NEC 3520A Buffer Majorly Erratic. Please Help!

CD, DVD and (Ultra HD) Blu-ray Writers NEC / Optiarc Writer
#1

Hey All.
I recently got a NEC 3520A Burner. Whenever I burn a DVD the Drive buffer becomes VERY VERY erratic. At times it stays full but then there are long periods of the burn that the buffer jumps anywhere from 1-100% multiple times. In the end it is taking me around 20-30 minutes to burn a dvd that is supposed to be going 12x (Fuji Film made in Japan so should be Taiyo Yuden). I have no idea what is going on. I have tried to reinstall the IDE drivers and a full reinstall of windows using the default IDE drivers. It definately doesn’t seem like the normal drive recalibration unless it’s supposed to drop the buffer many many times before being steady and then dropping many times again.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Running an Athlon XP at 1.4ghz
A7A266 Motherboard with 512 PC133 and 2 7200rpm maxtor drives

Have also tried replacing the IDE cable and keeping NEC as master on it’s channel with no slave attached.

#2

If you have Nero CD-Speed.
Use Create Data Disc option and burn a disc, click the Disc icon when the burn has completed which will save a screenshot and post the results. We can then see what is happening during the burn process.
If you don’t have CD- Speed you can download it here. http://www.cdspeed2000.com/

#3

Hi Miburo,

flushing the buffer while shifting up speed is normal for a NEC 35xx drive. That’s the technologie NEC uses to minimize burn errors at higher speeds. As long the result is fine everything is okay, isn’t it?
A good advice is to use Dee’s firmware for example 1.UC because the flushing buffer time is minimized then. Anyway the drive has a good working buffer-underrun protection so again there is no point to worry about. :cool:

#4

Hi,

Sorry, Miburo is my brother posting for me… It’s actually my drive that’s having problems… I actually have 640 MB ram but I don’t think that makes much of a difference… Attached the Create disk screenshot…

CD’s details:
Manufacturer : TYG02
Code : -
Disc Type : DVD-R
Usage : General
Recording Layer : -
Recording Speed : 2 X - 12 X
Capacity : 4.38 GB
4706076672 Bytes
Additional Capacity : -
Overburn Capacity : -

General Information
Operating System Windows XP
Drive _NEC DVD_RW ND-3520AW
Firmware Version 3.04
Serial Number serial number removed
Disc DVD-R
Capacity 4.38 GB

Write Transfer Rate
Write Mode DAO
Start 6.21x
End 4.68x
Average 10.15x
Type Z-CLV

link to the transfer test for this data disc + past transfer tests http://www.mutazn.com/nec/nectransfertesthtml.html


#5

Can’t edit my post… but I was reading on the forums about after the firmware update we’d be able to run the quality test on nero cd-dvd speed… But mine still says “Drive does not support this function.” Is there something we have to manually change after updating the firmware? :o…

Edit: Ok nevermind… I thought I was using the new CDspeed 3.8 I installed the first time but was actually using the one bundled with nero >< sorry… the quality test works now:

General Information
Drive: _NEC DVD_RW ND-3520AW
Firmware: 3.04
Disc: DVD-R (TYG02)
Selected speed: Maximum
PI errors
Maximum: 4088
Average: 275.52
Total: 4444567
PI failures
Maximum: 235
Average: 7.35
Total: 103180
PO failures: n/a
Jitter: n/a
Scanning statistics
Elapsed time: 5:16
Number of samples: 17826
Average scanning interval: 8.06 ECC
Glitches removed: 0


#6

Try new cdspeed

#7

XD ya sorry, ran the test while I was editing last post…

#8

Misera,

Running quality test at 16x is too fast. The PIE/PIF is too high at the end, even on the highest quality disks. Best speed to do PIE/PIF is either 5x or 8x

