Slow DVD reading speed on 16X DVD-ROM Drive

Question

Hi all,   I am using Samsung SD 616E 16X DVD ROM Drive to read my DVD disc (DVD+R or DVD-R) (contained data).  However, I feel the reading speed is very slow.  Then I check the drive speed (and reading speed) using Nero CD-DVD Speed and Nero DriveSpeed.  It indicated the speed is 6X only. During the check speed process, it started with 2.4X only and ended with 6X for the DVD disc.  It's werid and very slow.  It should start with high rate and ended with around 16X.   I have no idea what causes the problem.  I am using the latest firmware of the drive.   For CD, depends on the brand of the CD, it seems ok.  Some disc runs only 16X but TDK runs 48X.  But DVD still the problems.  Does anyone know what cause the problem? If so, could you tell me how to fix it please?  Thanks

BABACHAN · Answer

Hi Skylander,

I had a simular problem. My cpu load was 100% when reading a disc. When looking in Device manager at the properties of the Primary IDE (or secondary IDE depending on where your drive is connected) the transfer mode was PIO only. I changed it to DMA if available. But this didn't work because it was automatically set back to PIO only. I reflashed my drive and the problem was solved.

BABACHAN

Predator · Answer

Hi Skylander,

To add with Glen`s, click on the CD/RW link in my post and scroll to Section 15, article 17. See if this article will help.
If not, enter the BIOs and verify that the IDE channel is set to Auto or On and that both Drive 0 & Drive 1 are on as well.

Best Regards

God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,
the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell the
difference.

CD/RW Link

gtop · Answer

I had the same problem. Cannot turn on DMA in device manager. You said : you have reflashed the drive. What dou you mean? I did not attempt yet to play/edit registry (I am a bit hesitant or afraid to do some side damage) as was suggested to me by "Predator" couple of days ago. Give me specific instructions or steps. My DVD burner is connected to the second IDE channel.

gtop,

Predator · Answer

Hi Gtop,

First you would need to check the Downloads under the Product Support tab to see if one (firmware) is available for your drive(s).

Consider entering the BIOS and verify the IDE channel is set to Auto or ON and that both Drive 0 and Drive 1 are "ON".
Under the Product Support tab above, click on User Guides, select Systems link, then follow the link for yours. The information for entering the BIOS should be listed there.

Best Regards

God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,
the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell the
difference.

CD/RW Link

gtop · Answer

I went and checked the BIOS : Secondary master drive : CD-ROM device (Model Samsung ....) Secondary slave drive : unknown device (was OFF).  I turned it to AUTO.   Saved setting and booted up the computer.  BIOS now gives : Secondary master drive : CD-ROM device (Model Samsung  ....) Secondary slave drive : CD-ROM device (Model LG ....), i.e. the drive is now detected.   Checked under Device Manager for IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers, found the following settings :   Primary IDE, channel properties :    Device 0, with current transfer mode being UDMA 5    Device 1, with current transfer mode : Not Applicable Secondary IDE, channel properties :    Device 0, with current transfer mode being UDMA 2    Device 1, with current transfer mode being UDMA 2 Secondary IDE, channel properties :    Device 0, with current transfer mode being UDMA 5    Device 1, with current transfer mode : Not Applicable   I guess everything is OK and my DVD burner is set for DMA transfer.  Is it right?   Couple of additional questions, if I may ask : 1) In my configuration, what is the primary IDE listed above? 2)  I have 2 SATA drives, both enabled in the BIOS, so why the current transfer mode for Device 1 in the primary IDE is shown as Not Applicable?  Is it normal? 3) What the second group of Secondary IDE set represents?   By the way, re-run Neron Express and it did not prompt for enabling DMA transfer.  But does the above configuration sounds normal?   Thanks for your feedback, gtop

Predator · Answer

Hi Gtop,

Somewhere along the line I did not catch or failed to remember which Dell you have?
Depending on the system you could have a Primary & Second IDE channel or a single Primary IDE channel, why you have two Secondary, currently I cannot say, the system may need the NVRAM (CMOS) cleared, stray detection log.

Glad to hear that the drive is now detected, and yes it does seem that DMA is indeed enabled.

Best Regards

God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,
the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell the
difference.

CD/RW Link

Message Edited by Predator on 02-01-2005 03:23 PM

Skylander · Answer

Thanks for your email. My PC only contain on IDE channel (primary channel only). Both drives (Samung 16X DVD drive and NEC 16X DVD burner) are connected to this channel. I checked the setting last night and both are in DMA mode 2. I am no idea why the Samung drive is reading a lot slower... Is there anything I should check?

Thanks

Predator wrote:

Hi Skylander,

To add with Glen`s, click on the CD/RW link in my post and scroll to Section 15, article 17. See if this article will help.
If not, enter the BIOs and verify that the IDE channel is set to Auto or On and that both Drive 0 & Drive 1 are on as well.

Best Regards

God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,
the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell the
difference.

CD/RW Link

Predator · Answer

Hi Skylander,

You mentioned using the latest firmware, so you have applied the Dell update correct?
Usually DMA has a lot to do with the speed issue, I wonder what would happen if you tested the drive as the only device on the IDE channel, compare it to the NEC as the only drive on the channel.

Best Regards

God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,
the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell the
difference.

CD/RW Link

Skylander · Answer

Hi Predator,

Thanks for your quick reply. I really appreciated it!

First of all, I have used and download the firmware from Dell. The installation was fine. However, I think the slow reading of the Samsung DVD drive problem might not related to the firmware. I realized that problem before I installed the latest patch and the problem remained exist after the firmware was installed.

For the DMA issue, I never change the configuration on the DMA setting. I guess it's the default of XP for my system. The NEC drive seems ok. The CDRW burning speed is not the top speed as what the specification said. But I guess that's because of the quality of the disc or type of data. But for the reading speed of the Samsung, it's not acceptable.

I never remove the drive and test it, could that be a problem?

Thanks

@Predator wrote:

Hi Skylander,

You mentioned using the latest firmware, so you have applied the Dell update correct?
Usually DMA has a lot to do with the speed issue, I wonder what would happen if you tested the drive as the only device on the IDE channel, compare it to the NEC as the only drive on the channel.

Best Regards

Storage, Drives & Media

Slow DVD reading speed on 16X DVD-ROM Drive

Was this post helpful?