[aLcATRAZ]

Hey guys!

Sorry for posting this old topic once again but there is some useful clarification that I think we need to do here. I wanna know WHICH USB2 chipset DOES support the DW1640 fully in 16x speed? Firewire is not an option. (I've spent a couple of weeks trying out different chipsets but with no luck, ALI M5621 = 19MB/s, Myson CS8818G = 16 MB/s, Cypress ISD300A1 = 11 MB/s.)

I've read all the threads about DW1640 in external cases and my observation is that there doesnt seem to be a USB2.0 chipset that can support the DW1640 alias "EW164B" drive in 16x speeds. At least not the majority of your case chipsets, that would be the profilic, ali, cypress, genesys, myson and so on.

A coupld of weeks ago I stumbled across a post from a guy called "zabadee" and he claims to achieve 24 MB/s burst rate with the DW1640 on USB. I said to him, "thats impossible!" but he swore to me that it is true. He told me that he uses a safecom SU2GE-F525ACF case. Looking at the description on the homepage, this case uses Genesys GL811E chipset. After more investigation I find there seem to be TWO revisions of the GL811E chipset. The -02 model and the -04 model. I believe that the -02 model is the one getting the bad critisizm, but the -04 model seems to be the key to bringing the DW1640 up to 16x.

I havent seen any transfer rate charts or anything. I just wanted to ask you guys if someone have tried the DW1640 with a Genesys GL811E-04 case, and made successfull 16x reads/writes on it. Please post your charts.

Thanks for reading, I'm tired of spending money on crappy chipsets.
/Michael

[DVD_PREDATOR]

I'm actually using to external cases , one based on Prolific 3507 chipset,the other based on ALI M5621 . With both of them you have to flash your drive with external firmwares BEFB or latest BEGB to achieve such speed.

[aLcATRAZ]

Originally Posted by DVD_PREDATOR

I'm actually using to external cases , one based on Prolific 3507 chipset,the other based on ALI M5621 . With both of them you have to flash your drive with external firmwares BEFB or latest BEGB to achieve such speed.

If I werent so novice in this forum, I'd say you are a liar. The ALI M5621 gets you 21 MB/s with external firmware in the DW1640, and 19 MB/s with regular DW1640. 21 MB/s will still leave you 2-3 MB/s short of 16x speed.

Please post your transfer chart as proof. Also, thanks for writing!

/Michael

[alan1476]

Originally Posted by aLcATRAZ

If I werent so novice in this forum, I'd say you are a liar. The ALI M5621 gets you 21 MB/s with external firmware in the DW1640, and 19 MB/s with regular DW1640. 21 MB/s will still leave you 2-3 MB/s short of 16x speed.

Please post your transfer chart as proof. Also, thanks for writing!

/Michael

If you look on Newegg.com they are selling an external Plextor 740UF comes with firewire and USB. This drive can be flashed to BEFB and definitely achive 16x with the firewire connection.

[Bob]

Originally Posted by aLcATRAZ

If I werent so novice in this forum, I'd say you are a liar. The ALI M5621 gets you 21 MB/s with external firmware in the DW1640, and 19 MB/s with regular DW1640. 21 MB/s will still leave you 2-3 MB/s short of 16x speed.

Please post your transfer chart as proof. Also, thanks for writing!

/Michael

Alot of people are using Prolific 3507's and getting good burst rates and transfer rates but also having problem with read back but USB side seems good to go as here > http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread....01#post1216267 You said Firewire is NOT an option. There's alot of info here but search might not find it.

Edit:
Here's a thread you might go through > http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=148986

[chas0039]

The last I heard, the prolific 3507 had problems with the 1640 and needed a firmware upgrade to the chipset. Their website has been down for a while but they had the firmware a week ago.

http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/downloads.asp?ID=44

[aLcATRAZ]

Originally Posted by alan1476

If you look on Newegg.com they are selling an external Plextor 740UF comes with firewire and USB. This drive can be flashed to BEFB and definitely achive 16x with the firewire connection.

