OT: Setting DVD writer to Ultra DMA

Paul Mead wrote on 4/13/2006, 2:15 PM
For some reason I can't get more than 2x speed out of my 16x DVD writer (a Sony DRU-810A with the latest firmware, 1.0e, installed). I am using 16x media, and I have tested the drive using Nero CD-DVD Speed, and it measures the output rate at around 1.65x.

I notice that the Device Manager shows the transfer mode for Device 1 on my secondary IDE channel (which I presume my DVD drive) is using "PIO" as the transfer mode. I have set it to "DMA if available", and rebooted. Still PIO mode. I uninstalled the controller driver and rebooted (forcing a new driver install). Still PIO mode. I have downloaded the latest chipset drivers for my system and installed them. Still PIO mode.

Fishing around the Sony storage support site I found an article titled "I am trying to set my IDE Controller to DMA mode, but it keeps defaulting back to PIO Mode.". That article suggests you change the driver to be the "Standard IDE Controller". I currently have the chipset specific driver, that is, the "Intel(R) 82801EB UltraATA Storage Controllers" driver.

I'm a bit reluctant to backout a device specific driver and use a generic driver. Do you have any thoughts on that? Am I being too paranoid? Any other suggestions on how to get my DVD writer to go at its rated speed?

Comments

Andy C wrote on 4/19/2006, 3:56 AM
Paul,

I don't have a specific answer to your problem, but for what it's worth I'm running a Sony DRU-800A on my Secondary IDE channel. This channel is set to 'Use DMA If Available' (which it currently seems to be happily doing). Both IDE channels are hanging off an Intel 82801BA Ultra ATA Storage Controller - 244B.

The writer certainly uses all speeds available, but I wasn't aware there were performance issue with writers and PIO mode. Even though you are using PIO I would have thought you'd get more than 2x speed.

Also, if you right-click on the drive in Explorer, do you see the Recording tab? Do the settings in there look sensible? For example, there's a speed setting that should be set to 'Fastest'. Of course, this *may* be a red herring. DVDA may well bypass the Explorer configuration, but it's one thing to try.

Good luck,
Andy.
Paul Mead wrote on 4/19/2006, 6:08 AM
Thanks a lot for the note, Andy. I hadn't thought of checking the properties from Explorer (I had been using the Device Manager). I took a look and "fastest" is selected for CD writing, so I guess that isn't it.
johnmeyer wrote on 4/19/2006, 8:37 AM
Control Panel -> Device Manager. Uninstall the driver for the DVD, re-boot, and let Windows re-install it.
Paul Mead wrote on 4/19/2006, 11:28 AM
Thanks, John. I have tried uninstalling the DVD and controller drivers, but got no joy from either.
Paul Mead wrote on 4/19/2006, 3:38 PM
Prompted by a suggestion I got from Sony support, I disconnected the CD burner that was on the same cable. I can now get the DVD burner to run at 16x speed with DMA.

I had assumed that the CD drive was jumpered as master, but I have since learned that it was jumpered for cable select (CSEL). I tried jumpering the DVD burner to CSEL as well, but it didn't behave any different. Same for jumpering the CD drive as master and the DVD burner as slave. This is way beyond my level of expertise, so I'm at a loss on how to get both drives working. For the moment I will just leave the CD disconnected, although it is handy to have both, sometimes.

Should I be able to to run a CD burner and a DVD burner on the same channel with both in DMA?
johnmeyer wrote on 4/19/2006, 4:09 PM
That's really useful information and will help other people with similar problems.

The one thing you didn't mention doing was setting the DVD burner to Master and the CD drive as slave. Maybe you did that, but just forgot to mention it. Might be worth doing. Always turn of the computer when changing jumpers, of course.

How old is the CD drive? If it is REALLY old (4-5 years), it might not support DMA. The solution would be to get a new CD drive ($30).
Paul Mead wrote on 4/19/2006, 4:21 PM
Actually, the one thing I didn't try was setting the DVD drive to master and the CD drive to slave. (I guess I was getting tired of messing with it.) The next time I am bored and looking for a distraction I will try swapping the drives.

The CD drive works in DMA mode when the DVD drive is connected as drive "1" (thus the CD is drive "0"). It is about two years old.
Andy C wrote on 4/20/2006, 3:03 AM
As you say Johnmeyer, really useful info. I wasn't aware that DMA had the potential to be disabled if two CD/DVD devices were attached.

I guess I've got away with it on my set up. I have a Sony and a Philips DVD writer on the secondary channel. Both are using Ultra DMA Mode 2. The Philips is about 2 years old and the Sony is 1 year old so I'm not too sure if age has anything to do with it.

I'd replace the CD drive with a DVD writer. They cost peanuts nowadays.
Andy.
soaringrocks wrote on 4/20/2006, 12:27 PM
Another alternative is to buy an IDE adapter and continue to use your existing hardware. They cost about $20-45 new but if you live in an area that has recycled computer equipment you can find one for less than $10.00.

I admit I'm a bit surpised that your system reverted to port IO mode... bummer.