11.5 Choosing a CD Writer
Use
the following guidelines when choosing a CD writer:
- Transfer rate
-
As with CD-ROM drives, throughput is rated in comparison to standard
CD-DA (CD-Digital Audio), which transfers 150 KB/s, and is designated
1X. CD-RW drives have three speeds. Usually, but not always, the
first number refers to how fast data can be written to a CD-R disc,
the second to how fast data can be written to a CD-RW disc, and the
third to how fast the drive can read data. For example, a Plextor
40/12/40A writes CD-R discs at 40X, rewrites CD-RW discs at 12X, and
reads discs at 40X. Note that fast CD writers use
"max" ratings. For example, the
PlexWriter 40/12/40A writes at 40Xmax, rather than writing at 40X
across the entire disc surface. Also, it is common for very fast CD
writers to have a lower maximum write speed for audio discs than for
data discs. For example, the PlexWriter 40/12/40A writes data discs
at 40Xmax, but audio discs at 24X.
- Average access
-
The heavier heads used by CD writers also mean they provide slower
average access times than standard CD-ROM drives. For example, the
Plextor 40/12/40A burner has an average access of 120 ms, versus 85
ms for the fastest Plextor CD-ROM drives. If you will use the burner
primarily for duping CDs, average access is relatively unimportant.
If you will use it heavily for reading CDs or for packet-mode access,
average access time is more important. Current models range from
about 120 ms to more than 300 ms average access. Buy a model with
average access of 200 ms or less.
- Interface
-
We used to tell our readers that, all other things being equal,
creating CDs was less trouble-prone if they used SCSI rather than
ATAPI, and Windows NT or 2000 rather than Windows 9X. The second part
of that advice remains true. CD burning is more reliable under
Windows NT or Windows 2000 than under Windows 98/SE/Me (although CD
burning under Windows XP can be a nightmare). But the first part of
that advice is now obsolete. The best modern ATAPI drives, such as
the PlexWriter 40/12/40A, are at least as reliable as the best SCSI
CD burners. Nowadays, we regard SCSI CD burners as a niche product.
About the only situation in which they are still superior to modern
ATAPI burners is when you need to burn the same data to several CD
writers simultaneously, as in commercial short-run duplication. If
your needs are more typical, choose an ATAPI burner.
- Buffer size
-
Even on a drive with BURN-Proof or a similar anti-underrun
technology, a large buffer is desirable because it helps prevent
buffer underruns, whether or not those underruns are intercepted and
repaired by BURN-Proof. A CD burner that writes at 16X or slower
should have a buffer of 2 MB. A CD burner that writes faster than 16X
needs a 4 MB buffer. Many no-name CD writers skimp on buffer size. We
have seen some 8X models with only 256 KB of buffer and some 12X
models with only 512 KB.
- Packet-writing support
-
Not all drives support packet-mode operation. Make sure the one you
buy does.
- Supported formats and methods
-
Any burner you buy should support at least the following:
- Read-mode formats
-
CD-DA (Audio CD), CD-ROM, CD-ROM/XA, Audio-combined CD-ROM, CD-I,
CD-I Ready, CD Bridge, Video CD, CD-Extra, CD-R (Orange Book Part
II), and CD-RW (Orange Book Part III).
- Write-mode formats
-
CD-DA (Audio CD), CD-ROM, CD-ROM/XA, Audio-combined CD-ROM, CD-I,
CD-I Ready, CD Bridge, Video CD, CD-Extra, and CD-RW.
- Writing methods
-
Disc-at-Once, Session-at-Once, Track-at-Once, and multisession.
- Software
-
The software you use is as important as the CD-R hardware. Nearly all
CD burners are bundled with various software, which is described in
the following section. Despite the fact that it's
"free," bundled software is not
always the best choice.
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