Has anyone done any tests to figure out what speed gives consistently the best quality burns with this media and drive.
At these prices I cannot afford to take chances.

Imgburn gives me 3 speed options. 2.4, 4, 8. I doubt I would chance 8, but 4 has a chance.

Speed is not important to me. Highest quality burns are.
BSMB firmware.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Mark

Burn them at rated speed. If they are 8x rated (as it seems) than burn them at 8x.

What does the writing on disc/case say?

BSMB gives great results with MKM 001. Personally 4x has been the sweet spot, but all speeds give good results. Use the search feature to find quality scans.

That is the confusing part. The case says 2.4-6x.

Mark

Then 2.4 it is. Overspeeding it to 8x is possible on some drives. Just like with other media.

I burn them at 2.4x now, with excellent results (see DL threads).

I am one of the few who have had terrible luck with 1640 + MKM 001. I'll wait to try some other DLs (maybe MKM 002/003 or RICOHJPN).

You're not the only one though and I've got the coasters to prove it :-(

I've gotten a "write error" on about 2/3 of my attempts. The only completed burns I've gotten were when I turned WOPC off and attempted the burns at 4X or 8x. All 2.4 attempts failed. All the failures happened on the first layer.

I have no issues with TY T02, TYG02 or MCC003 at 12x. +R full disc burns complete in 6:05 or less with WOPC off. DMA is on and burst rate is ~24 MB/s per CDSpeed. I see higher than "normal" PIE on TYG02 but PIF is fine and my T02 and MCC003 are comparable to the others posted here.

I've tried both BSLB and BSMB.

All MKM001 burns were done with either DVD Decryptor or IMGBurn. ISO images were created with DVD Shrink or by DVD Decryptor from the original DVD.

I've tried both the standard Microsoft IDE driver and the nVidia nForce IDE driver. Super stable Athlon 64 939 system running XP Pro SP2 with all updates.

I've tried discs from 3 different 10 pack spindles of Verbatim +R DL MKM001 spindles I have. The first 2 don't look great under QScan while the third looks considerably better but still resulted in a "write error" at 2.4x with WOPC on.

After about 8 coasters and trying everything else I'm ready to either buy another 1640 to try or a Pioneer 110D. I wish I'd never sold my DVR108... I really can't RMA the drive without getting a replacement first as I use it frequently for data backups and need something in the interim.

Any suggestions appreciated but please don't tell me things like swapping my IDE cable as it's obviously not the issue.

Here's a couple of samples of IMGBurn logs of failed attempts. I may try one more with WINASPI instead of SPTI but I strongly doubt that's the issue. It really looks like a 1640 drive issue.

Mike

ImgBurn log 1
I 01:46:31 ImgBurn Version 1.0.0.0 started!
I 01:46:31 Microsoft Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600 : Service Pack 2)
I 01:46:31 Initialising SPTI...
I 01:46:31 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...
I 01:46:31 Found 1 DVD-ROM and 1 DVD±RW!
I 01:47:25 Operation Started!
I 01:47:25 Source File: G:\XXXXXX.MDS
I 01:47:25 Source File Sectors: 3,765,147 (MODE1/2048)
I 01:47:25 Source File Size: 7,711,021,056 bytes
I 01:47:25 Source File Implementation Identifier: UDF Toshiba DVD Video
I 01:47:25 Destination Device: [1:0:0] BENQ DVD DD DW1640 BSMB (D (ATA)
I 01:47:25 Destination Media Type: DVD+R DL (Disc ID: MKM-001-00) (Speeds: 2.4x, 4x, 8x)
I 01:47:25 Destination Media Sectors: 4,173,824
I 01:47:25 Write Mode: DVD
I 01:47:25 Write Type: DAO
I 01:47:25 Write Speed: 2.4x
I 01:47:25 Link Size: Auto
I 01:47:25 Test Mode: No
I 01:47:25 BURN-Proof: Enabled
I 01:47:25 Optimal L0 Data Zone Capacity: 2,051,232
I 01:47:25 Optimal L0 Data Zone Method: Copied From Original Disc
I 01:47:25 Filling Buffer...
I 01:47:28 Writing LeadIn...
W 01:47:36 Failed to Write Sectors 0 - 31 - Write Error
W 01:47:36 Retrying (1 of 20)...
I 01:47:36 Writing LeadIn...
I 01:47:37 Writing Image...
W 02:07:21 Failed to Write Sectors 1849376 - 1849407 - Write Error
W 02:07:21 Retrying (1 of 20)...
W 02:07:21 Retry Failed - Invalid Address For Write

section deleted

W 02:10:31 Retry Failed! - Invalid Address For Write
W 02:10:31 Retrying (40)...
W 02:10:31 Retry Failed! - Invalid Address For Write
E 02:10:32 Failed to Write Sectors 1849376 - 1849407 - Write Error
I 02:10:32 Synchronising Cache...
I 02:10:33 Closing Track...
I 02:10:44 Finalising Disc...
E 02:11:37 Failed to Write Image!
E 02:11:37 Operation Failed! - Duration: 00:24:12
I 02:11:37 Average Write Rate: 2,690 KB/s (1.9x) - Maximum Write Rate: 3,333 KB/s (2.4x)