#9

yes @_@ 5x test is currently running… test results will be on the weblink posted. Ran it at max and 8x so far… doing 5x now. :\ Since I was trying to get all results possible posted on the website I was doing them at all speeds :\

edit: tests up at http://www.mutazn.com/nec/quality.html

if its better to post on here/need more tests please let me know :x…

#10
  1. disc took 6:54 to burn not 20-30 minutes so that problem must be done.
  2. are you SURE these are true TY? could they be fake? what is the hub serial and batch #
#11
  1. Data disc took 6:54 to burn. I’ll burn a regular dvd and post results. Last 3 dvds we tried all took 20-30 mins with buffer going nuts.
  2. These were Fujifilm made in Japan. Nero recognizes it as TYG02. The Numbers on the DVD are 4A525A509361GG, GG000103, 0802. I don’t know what hub serial and batch # are.
#12

:o it cut down to 15 mins… :confused:

=== CDRom-Device-Map ===
_NEC DVD_RW ND-3520AW D: CDRom0

AutoRun : 1
Excluded drive IDs:
WriteBufferSize: 83886080 (0) Byte
ShowDrvBufStat : 0
BUFE : 0
Physical memory : 639MB (654816kB)
Free physical memory: 316MB (323652kB)
Memory in use : 50 %
Uncached PFiles: 0x0
Use Inquiry : 1
Global Bus Type: default (0)
Check supported media : Disabled (0)

27.4.2005
ISO compilation
7:43:14 PM #1 Text 0 File Isodoc.cpp, Line 6168
Iso document burn settings
------------------------------------------
Determine maximum speed : FALSE
Simulate : FALSE
Write : TRUE
Finalize CD : TRUE
Multisession : FALSE
Burning mode : DAO
Mode : 1
ISO Level : 1 (Max. of 11 = 8 + 3 char)
Character set : ISO 9660
Joliet : TRUE
Allow pathdepth more than 8 directories : TRUE
Allow more than 255 characters in path : TRUE
Write ISO9660 ;1 file extensions : TRUE

7:43:14 PM #2 Text 0 File Reader.cpp, Line 127
Reader running

7:43:14 PM #3 Text 0 File Writer.cpp, Line 122
Writer _NEC DVD_RW ND-3520AW running

7:43:15 PM #4 ISO9660GEN -11 File geniso.cpp, Line 3286
First writeable address = 0 (0x00000000)

7:43:15 PM #5 Text 0 File Burncd.cpp, Line 3155
Turn on Disc-at-once, using DVD media

7:43:15 PM #6 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 257
Last possible write address on media: 2298495 (510:46.45, 4489MB)
Last address to be written: 2247791 (499:30.41, 4390MB)

7:43:15 PM #7 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 269
Write in overburning mode: NO (enabled: CD DVD)

7:43:15 PM #8 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 2311
Recorder: _NEC DVD_RW ND-3520AW, Media type: DVD-R
Disc Manufacturer: TYG02 -
Disc Application Code: 64, Disc Physical Code: 193

7:43:15 PM #9 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 431
>>> Protocol of DlgWaitCD activities: <<<
=========================================

7:43:15 PM #10 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 829
Setup items (after recorder preparation)
0: TRM_DATA_MODE1 ()
2 indices, index0 (150) not provided
original disc pos #0 + 2247792 (2247792) = #2247792/499:30.42
relocatable, disc pos for caching/writing not required/ required, no patch infos
-> TRM_DATA_MODE1, 2048, config 0, wanted index0 0 blocks, length 2247792 blocks [_NEC DVD_RW ND-3520AW]
--------------------------------------------------------------

7:43:15 PM #11 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 1042
Prepare recorder [NEC DVD_RW ND-3520AW] for write in CUE-sheet-DAO
DAO infos:
==========
MCN: “”
TOCType: 0x00; Session Closed, disc fixated
Tracks 1 to 1:
1: TRM_DATA_MODE1, 2048/0x00, FilePos 0 0 4603478016, ISRC “”
DAO layout:
===========
Start|Track|Idx|CtrlAdr|RecDep____
0 | lead-in | 0 | 0x41 | 0x00
0 | 1 | 0 | 0x41 | 0x00
0 | 1 | 1 | 0x41 | 0x00
2247792 | lead-out | 1 | 0x41 | 0x00

7:43:15 PM #12 Phase 24 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1832
Caching of files started

7:43:15 PM #13 Text 0 File Burncd.cpp, Line 4042
Cache writing successful.

