Selecting a CDR or CDRW drive

[gin_jammer]

When selecting a CDR or CDRW drive to replace a failed CD-ROm drive, how important are system CPU speed and RAM size? If a CDR (or CDRW) drive with a "required" CPU speed higher than existing CPU is installed with existing CPU, will the new drive perform at all, and what will be the impact on its performance?

[mjc]

It would probably be able to read ok but as to its ability to 'burn' anything other than coasters????

Faster recording drives require more out of a CPU and more memory, heck just about more of everything, recording a CD is just about one of the most resource intensive tasks that you can perform on a PC. If it is not too far off "spec" then it may be ok at slower record speeds.

If you would post back with alittle more information about your system maybe someone here can come up with a few suggestions for you.

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mjc
To ME or NOT to ME....

[hiredgoonz]

If the cpu can't keep up with supplying data to the drive, you'll probably ruin a lot of cdrs, like mjc said...

You can circumvent this in some cases by lowering the burn speed...or try a drive with burn-proof...theoretically, as long as your system can run the software, it should be able to burn a cd successfully with burn-proof...

[gin_jammer]

Thanks for the comments on trying to use a CDR or CDRW drive with a slow CPU.

My system is a pc clone with a Pentium-S at 133 MHz and 32 MB of RAM. I have upgraded the hard disk to 15 GB, for which I had to install a Dynamic Drive Overlay. I run Windows 98.

Although I run the Norton antivirus, I recently received a virus that I could neither quarantine nor eliminate, and ended up losing everything on my hard drive. This says something about doing antivirus updates regularly.

Anyway, that experience is my primary motivation for wanting to be able to store files (primarily correspondence and photos) in a readily accessible medium that is less vulnerable. Copying music CDs is a secondary goal.

My CD-ROM drive has just died, and I must replace it. My thinking is to replace it with a CDR type drive. I don't really need a CDRW drive, but threw it in just in case I come across a good deal on one.

Tell me more about "burn proof...?"

[This message has been edited by gin_jammer (edited 02-21-2001).]

[Randy_tx]

My advice is to use the $185-$225 you would pay for a burner to get a regular CD rom and a faster CPU or more RAM. You are at too low a cpu speed and too little RAM in my opinion to run a CDRW with much success.

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"As hard as a rock & dumb as a brick"...Windows CEMeNT

[mjc]

An explination of "burn-proof" can be found here:burn-proof.com/ (http://http:/www.burn-proof.com//)

Most of the specs for cdrs I've seen quire at least a MMX enabled processor (some as low as 166MHZ MMX) for high speed recording, some places even recommendig a 300MHz and higher, also 64MB seems to be a better size for memory.

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mjc
To ME or NOT to ME....

[gin_jammer]

What we have here, gentlemen, is a failure to communicate. I should have read more of the "hot" postings so I'd know where you guys are coming from.

I do not have money. I only have an old, clunky computer that I want to do a CD drive upgrade on -- as modest and economical (i.e. cheap) an upgrade as possible -- and still get reliable performance. I'm not trying to get "everything for nothing" rather "something for as little as possible."

You guys seem to have the hardware experience to head me in the right direction if you could just re-focus for a second or two and realize that I'm not shooting for a "scream" machine. I know there are people out there who have CDR (and maybe CDRW, too) drives running on 100 MHz machines, and I'm just looking for THAT recipe. If I have to buy old stuff, so be it.

Any suggestions?

[hiredgoonz]

If you can find an older burner, maybe a 4X 2X 24X, or similar, and then when you burn disks, set it to record at 2X or maybe even 1X if you don't have success with anything higher, you may be able to get by with your existing setup...

memorex makes a 4X2X24X cdrw...(I used to have one, no problems with it, just don't use memorex cdrs)

If you follow this link: http://www.memorex.com/tech/cd/req.html

you'll see the requirements...which you meet...you should be ok with an older drive, recording at slower speeds...there's also slower ones still available by phillips, good luck

[This message has been edited by hiredgoonz (edited 02-21-2001).]

[GROGSTER]

Hi!
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

I currently run a 4x write, 24x read CD-RW drive and Adaptec Easy-CD creater 4, and Direct CD 3 on my main machine, which is a Pentium 100MHz.

It works absoulety fine with a P100 and I only have 32MB of RAM!!!
(it would not be advisable to put a CD-RW in a machine with less then 32MB minimum. It should work fine, but you run the risk of making more coasters then need be.)

Three VERY IMPORTANT things must be done before you start to write any discs on a slower machine like this:

* The FASTEST burn speed should be 2x.
Do not try to write at 4x speed - coaster city!!!
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
(The computer will not have enough speed to maintain the OS, and keep the buffer full. If the buffer runs out before it's meant to, the disc is effectively ruined.)

* TURN OFF ANY SCREENSAVER you are running - tell the OS you want NO screensaver. Tis better to allow a little phospher burn-in, then waste lots of CD-R's...

