Burn speed for Verbatim LightScribe DL DVD+R? External USB-to-SATA adapter!

[HobbyTech]

Should I burn faster or slower???

(LightScribe Dual-Layer, but connected via USB 1!)

 

I was burning at 4x with re-writable DVDs (and internal drive) because that speed was recommended somewhere on here (don't remember, it was weeks ago). Reasoning was too slow can lead to buffer under-runs. Some of those DVDs skipped a little, sometimes.

 

Now, I'm burning (the same files) to Verbatim LightScribe DVD+R DL (MKM-003-00). I followed this Guide (burning to Double-Layer) exactly: http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=4643. It recommended burning at 2.4x which is even slower than I burned by DVD-RWs. All 6 videos on it skip a little.

 

Per http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=8000 I should be burning at 8x:

Verbatim DVD+R DL discs...are currently available in...

 

Dye: MKM-001-00, Write Speed: 2.4x (often 'overspeed' to 4x, 6x or 8x in modern writers)

Dye: MKM-003-00, Write Speed: 8x

 

The 8x ones are newer and some older drives don't really have the firmware tweaks required to burn them. For that reason we recommend you stick to the 2.4x ones where possible as these have been around since the beginning of time!

 

My drive is a few years old. It's a Samsung SH-S203N, firmware version SB01. The thing is, my new computer has a motherboard problem, and my old one doesn't support SATA, so right now I can only burn LightScribe and Dual-Layer DVDs using a USB-to-SATA adapter plugged into the front USB port (not 2.0). I think maybe the burning is too slow for these discs, but will USB be too slow for 8x? Should I go lower than 2.4x???

 

These discs are very expensive, and they're the only LightScribe Dual-Layer on the market, so I hope someone will have the experience and knowledge to guide me in the correct choice.

 

Thanks!

HobbyTech

Edited December 26, 2009 by HobbyTech

[LIGHTNING UK!]

USB 1.0 can't even handle 1x and should be avoided. Your drive will be forever stopping and starting and that's not exactly going to help the burn quality.

[kryten]

Invest in a PCI SATA card. You'll be much happier with the results and won't have to replace other hardware.

[HobbyTech]

Wow, thanks for the quick replies!

I won't buy a PCI card now -- still trying to fix the motherboard problem on the new computer -- but I'll consider that if I'm stuck using the old computer much longer.

 

Do you folks think I should (later, not via USB) burn at 8x? Or 2.4x or something else? (I use DVD Flick which comes with ImgBurn.)

Edited December 27, 2009 by HobbyTech

[kryten]

I would try burning later at the fastest speed since recent media is meant to be used that way. You won't know for certain until you try, though.

Edited December 27, 2009 by kryten

[HobbyTech]

Thanks LIGHTNING UK! and kryten for your advice.