To All,
A correction to my post #25 of this thread:
my BenQ DW 1620 actually shows up in Device manager as "PL-3507 1394 Storage Device (1394 ATAPI_Rev 1.00) IEEE 1394 SBP2 Device" when connected via Firewire.
Sorry for the miss-statement
I am getting such great burns on my BenQ, that I can live with pulling it from my external & installing internally for firmware upgrades.
Here is a 12X external DVD Video Burn:

Dishinit

dishinit, I'm trying to interpret the scan you just posted. The quality looks very good, but having a hard time understanding how you got a 12X burn. The graph shows it went from 4x (start) to 8X (end) and the speed posted was 8.21X. However, this doesn't look like a full 4.7gb disc. Can you explain how it is 12X instead of 8X. I briefly know how to read scans but not in much detail, and I also know the media you tested can easily get up to 12X...

Also, when Device Manager lists the enclosure as "PL-3507 1394 Storage Device (1394 ATAPI_Rev 1.00) IEEE 1394 SBP2 Device", this states the firewire connection is being used. However, if using the USB2 connection, will Device Manager show a different reading as well?

crea78,

The 8.21X speed that you are seeing is the read speed of the error scan test. The Nero CD-DVD Speed error scan was done at 8X read speed. This is not the speed at which the disc was burned at. Where you see the 8.21X speed being reported is where Nero CD-DVD Speed shows the actual speed that the disc was read at during the error scan test. Hope this helps.

Thx socrates for the explanation of the scan. The reading of the graph makes more sense to me now.

You're welcome.

crea78,
When using USB connection, in device manager, under DVD/CD Rom Drives will say:
"BenQ DVD DD DW1620 USB Device"

socrates 007,
Thanks for the clear explanation of the graph, this disc was burned at 12X, using Nero DVD Disc Copy, and watching real time speed readings, per registry change. Quite honestly, I think I would have gotten slightly better burn at 8X from the looks of the graph.

No prob!

dishinit,

Here are the scans of my try at burning a Verbatim MCC004 16x@16x on the DW1620 in the Stortecc external enclosure via firewire. I'll let you experts interpret the results as most of this stuff is new to me

I'm not an expert at reading these scans (still new at this), but it seems like the scan qlt is pretty good.

In the first graph, burn qlt did very good up until it reached 15X. After that, the qlt declined steadily b/c of the "12X limit" using ext. enclosures. Therefore, the the scan isn't able to reach 16X.

For the error scanning, looks like you tested it at 4X, and the same scenario occurred there as well. The qlt score is varily good, but I believe the PIE & PIF errors are a little too high. (Not sure what is considered good or bad).

Remember, I don't have much experience interpreting these graphs so take them with a grain of salt. Also, I would try scanning these discs at 12X and see what the outcome is...

I own an external enclosure with the Prolific 3507 chipset version "a" and is working fine with the DW822.
I got the 1620 (with vers. B7P9) and I tested-it in the external enclosure, I found that with both connections (USB2 and FW) there was a limitation on the max speed around 11x.
So I upgraded the drive with the firmware available for the external version of the drive (EW-162I) (thanks to the help of D.B. for the conversion to CVT format).
After that I repeated the test and, surprise, with that firmware I didn't found any limitation and I was able to reach the full 12x speed on USB2 and Fireware connections, unfortunately I don't have any disk which is able to be written at 16x for the test.
Last, I found a new Firmware version 47L9 (for 4x DL I think same level of B7P9) for EW-162I and I made the upgrade with the Benq flasher and the drive connected with USB without problems.

Hi,
Could you please supply some more detailed information on how you upgraded an internal 1620 to a EW162I ???
Many thanks in advance...

First download the EW162I firmware from the Benq site, second find someone that can convert the EXE in CVT format (I think you are able to do by yourself, I have the V. 47I9 converted but now is available the 47L9 so could be better to convert the latest) and last use a CVT flasher to flash the firmware, I used the dos flasher but I think also the windows CVT flasher should work.
Ciao

This looks like a possibility.
OK, downloaded 47L9 firmware, But could someone explain how do you convert .exe to .cvt format??
Thanks for the response
dishinit

i used a firewire/usb bridge board and was able to connect as external....
FW : chipset oxford 911
USB2.0 : Insystem

but i think write speed could be limited a a max of about 10x??..

below connection is thru firewire...will do a usb burst interface later

[quote=eleewhm]i used a firewire/usb bridge board and was able to connect as external....
FW : chipset oxford 911
USB2.0 : Insystem

but i think write speed could be limited a a max of about 10x??..

@Eleewhm,

I have been testing different externals for the past 6 months. Two unit (the ADS and the Belkin) use the Oxford 911 for Firewire and I can't get over 13Mbps, just like you.

But I can use a Prolific PL-3507 and reach 23Mbps and supports my 3500AG fully at 16X.

There is some problem with the 911 not putting the drive in UDMA mode 2.

[quote=beach-hobo]hmmmm.........yup..i tried playing around with the settings thru the flasher utility....and no go...

I have tried every option on the uploader and also couldn't get the DVD in UDMA mode 2.

ok found a 5.25" inch case with Prolific Chipset.. PL3507 and PL3507 ROMwriter read it as PM39LV512 ...only can be done thru usb connection as per instructions...


Firmware looks to be the latest...2004.09.07.160...


Burst Rate on USB 2.0 looks promising....now me in office so only can grab a CDROM to test..


will do a firewire burst when i get home....office comp no firewire.

Sorry, I don't have any idea how to convert the EXE in CVT, I asked the help to D. B. (I have to ask for the permission to tell you the full name, but is simple to find-it) as I told before, if you wont I can send you via e-mail the version I have, but as I already told is not the last version and with that version you can only write Dual Layer disk at 2.4x.