* Shut down any open applications, so that the only thing runing, is Direct-CD/Easy-CD Creator.

Oh, and another important thing: LEAVE THE COMPUTER ALONE while it is writing. Do not try to start any other applications.
Basically, when recording has started, let it finish un-interrupted.

If you follow these simple things, then CD's will burn fine in slower PC's.

2x speed is only 300kB or so per second, and pretty much any Pentium(100MHz or faster) should be able to cope with this.

It is NOT advisable to run Win98 on a slower machine, best stick with Win95b or some other OS, cos Win98 is not designed to work with a slower machine.
I understand that Win98 was developed with the Pentium-III CPU class in mind...

I have been happily writing CD's for the past three months or so, and have only produced ONE coaster in that time. This probably happened, cos I forgot to set the write speed for 2x, and the CD-writer's buffer ran out of data.
The buffer running out of data(buffer under-run) is a sure-fire way to corrupt a disc...
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif

G.

[gin_jammer]

Thanks. I really appreciate your help, guys. I think I know about what to shop for now.

As to running such a setup with the screensaver disabled, if you were going to do long CD "writes" very often, why not just turn the monitor off while you go do something else? I'm assuming (cuz I don't know) the CD creation software will handle the process without intervention from the keyboard. When you come back later and turn the monitor back on, what's going to come up on the screen?

g

[This message has been edited by gin_jammer (edited 02-22-2001).]

[GROGSTER]

Hi!
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

A screensaver is designed to prevent a constant, non-changing image from burning into the phospher on the inside of the screen.
BUT the screensaver is actually a program; usually a reasonably CPU intensive program, as it is doing all sorts of colourful animated things...
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif

If you simply switch off your monitor, the screensaver PROGRAM will still run after the set time(although you won't see it), and it will gobble up all those resources that the CD-writer needs so desperately...

You can always re-activate the screensaver AFTER you have made your disc, but the chances of you forgetting that you did this are substancial, and when the screensaver kicks in, 5 minutes or so into recording your disc, the chances of a buffer under-run go up quite dramatically, as the computer tries to feed data to BOTH the graphics card, and the CD-writer. The CD-writer will, unfortunately, lose this battle for CPU attention...

Anyone got a coaster?
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Hope that helps.


G.

[Paleo Pete]

Screensavers are also not necessary with SVGA monitors, they don't "burn in" like older CGA/EGA and monochrome monitors did. Screensavers with SVGA monitors are basically nothing more than eye candy.

The above info is correct however, turning off your monitor would be no problem, if you're worried about it, just be sure you turn off the screensaver program first, for the reason explained above. You want absolutely nothing running while you try to burn.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[hiredgoonz]

Oh, yeah, and don't let your brother-in-law bump into the computer when you're burning cds either...arrrggghhhh....

[gin_jammer]

Two questions related to the above string: What's the problem with the memorex cdrs? Can I copy game CD's (e.g. Sony Play Station) and is there anything unique about game CDs? Thanks for all your help.

g_j

[hiredgoonz]

I may be the only one who had this problem, but any time I tried to use a memorex cd more than once...for example to add data...the cd would never work again...the ones that did would eventually become unreadable by any cd rom...

By changing to verbatims or sonys or pny cds, with all other variables staying the same, I never had the problem again...

As far as Playstation cds, you can copy them, but they will not work properly in a playstation unless you solder in a "mod-chip" this allows your console to play backup copies and games from other regions...just do a search on "mod chip" and you'll get more info than you could ever use...

Or you could try out VGS, which is a PSX emulator for pcs...or bleem, another emulator...VGS has better compatibility, but bleem allows cool stuff like increasing game resolution so they look better...and both emulators have no trouble reading backups...



[This message has been edited by hiredgoonz (edited 02-23-2001).]

[Randy_tx]

If I understand the Moderator's stance on giving advice about how to do ANYTHING that violates copyright of software........This is not a good place to give "How to's" to those who wish to make "Dupe's" of anything that you are supposed to PAY for !!

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"As hard as a rock & dumb as a brick"...Windows CEMeNT

[hiredgoonz]

I don't think I told anybody how to violate any copyrights...if you've ever scratched/lost/broken a game/psx cd that you spent $30+ on, you certainly can appreciate the importance of having a backup of software you own a license for...

If you're selling/trading or otherwise distributing software that you have copied, you are breaking the law...if, on the other hand, you have a backup copy of software you have purchased (and thus own a license for) you are not breaking the law...most EULAs even have this stipulation in them...

As far as modchips go...some psx games are only released in certain parts of the world or are different in each region...why should someone be unable to play a game they purchased overseas simply because their console is from the US? I have an adapter that lets me play Japanese N64 cartridges in my US console, is this a violation of copyright law???

