DVDFab wrongly detecting I/O mode?

astage

The contributions from experienced users are valuable to help eliminate problems, but I notice there is an immediate jumping on users' posted logs showing an I/O mode of "PIO Mode". However, I have an indication that DVDFab (7.0.9.0) may not always detect this mode correctly, and may show "PIO" when "UDMA 5" is actually in use.

With two Optiarc AD-7241S drives in place, my DVDFab_burn_VSO.log shows:
[SIZE="4"]2010-08-05 20:45:31 Info Media ID: MKM-003-00
2010-08-05 20:45:31 Info Media type: Dual Layer DVD+R
2010-08-05 20:45:31 Info PIO Mode
2010-08-05 20:45:31 Info Write started
2010-08-05 20:33:44 Info Writable disc DL DVD+R inserted. Ready to write
2010-08-05 20:33:42 Info Compatible media types : DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVDRAM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R, DL DVD-R
2010-08-05 20:33:42 Info Drive has Serial ATA physical interface
2010-08-05 20:33:42 Info New Drive selected : 0:4:0 - Optiarc DVD RW AD-7241S 1.03 [G] (Ide)[/SIZE]

However, Nero InfoTool and other diagnostic programs show the drive as being in "UDMA 5" mode:
[SIZE="4"]" Optiarc DVD RW AD-7241S
-----------------------------
Driver
Description : CD-ROM Drive
Company : Microsoft
Version : 6.1.7600.16385
Date : 6-21-2006
File Name : cdrom.inf

Interface/Features
Interface : Intel(R) ESB2 SATA RAID Controller
Feature : Supported DMA modes: UDMA 0-5
Feature : Current DMA mode: UDMA 5"[/SIZE]

signals

This is certainly possible, although I have never experienced it. The read or write speed will quickly tell which is correct. There are usually other symptoms (poor communication between drive and burn engine, high CPU use) that point to a drive in PIO mode.

astage

Would you say this log indicates PIO or UDMA? Disc was cloned to DVD+RDL and the write finished in 17:31 minutes. System is Win-7 64-bit, Dual Quad Xeon 5345, 8GB RAM.

[SIZE="4"]2010-08-05 21:06:13 ---- ******************** Log session stop 05-Aug 21:06:13.908 PID 2612********************
2010-08-05 21:04:16 Info WRITE SUCCESS: Disc written
2010-08-05 21:04:16 Info Finalization Time 00:01:04 - Total completion time 00:18:36
2010-08-05 21:03:11 Info Write finished in 00:17:31 - Finalization start here. Avg. burn rate 6.04
2010-08-05 20:45:45 Info Lead-in burning time (mS) 4797
2010-08-05 20:45:40 Info Write started 3910112 sectors to write
2010-08-05 20:45:40 Info Init success: DVD+R Dual Layer
2010-08-05 20:45:40 Info Init DVD+R Dual Layer: Layer change set to LBA 1955072 (3.73 Gb.)
2010-08-05 20:45:31 Info Writing speed requested x8.0, effective x8.0
2010-08-05 20:45:31 Info Layer break set by user at sector 1955072
2010-08-05 20:45:31 Info Available write speed: 8x ,6x ,4x
2010-08-05 20:45:31 Info Media ID: MKM-003-00
2010-08-05 20:45:31 Info Media type: Dual Layer DVD+R
2010-08-05 20:45:31 Info PIO Mode
2010-08-05 20:45:31 Info Write started
2010-08-05 20:33:44 Info Writable disc DL DVD+R inserted. Ready to write
2010-08-05 20:33:42 Info Compatible media types : DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVDRAM, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R, DL DVD-R
2010-08-05 20:33:42 Info Drive has Serial ATA physical interface
2010-08-05 20:33:42 Info New Drive selected : 0:4:0 - Optiarc DVD RW AD-7241S 1.03 [G] (Ide)
2010-08-05 20:32:09 Info Current Drive selected : 0:3:0 - Optiarc DVD RW AD-7241S 1.03 [F] (Ide)
2010-08-05 20:32:09 Info Using Advanced SPTI interface
2010-08-05 20:32:09 Info System default language : English (United Kingdom)
2010-08-05 20:32:09 Info User default language : English (United Kingdom)
2010-08-05 20:32:09 Info DLL Version : 4.0.7.466
2010-08-05 20:32:09 Info DLL : D:\Video apps\DVDFab 7\vso_hwe.dll
2010-08-05 20:32:09 Info Version : 7, 0, 9, 0
2010-08-05 20:32:09 Info ExeName : D:\Video apps\DVDFab 7\DVDFab.exe
2010-08-05 20:32:09 Info OS : Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate (Build 7600)
2010-08-05 20:32:09 ---- ******************** Log session start 05-Aug 20:32:09.716 PID 2612********************[/SIZE]

maineman

The effective write speed is 8X and the timeline for a DL disc is reasonable.
This is not a DMA issue and the drive is certainly not in PIO.

I'm assuming the bkup plays ok?

maineman

If you don't mind, the next time you burn a DL disc, preferably an MKM 003 at 8X to keep the playing field fair, please select Img as Fab's default burn engine and please post the burn log.

Here's a link to a great video tutorial in case you need it:

Thanks

AGJ

I think I'm thinking the same as you maineman. The VSO burn engine reported wrong info once again.

astage

Since switching to these Optiarc drives 9-months ago, I've not had one burn failure or replay problem.

A different DL disc, but burnt to the same media using ImgBurn 2.5.1.0 set to AWS of 8x. However, the log doesn't indicate the drive's i/o mode, although the burn times, etc., are compariable with those using the VSO engine.

Note: Log attached. Couldn't paste into message since the web-site seemed convinced I'm trying to embed five images, when none were there.

maineman

Ah Ha, as suspected.
Thanks for posting the Img burn log as it confirms the "misread" or "misinterpretation" of the VSO burn log.

Unfortunately, vBulletin sees some of the symbols (punctuation marks) such as colon parenthesis as emoticons.

I've got two of the Sony Optiarc 7240s burners in my rig and I love 'em.
Solid performers and one of the best DL burners out there.
I flashed them with modified firmware courtesy of Liggy and Dee so now they bitset +R and +R DL media to DVD-ROM and are RPC-1 too

astage

[QUOTE=maineman;47949]I've got two of the Sony Optiarc 7240s burners in my rig and I love 'em.
Solid performers and one of the best DL burners out there.
I flashed them with modified firmware courtesy of Liggy and Dee so now they bitset +R and +R DL media to DVD-ROM and are RPC-1 too[/QUOTE]

I've patched my Optiarc 7241S drives as well!
I used to swear by Plextor drives, but had three drives fail in very short succession, wouldn't read dual layer, burn problems, etc., so I bought these Optiarcs on the basis of the review here:
http://www.myce.com/review/optiarc-ad-7240s-dvd-burner-review-15981/
Looking at Plextor's recent products they seem just to be badging low end drives and bumping the price. Compared with Optiarc, there's no contest. Glad that I saw that review.