ImgBurn log 2
I 18:51:43 ImgBurn Version 1.0.0.0 started!
I 18:51:43 Microsoft Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600 : Service Pack 2)
I 18:51:43 Initialising SPTI...
I 18:51:43 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...
I 18:51:43 Found 1 DVD-ROM and 1 DVD±RW!
I 18:53:02 Operation Started!
I 18:53:02 Source File: G:\XXXXXX.MDS
I 18:53:02 Source File Sectors: 4,145,745 (MODE1/2048)
I 18:53:02 Source File Size: 8,490,485,760 bytes
I 18:53:02 Source File Implementation Identifier: Daikin U.S. Comtec Lab
I 18:53:02 Destination Device: [0:2:0] BENQ DVD DD DW1640 BSLB (D (ATA)
I 18:53:02 Destination Media Type: DVD+R DL (Disc ID: MKM-001-00) (Speeds: 2.4x, 4x, 8x)
I 18:53:02 Destination Media Sectors: 4,173,824
I 18:53:02 Write Mode: DVD
I 18:53:02 Write Type: DAO
I 18:53:02 Write Speed: 4x
I 18:53:02 Link Size: Auto
I 18:53:02 Test Mode: No
I 18:53:02 BURN-Proof: Enabled
I 18:53:02 Optimal L0 Data Zone Capacity: 2,074,496
I 18:53:02 Optimal L0 Data Zone Method: Copied From Original Disc
I 18:53:02 Filling Buffer...
I 18:53:05 Writing LeadIn...
I 18:53:11 Writing Image...
W 19:00:28 Failed to Write Sectors 1180192 - 1180223 - Write Error
W 19:00:28 Retrying (1 of 20)...
W 19:00:29 Retry Failed - Invalid Address For Write
W 19:00:29 Retrying (2 of 20)...
W 19:00:29 Retry Failed - Invalid Address For Write

section deleted

W 19:27:28 Retrying (29)...
W 19:27:28 Retry Failed! - Invalid Address For Write
E 19:27:29 Failed to Write Sectors 1180192 - 1180223 - Write Error
I 19:27:29 Synchronising Cache...
I 19:27:30 Closing Track...
I 19:27:40 Finalising Disc...
E 19:28:04 Failed to Write Image!
E 19:28:04 Operation Failed! - Duration: 00:35:02
I 19:28:04 Average Write Rate: 1,147 KB/s (0.8x) - Maximum Write Rate: 5,545 KB/s (4.0x)

Hmm maybe I should consider burning these on my NEC 3540 instead.
I never really considered that since I seem to get slightly better burns
on my TY media with the Benq.

Mark

I posted some MKM 001 scans from the 1640 here:

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread....4&page=2&pp=25

Thanks but I saw yours and other BENQ 1640 scans before that are good. However, my 1640 is failing to complete 2/3 of my MKM 001 attempts.

Part of my interest in the Pioneer is I've seen claims of successful DL burns even on the Ritek DL which happens rarely on the 1640. I figure if it can do that, my Verbs should be a piece of cake.

I've either got to buy a new burner or waste the ~30 I have left. Just trying to decide whether to get another 1640 or something else.

Mike

okay. I'm also interested in the pioneer 110, but it too has problems with ritek D01. You should also be able to return that MKM001, just tell them your burner doesn't like them.

the 6x rated Verbatim DVD+RDL discs are the same as the 2.4x rated discs (both MKM 001). You can burn them at 4x reliably, 6x is ok too, but id stick with 4x.

8x on the Verbatim DL+ in a 110 is no problem, also the quality is excellent!

Wow, 8x would be nice but I'll be happy if the burns complete reliably on the 110D at any speed with decent results.

I ordered a 110D from Newegg @ $46 shipped for a combo with a pack of 5 Ritek DL discs + 1 R/W. It was $42 without the Riteks. I don't expect useable results, but hopefully I'll be able to burn a couple on the 110D and verify the write failures I was seeing on the 1640 are due to the drive and not something else. If burns complete with the Ritek DL on the 100D, I'll feel safer trying the Verbatims.

If it turns out to be the 1640 at fault like I expect, I'll have something to use while I get it sent back.

I bought the OEM 1640 drive from Newegg a few months back. Does it have a 1 year warranty? Does BENQ or Newegg handle the warranty?

Thanks,
Mike

Read here.

I got QS of 95 consistently with 8X burn on the verbatim DL spindle of 10 bought at bestbuy.com a few weeks ago with BSLB, Solid burn on, WOPC on, overspeed on. I haven't tried at lower speed yet but I am very satisfied with 8X burns. And at the moment, I am not going to flash to the newer firmware since my burner is doing pretty good with TY media and Verbatim DL. And I dont have any other media so I am not going to upgrade the firmware anytime. Hope that help. And based on what I've seen ritek DL, am not going to touch it even it is $1 a piece.

I've seen some reports of Pioneers burning the Riteks ok but normally I wouldn't touch them either based on all the other posts I've seen. In this case though, I'd rather use them to check the 110D out and verify it's not a system issue rather than chance coastering any more of the Verbatims.

Mike

FWIW, I have stopped using ImgBurn since I've gotten errors using it with the BenQ 1640 drive. I've gotten errors writing the lead-in on Verbatim DL media. I've gotten write errors in the middle of a burn with Verbatim DL media. I've gotten some sense errors (I think that's what they were) on different single layer DVD+R media.

It could be the media, since it didn't happen all the time, but I just went back to burning images with DVD Decrypter and I haven't had any of those problems occur yet.