And if you're concerned about my mention of psx emulators I think you misunderstand the concept of what a software license entitles one to do with the software...I should be able to play a game on any computer or console I want provided I have a legal right to use said software...heck, if I want to use the game as a frisbee, who's to say I can't?

Software piracy is bad...I don't advocate it...this is why I chose the word "backup" which is something you ARE allowed to do.

[GROGSTER]

Hi there!
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

It may or may not interest you guys, but here in NZ and Australia, according to copyright law, you are not even allowed to make a BACKUP of ANY copyrighted material - even if you own the CD or whatever in question...
It is an offence even if the backup is "For your own, personal use".

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

Sucks, eh???


G.

[hiredgoonz]

What a bunch of crap...there are companies here whose license agreements forbid backups...the problem I have with that policy is that if you lose or damage the cd, they don't care that you purchased it and own a license for it, they're certainly not going to send you off a new one...your only option is to go buy another copy...

If you're really only using a copy as a backup, then it really is a non-issue to me...they don't leave my house, I only use them as a protection against unfortunate happenings, so whose business is it...

It's sort of like the so-called "blue-laws" that forbid all kinds of behavior even in the privacy of your home, but they're impossible to enforce even if they wanted to...

I'm not saying that breaking the law is ok as long as no one finds out, but in this case (in my opinion) it's more about the spirit of the law...I buy software, I make a copy to use so that my original won't get messed up, I don't give or sell copies to anyone...so I don't see that any software manufacturer has any right to say *&#@ to me...

[Randy_tx]

Right on Brother!! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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"As hard as a rock & dumb as a brick"...Windows CEMeNT

[hiredgoonz]

I'll get off my soap-box now...just a little tired of the way most software companies treat their customers...I swear it reminds me more and more of a Dilbert comicstrip every day...

[Paleo Pete]

I guess I need to look up a Playstation license...from what I understand, the Playstation EULA prohibits even backup copies of their software, which I agree is a load of crap. I think individuals should be able to make backup copies of any software they do legally own, as protection against unexpected damage such as scratches, fire, flood, etc.

However, much as I may disagree with the licensing issues, I can't condone telling people how to bypass it here on the forums, which has been discussed more than once already, and if you check in the Announcements section you'll find a post concerning this matter by Charles.

As far as this thread goes, the advice given above is borderline, but I suppose not totally unacceptable. Also check the PC World forum, I posted a topic concerning the UCITA, which if enacted into law, would allow software companies to write EULA's that prevent backups, telling anyone the software is bogus, selling it or giving it away after it is removed from your system and you have no more use for it, and the list goes on. I strongly recommend you keep up with what's happening in your state concerning the UCITA and write your congressmen.

If the UCITA is enacted into law, as it already is in at least two states, you won't even be able to read the EULA until after opening the package and accepting it! Assuming of course, the company puts it inside on the CD and has a notice on the box stating that by opening it you agree to the EULA inside...which some companies already do.

I won't jump on anyone about what's been posted here, I'll just say please be careful, software copying can be a very touchy subject in some cases.

------------------
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[bassman]

As much as I agree with Pete, I have a suggestion pertaining to the starting post. Have you concidered a different auxiliary storage. 100mg Zips can hold approx. 20 songs even more pictures in the right format and an awful lot of text. The USB and parallel drives are both very affordable right now.

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If your not living on the edge, your taking up to much space!

[gin_jammer]

The only reason I avoided a ZIP was I didn't want to have another storage medium and another drive that are incompatible with CDROM's. As I said, I started from the standpoint of a failed CDROM drive, and adding a ZIP doesn't solve that problem. But your point about ZIP storage is a very good one.

g_j

[Randy_tx]

Well then........guess it comes down to the gamble of paying $130+ for a slow burner(that may or may not work for you) vs $59 for a 50x CD Rom then http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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"As hard as a rock & dumb as a brick"...Windows CEMeNT

[bassman]

Hi gin,
After I posted I remembered you said your cdrom had failed. So with that said, I have to agree with Randy. If you don't have the cash to buy a new CDr then you should stick with a plain CDrom that you can afford. Like me, your money is thin so you need to spend wisely. If you need to rely on this machine, then buy NEW so you have warranty protection. If you buy used, you get what you get.
Good luck

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If your not living on the edge, your taking up to much space!

[gin_jammer]

I want to thank the people who posted on this string. I took most (not all) of your advice literally and I was successful. I bought a Memorex CRW-1622 E-IDE ReWritable CD-Recorder that was "like new." The old CD drive was slaved to my HDD, but I jumpered the CD-RW as a Master. I slid it into the chassis where the old CD drive had been, plugged its IDE cable into the Alternate IDE connector on the MB, turned my system on and everything after that was done for me by Windows 98. The drive reads CDs and copies CDs with no problems so far. The Seller of the unit also steered me to a S/W upgrade that I downloaded from Memorex. The unit came with IDE & audio cables plus CD mastering S/W that has so far been very user friendly. Thanks again.

g_j