[KLUG Members] IDE cd burner

[Bruce Smith]

> >>>That's the way mine is setup, and it's no problem with burnproof!
> >>>Without burnproof, I wouldn't be able to do a CD to CD copy at
> >>>anything faster than 8X.
> >>Note that "BurnProof" _will_ slow down your recording, especially if
> >>it happens repeatedly.
> >Depends on how you look at it.
> >In my case, I cannot do a CD to CD copy at 12X, but it works fine at
> >8X. A 12X copy with "BurnProof" turned on is faster than an 8X copy.
> >So, in my case it speeds things up.
> >"BurnProof" lets you burn as fast as your system can, which may be
> >slower than the rated speed of the drive.
> 
> EXACTLY!  And my point is that bang-for-buck one needs to consider if spending
> the extra danero for a fast burner gets you anything.  It depends entirely upon
> the application,  if your going to be copying CD's and can't put the drive on
> it's own channel then you might as well buy a slower drive.  If your creating
> CD's from ISO images on a HD on a seperate channel, and your machine is
> relatively robust,  then you get what your paying for.
> 
> Can't you add a third IDE channel to a machine?

For my situation, it's not worth the bang for the buck.

Most of my burns are from HDD ISO images.  Fewer are from CD to CDR,
so a ~2X CD-CDR improvement isn't really worth it.  Plus the limiting 
factor may be the top speed of my CD read-only drive, which are always 
greatly OVER RATED, but that's a rant I'll save for another day.

When I do a 12X CD to CDR copy, only the beginning part of the copy
bumps "burn-proof" do to the recording density of the inner tracks.
After I get into the copy, the copy speed gradually improves, and the 
burn-proof slow down goes away.  So, my *overall* speed isn't too bad.
Without burn-proof, I'd be stuck with a straight 8X CD -> CDR copy. 

> Are there any hdparm settings that can be used on CD-ROM drives?

Yes!!!  I use all the speed-up options on mine.
(and I don't have to worry about trashing existing data either :)

> <rant>System performance is more complicated than the speed ratings of each
> individual component.  I've seen both individuals and companies waste
> significant amounts of money on "upgrades" that accomplished nothing because
> they didn't bother to examine the interrelations of the various subsystems,  but
> viewed them as discrete entities.  I call this the "Best Buy" mentality,  Bob
> probably refers to it as "The Gateway Syndrome". :) </rant>

I agree, and have run across that many times.
Unfortunately, I don't have a fancy name for it.  :-(

--------------------------------------------
Bruce Smith                bruce@armintl.com
System Administrator / Network Administrator
Armstrong International, Inc.
Three Rivers, Michigan  49093  USA
http://www.armstrong-intl.com/
--------------------------------------------