I know firewire solves the problem, but I want USB. If I remember correctly only the firewire part of the profilic chipset can be made to give enough speed to the drive BARELY, the USB part can not. Plus as you said, the chipset is somewhat old and twitchy.

Does anyone KNOW what usb chipset the original EW164B is using? I bet it is a GL811E-04 since most expensive cases today get that chipset. I just dont feel like putting money on it to experiment.

/Michael

[beach-hobo]

Originally Posted by aLcATRAZ

I know firewire solves the problem, but I want USB. If I remember correctly only the firewire part of the profilic chipset can be made to give enough speed to the drive BARELY, the USB part can not. Plus as you said, the chipset is somewhat old and twitchy.

Does anyone KNOW what usb chipset the original EW164B is using? I bet it is a GL811E-04 since most expensive cases today get that chipset. I just dont feel like putting money on it to experiment.

/Michael

I don't remember the model# but it was an ALI ChipSet. I know it's in one of the threads but don't remember which one. In addition, it could not reach the required speed to obtain 16X.

[wobble]

Seems to me that a lot of things other than encosure chipsets can have an effect on burst rate

[lui_gough]

I know PCI Addon Cards, VIA/NEC had trouble going past 11MB~18MB/s on any bridge and the number of devices and hubs and cable lengths do have a bearing .... but the chipset seems to be the major factor. Still, I can't get a burst rate faster than 13MB/s :'( Tried CYPRESS, MYSON, ISD. I had a prolific but that was for a 3.5" - used it on the BenQ seemed to go fine up to 16x ... a little twichy at the end.

[chas0039]

Given that BenQ has issues, and that you want USB and that it is close to impossible I would stick to 12X. I have yet to see a 16X media that was not better at 12X. The time saving is almost negligible.

[beach-hobo]

There are other issues with the Prolific ChipSet...
See thread Nero Recode & PL-3507...

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=160001

[Bob]

Originally Posted by beach-hobo

There are other issues with the Prolific ChipSet...
See thread Nero Recode & PL-3507...

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=160001

I already posted your link in my post #5.

[aLcATRAZ]

Thank you for all the replies, I appreciate the help. Although I must ask for you guys to stick at the subject. Profilic is not an option, it's too twitchy and too slow (i think) with USB.

Also I want to point out my usb2.0 chipset is a fairly modern intel chipset that should be able to reach full potential. I can test some burst rates with harddrives to prove this. Should be over 30 MB/s

The most important thing is still the Genesys GL811E-04 chipset together with DW1640. I wanna know the performance of this combination. This chipset is not at all rare, I've seen 2.5, 3.5, 5.25 cases with this chipset. Someone must have it that can try the DW1640. (24 MB/s burst rate does suggest it can hit 16x, I would like to know for sure)

It is disturbing to know though, as beach-hobo explained, that even the EW164B combo burner+case that benq sells, cannot reach 16x. I would like to see that thread/post because it is hard to believe.

EDIT: Another fast new chipset out there is the Cypress AT2+, I would like to see a test with this chipset aswell.

Thank you!
/Michael

[zebadee]

Hi
Unfortunately my caddy/1640 crossflashed to BEFB is on loan. If it was here I could prove read speed 16x max write speed 15.98x max burst rate 24Mbs. (USB).Somewhere within these forums I have posted such scans. Not been able to find them (only a few around). If I do find the posts or your still looking when the loan drive is returned, I'll post.

[Pianoman]

Originally Posted by aLcATRAZ

The most important thing is still the Genesys GL811E-04 chipset together with DW1640. I wanna know the performance of this combination. This chipset is not at all rare, I've seen 2.5, 3.5, 5.25 cases with this chipset. Someone must have it that can try the DW1640. (24 MB/s burst rate does suggest it can hit 16x, I would like to know for sure)

Thank you!
/Michael

I have a MAPower KC51U2G USB case, which came with the GL e-04 chipset.
I'll do some transfer rate scans tomorrow.
CU

[fithos]

Here is one from an external Hi-Val flashed to BenQ BEGB. I don't know what chipset it uses as I can't get the damn case to open (no screws).

