock up and spend the extra 2 minutes. There is no media any better.

[chas0039]

Originally Posted by GrrRon

chas0039 could you please state the power rating of your enclosures?
I would like to know because I had problems with my DW 1620, my enclosure delivers 5V-1,5A and 12V-1,8A and has a Prolific 3507 chipset.

I just gave away my Prolific Plumax and have another on the way; due Monday. I'll get the rating to you then. I am not sure the Cypress will be the same so it is better to wait.

I know the LGs can be power hogs and my LG 4163 does OK, so far, I'll have to try some extensive burns and see. My 1620 was very picky with connectors, maybe cleaning the ends of the Molex plug will make a difference.

[GrrRon]

Thanks.

I'm thinking to put a Pioneer 111 in it, but Pioneer's are rated 5V/1,6A and 12V/1,0A.

[pinto2]

Originally Posted by chas0039

...My 1620 was very picky with connectors, maybe cleaning the ends of the Molex plug will make a difference.

Yet another myth...
Polish them well chas0039.

It's not about connectors, it's more likely about propper (sufficient/stable) power supply.

[Iuppone]

Good and bad news,

My 111d hates my ali 5621 chipset box, that my Lite-on loves. The good news is that I bought a simple chip and easy to install IDe to USB cable with a power supply.
I'm having really good results, look to chart...

[Iuppone]

I really don't have infos about the chipset used by the cable but i'll investigate.

Bye

[chas0039]

Originally Posted by Iuppone

Good and bad news,

My 111d hates my ali 5621 chipset box, that my Lite-on loves. The good news is that I bought a simple chip and easy to install IDe to USB cable with a power supply.
I'm having really good results, look to chart...

Watch out for that ALI ciip with your Liteon. I thought mine was working fine as well and then after 3-4 burns it started turning out coasters. The discs had a very clear band in the burn and were totally unplayable. I am lucky I caught it. ALI is trash.

[FactFinder]

The ALI chipset Byteec ME340U2 enclosure works fine with my SONY DW-Q30A (rebadged 1635) and DW-G120A (rebadged 165P6S). Both burners can burn +/-R media at 16X using USB2.0 without problems. The DVR111D also works OK with this enclosure up to 12X. But I haven't done much burning with the Pioneer because I need the SONY burners to do the Kprobe. The AOpen DUW1616ARR can also burn +/-R media in it up to 12X speed. Other burners I tried that work with limitations (only +R works and under 12X) with this ALI chip USB2 enclosure are the Samsung TSH552U and the LG4120/4163/4167/H10A. In all cases, the quality of burns are similar to the corresponding internal burners. One burner that does not work with this enclosure is the BenQ 1640. I have coasters even burning +R at 8X.

[chas0039]

My ALI is older, maybe they have improved.

[FactFinder]

I bought mine's last October.

[jurassic]

Anyone familiar with the n4ce RX-9 5.25" USB/Firewire enclosure (part no KOTB-500C2). Been trying to find the manufacturer's website to get more info about it, but haven't had any luck. I was just wondering if anyone knows the chipset(s) used in this box.

One a related note, is it already "safe" to buy an enclosure that uses the Prolific chipsets? I know that people have had problems with it in the past, but I'd like to know if the most recent firmware versions have already made these problems a thing of the past.

Any information would be much appreciated. Thanks!