Ok I just burned 2 cds with 68 mins of data, using 2 cd writers.

1.) Plextor 40x12x40
2.) TDK 24x10x40

The resulting CD burned by the plextor had these results in Ahead CDSpeed when read with the Lite-on LTD163 DVD drive

Average speed: 22.51x
Start: 19.41x
End: 21.76x

The resulting CD burned by the TDK had these results:

Average: 36.34x
Start: 19.05x
End: 47.57x

What's going on here? Why does the Plextor written CD have awful read times?

I just repeated the test again, (wasting more cds - for god knows what reason...) - and the same results!!!

What is going on?! John!

(in reply to WilliamG)

I just did an error check on the cd burned from the TDK and the cd burned from the Plextor.

The TDK burned cd had 70 errors (0.00%)
The Plextor burned cd had 58579 errors (0.08%)

WHAT THE?!?!?!

(in reply to WilliamG)

Ok I just did some more tests using the Plextor and Verbatim 24x certified media.

Anything burned at 16 has 50 errors or less. (Absolutely fine.)

The cd burned at 24x had approx 30,00 errors (reads badly.)

Anything faster than 24x had approx 60,000 errors (reads REALLY badly)

So where's this PowerREC II? A load of crap that's what.

I then burned using the same media in my TDK 24x10x40

Burned at 24x with approximately 65 errors. Reads perfectly.

Conclusion: The Plextor 40x12x40 is crap.

Also, it takes longer to actually start burning!! I started the TDK and the Plextor at the same time - and the TDK started burning first! Burning an identical 76minute data cd in the two machines, the Plextor 40x only beat the TDK by 12 seconds. Ooooh. All because the TDK actually starts writing first! And it closes the cd faster than the Plextor!

What a mess. I've repeated these tests several times - the evidence is clear.

Any comments anyone?

Edited by - WilliamG on 03/01/2002 11:58:21

(in reply to WilliamG)

I've the same drive plex 40x -and I've already made more than 50 cd all done with complete success I've used defferent qualities and I've noticed that the recorder although it shown in nero it's recording at 40x when cheap cds are used it takes 4+ minute and with 24x virbatim it'd finish 650 under 4 minute --having two xp and 98se and just for experment sake I've changed the ide for plex to pio mode and still it's working but with plenty buffers error - I've used many burner like yamaha and lite-on this one exceptional in quality wise plus it's quite in the row with fastest there's "lite-on" many to mention to its favour

(in reply to WilliamG)

dhofar you missed my point completely. Every cd I've burned with the Plextor 40x burned successfully. No problems at all. You try using CD Speed though on it and do the CD Quality check on it. You'll see what I mean. Make sure it's a relatively full cd. Watch those errors stack up.

(in reply to WilliamG)

I think that dhofar got your point. I too have burned several disks at 40x and sometimes 32x and they have all burned successfully. I,and probably everyone else, only consider a burn successful after it has been checked with CDSpeed. My disks check out fine.

What media are you using? If you are using crappy media,then that would probably explain your problem.Plex recommends that you use Maxell 32x certified, Mitsubishi 32x certified, Taiyo Yuden 32x disks or similar. Check it out at their web site.

Plexs are famous for not working well with cheap media. Personally, I can't figure out why anyone would spend the money to buy a plex and then skimp on the media, but they do all the time, it seems.

Of course, that may not be your problem.

(in reply to WilliamG)

No skimping on media - it's Verbatim 24x certified media burned at 24x. I'm thinking Verbatim is good enough quality? What do you think?
24x certified burned at 24x? That not good enough for Plextor?

(in reply to WilliamG)

i just tried the speed test and got avg of 34.87
and as for the quality test i got 0 errors

(in reply to WilliamG)

Just burned a maxell at 40x and a verbatim 24x at 32x or better. Checked both with cdSpeed - no errors and a great burn in each case.

I know that John reported some problems with Mitsubishi based cdrs (Verbatim is Mitsubishi based), but I have not seen any problems with the verbatims made in Mexico. Where were your verbatims made. I might try a different media just to check, anyway. Buy some mitsui or Taiyo Yuden, if you can find it.

It sounds like it is either the media or the burner. If the media is not at fault, I would RMA it back to plextor. They have great support and will fix any problem. I am in the U.s and had a problem with one of my 24x burners and they fixed it right away and shipped it back. It was great service.

My plextor 40x is great.

Let us know.

(in reply to WilliamG)

I needed to specify that the Verbatims have to be Data Life Plus Super AZO to be any good. I hope that is the case with your disks. Regular verbatims have proven very unreliable.

(in reply to WilliamG)

I use Nero and have really never use the tools that come with it. I have the Plextor 40/12/40A. Please tell me how your doing an error check on the burned cd's. Are you using CD SPEED SCANDISC. I tried that and came up with no errors. Thanks..

(in reply to WilliamG)

konstance that's the correct programme.

The way I see it is if my media isn't good enough, then it should definitely not be taking it up to 40x, as the Verbatim's did. PowerREC II obviously doesn't work as it should. I repeated these tests with TDK 16x (Always do 24x in my TDK burner with no errors.)
I also repeated these tests with 24x Acer CDs. Now, I didn't even bother with 40x. I just burned using the Plextor at 24x. Each time, errors galore. I find it hard to believe that the Plextor is THAT fussy. I've never ever had a problem with my TDK burner, and immediately I can see there's a problem with the Plextor.

As I said, burning at 16x with the Plextor resulted in 0 errors. Burning at anything above, using 24x cds, resulted in a lot of errors. Forget 40x. I'd like to see 24x with no errors. :(

And considering my 24x burner is only 12 seconds slower than the Plextor when writing a 76minute cd, the Plextor has gone back. The Plextor takes ridiculously long to actually start burning, compared to the TDK.



Edited by - WilliamG on 03/02/2002 06:54:22

(in reply to WilliamG)

I too have no problems with my PX-4012A. Ive made ove 75cds with it in the time ive had it, and will do another 40 or so over the weekend. Im using 32x media but it will not do 40x, i tried it once and the time was 32x indicaory.....but it never fails to do 32x and considering i can get them for £22 for 100, im happy enough with 32x for now...f i want 40x, ill need to pay approx double the price and at the moment i cant really justify that....for now, im still quite amazed at 32 compareed to my old 8x :)

I tested a ouple of cds i overburned last night (at 32x) and they test with 0 errors and averge speeds of ~34x....



I think perhaps an RMA is in order since it seemsyou may have a duff drive, or perhaps theres somthing else happening with your machine that it just doesnt like.

(in reply to WilliamG)

Well that doesn't make sense to me, considering I've also got a TDK 24x10x40 with no problems. Well, I took the drive back anyway. Perhaps I just got very unlucky. Still weird though...

(in reply to WilliamG)

So far I had a lot of problems with my plex 40/12/40A. It was ok at the beginning but after a week I got my first error from nero and now no CD-Rom no plex itself wont read CDs burnt on it. CD will always have unreadable file. I used Taiyo Yuden media. And by the way burner1000000 their technical support sucks. First I was waiting for 40 minutes and then person on the phone was really “helpful” suggesting putting DMA jumper and guess what it didn’t help. So I requested RMA... It’s been 5 days and I haven’t heard from them. This is the last time I buy something made by Plextor.

(in reply to WilliamG)