So I just received a DW1670 as a replacement for a DQ60. The problem that I'm having is that the Nero software (Express 6.6.0.14) that came with the drive is only recognizing the drive as being able to burn @ 8X. It's actually the same problem that I had my other drive RMA'd for. I'm using BenQ branded single layer DVD+R's . The burner is set as a master on the second IDE channel. Has anyone else run into this? TIA.

Welcome to cdfreaks
Read out the media code identifier of your disks with DVDIdentifier and post it.

Well I did as you suggested and got the results. I suppose the media saying it maxes out @ 8X explains it. Is it common for the packaging to be incorrect when it comes to the speed of the media? It's labeled as "up to" 16X. Guess that's only on a good day or something? Or is that the burner speed, even though it's supposed to be rated for 16X? Here's the results from DVDIdentifier:


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Unique Disc Identifier : [DVD+RAXON-AZ2-000]
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Disc & Book Type : [DVD+R] - [DVD+R]
Manufacturer Name : [Daxon Technology Inc.]
Manufacturer ID : [DAXON]
Media Type ID : [AZ2]
Product Revision : [Not Specified]
Blank Disc Capacity : [2,295,104 Sectors = 4.70 GB (4.38 GiB)]
Recording Speeds : [1x-2.4x , 4x , 6x-8x]
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[ DVD Identifier V5.0.1 - http://DVD.Identifier.CDfreaks.com ]
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Daxon AZ2 is 8x media, Daxon AZ3 is 16x media. Labeling them as "up to 16x" is fooling the customer. A Benq 1620 can overspeed this media @16x out of the box, but it is still 8x media.

OK, so it's more likely that it's a media issue rather than an issue w/ my drive...that's good news. Is there a brand of media that's more likely to burn at it's advertised speed? I just went out and bought a 100 disc spindle of TDK DVD-R's, wondering if I'm going to have the same problem. If there's a manufacturer that tends to be more reliable, I'd just as soon return these and get something else. Thanks for all your help Ala42.

With TDK branded media you never know what you get. Verbatim 16x +R media should work fine with your drive.

Verbatim MCC 04 @ 16X on 1670

VBin,
Were you able to find the 103 firmware somewhere or was your's already loaded with that when you got it?

Mine came with 1.02 and was upgraded to 1.03 right after I hook up it up with my rig , which firmware ver you're running now ?

The latest one is 1.03, download it here -> BenQ DW1670 1.03 Firmware

According to the Nero Info Tool...I'm running 101. Guess I need to go update mine. Wonder if I can go str8 from 101 to 103? Thanks.

As to the original problem, when I insert the TDK media into the drive, Nero is telling me that it will burn @ 16X. So I guess it was a media issue. Thanks for all the help folks.