[DVD_PREDATOR]

Originally Posted by fithos

Here is one from an external Hi-Val flashed to BenQ BEGB. I don't know what chipset it uses as I can't get the damn case to open (no screws).

ALI M5621, btw screws are covered with the big sticker at the bottom

[fithos]

Originally Posted by DVD_PREDATOR

ALI M5621, btw screws are covered with the big sticker at the bottom

Thanks. I'll go check now.

[chas0039]

Originally Posted by aLcATRAZ

EDIT: Another fast new chipset out there is the Cypress AT2+, I would like to see a test with this chipset aswell.

Thank you!
/Michael

I wouldn't count on the Cypress working with BenQ. Dealsonic is selling them and they are pretty good at qualifying which drives will work at 16X. They specifically exclude the BenQ for the Cypress.

[yxy]

ME-340U2F
PL3507C latest firmware
Plextor740A flashed to BenQ 1640 BEGB
firewire burst rate 25MB/s

Things look good so far

[aLcATRAZ]

Wow, this is some great info you guys. Now were going somewhere...

Great work, fithos. This is exactly the performance that I'm looking for. If you could verify that chipset, that would be awesome. Is it really the ALI chipset? ALI does not have firmwares (to my knowledge) or various different drivers, so I cant possibly explain the speed increase you get over my 19-21 MB/s with this chipset. Also, what brand is the drive originally? Sony, philips, plextor, benq?

Originally Posted by Pianoman

I have a MAPower KC51U2G USB case, which came with the GL e-04 chipset.
I'll do some transfer rate scans tomorrow.
CU

Special thanks to pianoman for providing us with the awaited GL811E-04 scans. I am curious to see if the theories are correct. Please dont take too long, friend!

Originally Posted by zebadee

Hi
Unfortunately my caddy/1640 crossflashed to BEFB is on loan. If it was here I could prove read speed 16x max write speed 15.98x max burst rate 24Mbs. (USB).Somewhere within these forums I have posted such scans. Not been able to find them (only a few around). If I do find the posts or your still looking when the loan drive is returned, I'll post.

Welcome back zabadee, thanks for sharing your numbers. Now I understand it was hard to get a transfer chart if it was a loaned drive. Hopefully we will have that from pianoman any day now.

Originally Posted by chas0039

I wouldn't count on the Cypress working with BenQ. Dealsonic is selling them and they are pretty good at qualifying which drives will work at 16X. They specifically exclude the BenQ for the Cypress.

Thats good to know. I'm just guessing here now, but maybe they havent tried crossflashing the drive and get those extra UDMA4 megs/s out of it. It's only a theory.

/M

[fithos]

Originally Posted by DVD_PREDATOR

ALI M5621, btw screws are covered with the big sticker at the bottom

Removed the screws at the bottom but the top won't pop off. The drive can slide out a little but I still can't remove it. Jam a flathead screwdriver into the slit of the case in the middle but the 2 halves just won't separate. GRrrrrrrrrrrr.

[fithos]

Here is another one with an Acomdata DVEXXU2E enclosure (available at Fry's Electronics or Outpost.com). This is an internal benq 1640 which I made into an external drive as oppose to my Hi-Val (also a benq 1640) which I bought as an external drive. I tried it with both internal and external firmware with the same results. A look inside (Acomdata) reveals a chipset with this number "cyp621595". I would guess that it is a Cypress chipset but I am not really that familiar with external enclosures.

[aLcATRAZ]

Hey fithos. Thanks for trying. No rush opening it. You wouldnt want it to become a multipiece jigsaw for reassembly.

Damn, so close to 16x. The model number of that chip doesnt make much sense to me. The cypress part numbers for their AT2 chipset is CY7C683xx, and they dont seem to have other ata bridges but the AT2.

Also I forgot to mention that writing speed can differ from reading speed, so write transfer graphs are preferred. If you dont feel like sacrificing a disc, then read charts are ok too. No worries...

Thanks for the follow up! Now we're just waiting on pianoman, and that impregnable case fithos.
/Michael