7:43:15 PM #14 Phase 25 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1832
Caching of files completed

7:43:15 PM #15 Phase 36 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1832
Burn process started at 12x (16,620 KB/s)

7:43:15 PM #16 Text 0 File ThreadedTransferInterface.cpp, Line 2604
Verifying disc position of item 0 (relocatable, disc pos, no patch infos, orig at #0): write at #0

7:43:15 PM #17 Text 0 File DVDR.cpp, Line 2300
Recording mode: Sequential Recording Mode

7:43:15 PM #18 Text 0 File Mmc.cpp, Line 21079
Set BUFE: Buffer underrun protection -> ON

7:43:15 PM #19 Text 0 File DVDR.cpp, Line 2441
Start write address at LBA 0
DVD high compatibility mode: Yes

7:43:15 PM #20 Text 0 File Cdrdrv.cpp, Line 8332
---- DVD Structure: Physical Format Information (00h) ----
Layer: 0, Address: 0 (0 h), AGID: 0; Length: 2050
Book Type: DVD-R (2), Part Version: 5
Disc Size: 120 mm, Maximum Rate: <not specified> (F h)
Number of Layers: 1, Track Path: Parallel Track Path (PTP), Layer Type: recordable
Linear Density: 0,267 um/bit, Track Density: 0,74 um/track
Starting Physical Sector Number of Data Area: 30000 h (DVD-ROM, DVD-R/-RW, DVD+R/+RW)
End Physical Sector Number of Data Area: 26127F h
End Sector Number in Layer 0: 0 h
Data in Burst Cutting Area (BCA) does not exist
Start sector number of the current Border-Out: 2FE10 h
Start sector number of the next Border-In: 2FFA0 h
Media Specific [16…63]:
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 - 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …
00 02 FE 10 00 02 FF A0 - 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 - 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …

7:43:15 PM #21 Text 0 File DVDR.cpp, Line 5970
Book Type counter: 500, Book Type selected in EEPROM, command version 2

7:43:15 PM #22 Text 0 File DVDR.cpp, Line 5970
Book Type counter: 500, Book Type selected in EEPROM, command version 2

7:43:15 PM #23 Text 0 File DVDR.cpp, Line 5970
Book Type counter: 500, Book Type selected in EEPROM, command version 2

7:43:15 PM #24 Text 0 File DVDR.cpp, Line 5094
Drive: _NEC DVD_RW ND-3520AW
Book Type request [NEC]: DVD-ROM
Book Type setting not supported for the loaded disc type
Changing the Book Type was finished with error, return code -4

7:43:17 PM #25 Text 0 File Cdrdrv.cpp, Line 1284
19:43:17.842 - _NEC DVD_RW ND-3520AW\H0 T0 : Queue again later

7:57:49 PM #26 Text 0 File WriterStatus.cpp, Line 116
<_NEC DVD_RW ND-3520AW> start writing Lead-Out at LBA 2247792 (224C70h), lenght 0 blocks

7:57:50 PM #27 Text 0 File ThreadedTransfer.cpp, Line 228
all writers idle, stopping conversion

7:57:50 PM #28 Text 0 File DVDR.cpp, Line 2682
EndDAO: Last written address was 2247791

7:58:17 PM #29 Text 0 File DVDR.cpp, Line 5970
Book Type counter: 500, Book Type selected in EEPROM, command version 2

7:58:17 PM #30 Text 0 File DVDR.cpp, Line 5970
Book Type counter: 500, Book Type selected in EEPROM, command version 2

7:58:17 PM #31 Text 0 File DVDR.cpp, Line 5094
Drive: _NEC DVD_RW ND-3520AW
Book Type request [NEC]: DVD-ROM
Book Type setting not supported for the loaded disc type
Changing the Book Type was finished with error, return code -4

7:58:17 PM #32 Phase 37 File dlgbrnst.cpp, Line 1832
Burn process completed successfully at 12x (16,620 KB/s)

#13

since the drive can do 12x it is not the drive my guess would be the source hard drive cannot throw the needed speed

#14

;; sad… hopefully I don’t have to send hd to be fixed… Trying to get another drive to move everything over and reformat again (my drives were reformatted/bought new just a few months ago ;:wink: to see if that’ll help it. Well I’m glad to hear it’s most likely not the burner problem… sort of XD…