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September 15th, 2005 09:00

Optiplex GX280 crawls severely using a Plextor 716A DVD Writer

I've just fitted a Plextor 716A DVD writer to my Dell Optiplex GX280. When performing writing operations or even tests on DVD's, my Optiplex slows to a crawl and it does not recover.
 
Other forums suggest possible problems with the Intel Application Accelerator drivers that the Optiplex uses.
 
 
Any other Optiplex users had similar problems with Plextor Writers?
 
Any solutions or ideas would be very, very welcome.
 
Al

16 Posts

September 15th, 2005 11:00

The Intel  Application Accelerator isn't installed on my system, so it's unlikely to be that.

The original forum I alluded to concerns the bundled IAA software that comes with the Intel-written IDE drivers. It recommends replacing them with the Microsoft standard IDE Drivers. Would you also recommend that?

Thanx

Al

10.9K Posts

September 15th, 2005 11:00

If I remember correctly, the Intel Application Accelerator will be listed
with the other programs and it may have its' own uninstaller.

Intel Graphics Media Accellerator is something else.

16 Posts

September 15th, 2005 11:00

I have an Intel(R) Graphics Media Accellerator listed as an installed application under Add-Remove Programs. Is this what is being referred to? Isn't that required for the graphics?

Many thanks,

Al

10.9K Posts

September 15th, 2005 11:00

Uninstall the Intel Application Accelerator and see if it helps.  The Intel Application Accelerator isn't required on the system.

16 Posts

September 15th, 2005 12:00

OK. Under IDE ATAPI Controllers, I have listed the following icons, in exactly this order;

- Intel(R) 82801FB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 2651

- Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 266F

-Primary IDE Channel

-Primary IDE Channel

No Secondary IDE Channel is listed, which is interesting.

Yes, the drive is jumpered as Cable Select, I did that because the Primary CD Drive was also set to Cable Select. Should I set the jumpers on the optical drives to a Master/Slave config?

10.9K Posts

September 15th, 2005 12:00

What you usually see in the Device Manager under IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers,
is Intel(r) 82801BA Bus Master IDE Controller.  With that is the Primary
and Secondary IDE Channels.  The two channels have the Microsoft drivers.
 
But, while there, right-click the Secondary Channel and select Properties.
Click the Advanced Settings and make sure the drive is not in PIO mode. 
Should be DMA if available.

Also, when the drive was installed, was it jumpered as Cable Select?

10.9K Posts

September 15th, 2005 14:00

The GX280 has SATA, therefore it only has a Primary IDE Channel.
Right-click the Primary IDE Channel and select Properties. Click
the Advanced Settings and make sure the drive is not in PIO mode. 
Should be DMA if available.  See if this helps.

If this does not improve the situation, uninstall each drive
in the Device Manager and shut down the system.  Phyically
rearrange the drives so the Plextor is on the end of the IDE
cable (Master) and the other drive is in the middle of the IDE
cable (Slave).  Power the system back up and allow Windows to
detect and reinstall both drives.

Dell uses the Cable Select feature, which allows the location
on the IDE cable to determine which is the Master and Slave.
 

16 Posts

September 15th, 2005 16:00

OK,

Tried to set it to DMA,with some visible improvement in performance.

I've decided just to be on the safe side to swap the drives over as you suggest. In doing so, I noticed the Plextor has DMA jumper settings, as well as CS, MA and SL. Would there be any advantage to setting the Plextor's jumper settings to DMA?

Al

16 Posts

September 15th, 2005 17:00

A very big 'thank you' to Skybird, for sorting this problem out.

I've now swapped the drives around with dramatic improvement in performance. Left both drive jumper settings on CS.

The Plextor now writes without degrading the performance of the Optiplex at all. In fact, I'm just running a write test on the drive now. It's burning at the 4x max for that media type, where before it barely reached a measly 1.8x .

 
2 things to note then for people buying this DVD writer in the future, as per Skybirds advice;
 
1. Set the Transfer mode to 'DMA if available' on your device.
2. Ensure your Plextor is the Master device.
 
Thanks again,
 
Al

10.9K Posts

September 15th, 2005 17:00

Very happy to hear the good news. You are going to love the Plextor.
I have the 708A model and it is the Slave on my IDE cable.  Sometimes
it gets complicated.  Best regards.
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