DW1640 only burns Verbatim DL at 4X

Even my Plextor PX-740 with firmware burns at 8X. What's up with Benq. Firmware BSJB. Burn on the Plex starts at 6X and shifts to 8X. Burn with Benq starts and stays at 4X throughout. Is it the firmware?????

Bob

Yes, I am expecting an update with BSKB

While I was waiting for your reply...I cross flashed my Plextor...same thing...4X burn...that stinks. Well...flashed my Plexy back and at least one of them burns DL at 8X.

Bob

Let's hope that BSKB does it

Although ala42 said that Plextor 1.01 firmware for the 740 is an "older BenQ" firmware, this does not really appear to be the case as there are subtle differences. Does anyone know how to open and look at the media codes in the Plextor firmware? A hex editor maybe?

@bobmitch
I have no problem burning Verbatim +R DL MKM001 @8x with BSJB.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unique Disc Identifier : [DVD+R-DL:MKM-001-000]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disc & Book Type : [DVD+R DL] - [Not Available]
Manufacturer Name : [Mitsubishi Kagaku Media]
Manufacturer ID : [MKM]
Media Type ID : [001]
Product Revision : [Not Specified]
Blank Disc Capacity : [4,173,824 Sectors = 8.55 GB (7.96 GiB)]
Recording Speeds : []
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
** INFO : Drive = BENQ DVD DD DW1640 [FW BSJB]
** INFO : Write Capabilities = DVD+R DVD+R-DL DVD+RW
** INFO : Write Capabilities = DVD-R DVD-RW
** INFO : Disc = [DVD+R-DL:MKM-001-000]
** INFO : Reference Speed : 1x DVD = 1385 kBps
** INFO : An Writeable Disc Is Recommended For Accurate Results
** INFO : Write Speeds (Supported By This Drive On This Disc) Listed Below

** INFO : GET PERFORMANCE Write Speed Descriptor(s)
Descriptor #1 = 11080 kBps ( 8.00x) - [CLV/Non-Pure CAV]
Descriptor #2 = 5540 kBps ( 4.00x) - [CLV/Non-Pure CAV]
Descriptor #3 = 3324 kBps ( 2.40x) - [CLV/Non-Pure CAV]

** INFO : MODE SENSE Write Speed Descriptor(s) [Legacy Command]
** WARNING : MODE SENSE Is Obsolete And Not Always Properly Supported
Descriptor #1 = 11080 kBps ( 8.00x) - [CLV/Non-Pure CAV]
Descriptor #2 = 5540 kBps ( 4.00x) - [CLV/Non-Pure CAV]
Descriptor #3 = 3324 kBps ( 2.40x) - [CLV/Non-Pure CAV]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[ DVD Identifier - http://DVD.Identifier.CDfreaks.com ]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

There is no problem with the firmware. If you don't get an 8X option then you need to look elsewhere. BSHB also has the same write strat.

Yep, it really sucks that you can't burn 2.4x media at 8x. :P

Nero CD-DVD Speed: Disc Info
Basic Information
Disc Type: : DVD+R DL
Book Type : DVD+R DL
Manufacturer: : Verbatim
MID : MKM 001 (000)
Write speeds: : 2.4 X - 4 X - 8 X
Blank Capacity : 7.96 GB
: 8152 MB
: 8547993600 bytes
Extended Information
Layers : 2
Layer break : 3.98 GB
Write strategies : n/a
Disc Status : Empty
Raw Data
ADIP Information (11h)
0000 - 01 01 01 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 FF FF AD 00 - ................
0010 - 00 3F B0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 9D 23 B3 00 - .?...........#..
0020 - FC 0B B7 00 C8 0B B7 00 34 00 00 00 75 23 B3 00 - ........4...u#..
0030 - 9D 23 B3 00 C4 15 B6 00 A5 23 B3 00 60 F7 01 13 - .#.......#..`...


I get the option for 8X...the drive just doesn't burn it at 8X. Nero 6.6.0.16 burns at only 4X. A 7.9 GB burn took me almost 28 minutes. Can't figure out what is wrong...possibly a bad flash of firmware?????
Bob

Try burning with something else, dvddecrypter, Imgtool Burn, or at least update to a newer version of Nero.

A hexeditor is not sufficient. Here are the add on MIDs of the Plextor 1.01 firmware compared with BSHB, all other MIDs and speeds are identical:

Stock BSJB using CDspeed Create Data Disc.

More of a curiousity to see if the drive would do 8X w/Verbatim. Thought I'd waste one before actually using them for something I want to keep.

That's one expensive scan then ...

My version of Nero is 6.6.0.15...came out a few days ago...there is obviously something going on with the firmware...same result when I cross flashed my Plextor 740...

Bob

Maybe I should flash the Benq as a Plextor and let it go at that

Um, do you mean 6.6.0.16? I think 6.6.0.15's been out for a short while. I could be wrong.

6.6.0.16 released 8/5/05

Thanks, bobmitch. Btw, do you notice any improvement in yours burns using the newer version?

Where's the quality scan dsdarli?

I was wondering if there was any interest.

ok.... so it aint the greatest.....

Ninbang: got them at the Office Depot sale so I made a $3.33 frisbee versus a $7.00 frisbee. That being said... I'm still trying to figure out what to use them on.

If it didn't have the mountain at 1.5 gig it might of turned out pretty nice.

By the way...the Benq is on IDE 1 as slave to the Plextor PX-740A...any thoughts on that???

Bob

OK...now I'm running the Benq on IDE 1 as master. As I type this on my laptop, I am getting an 8X burn on my desktop. I am wasting a DL disk...feeling pretty rich about it...grabbed two 10 paks at Best Buy this week at $39 each...on sale til Saturday. I will post some graphs later...Using CD/DVD Speed. Wonder if this means I leave the Plextor as slave.

Bob

Forget it!!!! Burned the first layer at 8X...now second layer at 4X. Back to slave. There is obviously something up with this firmware. I will wait until BSKB and hope for the best.

Bob

FWIW, I'm on secondary master.

You might try flashing BSJB again.... but I'd wait for BSKB and Qsuite 2.0 to see what it says about the Verbs.

Funny...I am running Plextools scan with my 716A on the disk burned by Benq....Inner Disk Zone on layer 0 is BAD. Middle and Outer on Layer 0 Good. Inner disk on layer 1 (the 4X burn) is VERY GOOD. Middle Zone on Layer 1 is VERY GOOD and Outer Zone on layer 1 is GOOD. If you look at dsdarli's burn with CD/DVD speed....the BAD zone is the one where the drive reaches 8, then drops for a bit and reaches 8 again later...around the 1 GB mark. Others have complained about this problem of speed drop on layer 1 as well. It has got to be a combination of Verbatim and firmware. Right now...burns take 22 mins at this rate...so my Plextor 716A beats that burn speed at 6X by at least 4+ minutes....burning between 17:30 and 18:00

Bob