#optical drive
9 messages in this thread
I am looking for an optical drive to use with AutocadR13 for Windows, 3D
Studio R3, as well as many other Windows applications. Due to large file sizes
the optical drive needs to read/write quickly and needs to be VERY reliable. I
will be putting the optical drive onto a pentium system, 545 Meg SCSI drive, 16
Meg (soon to be 32Meg), video card, soundblaster card, scanner…..and I think
that's all.
I really need more information on optical drives and their READ/WRITE
speed so anything that you know will help!!!—-Thanks.
Michael,
I have a portable Pinnacle Tahoe 230 MB O/M 3.5" drive. It has a
SCSI/SCSI 2 or parallel port interface. It also reads/writes 128 MB disks.
ECMA Burst 5 MB/sec
Sustain R 1.47 MB/sec
W 490 KB/sec
ISO Burst 5 MB/sec
Sustain R 768 KB/sec
W 256 KB/sec
Avg. seek time 28 msec, 5 sec load time, 3.5 sec unload time.
That's what it sez on the box. I had some problems using the drive a few
weeks ago, but they seem to be resolved. I'm attributing them to another part
of my system, but I'm not positive. I've found it very useul, and the fact
that it's portable is cool. You can even get a 3.5 hour battery. Hope this
helps.
Paul S.
I have a 128 Sony MO external, just to add this it makes a hell of a difference
how you connect your device to your PC.
First I had a Trantor MiniSCSIPlus T348 parallel port SCSI2 connector, I then
changed over to an Internal PCI-Fast SCSI2 Adaptec 2940A, and I do say it can
sometimes get as close as double speed compared to Parallel port speeds.
So far I never had one MO failure, however my MO-drive went dead 10 days ago,
luckely under waranty.
Christophe Van Oyen
Archimago
PMJI – But does your Sony create an unbearable whine? I have a Pinnacle 128 MB
external which I love – except – it produces a high-pitched whine that drives
me nuts. I don't mind a "noisy" drive – when it's working, but that non-stop
sound has really become a problem.
Oh noise with my SONY is LOW (until I got a sudden grun, which made it die on
me, it is in repair at this time), however noise of my SEAGATE barracuda
outperformance any other device I have. It's like an airplane taking of, well
one can wonder one is going on vacation if one closes his eyes??? 😉
Christophe
>> I have a Pinnacle 128 MB external which I love – except – it produces a
high-pitched whine that drives me nuts. <<
My Pinnacle 230 MB external is pretty quiet when idle now, but wasn't when
I first got it. It would whine and spin loudly at first, then die down to a
mildly annoying whir. Lately it winds up, then winds down to nothing unless
active. I am clueless when it comes to stuff like this. I did change my SCSI
driver, but I don't se what difference that should make.
For now, when reading it whines a bit, and when it writes it sounds like a
jack hammer… chucka-chucka- chicka-chucka…
Paul "hard hat" S.
Paul –
Good to know the 230 isn't as noisy. I really don't mind noise when it's
"working" … it's rather odd that the sounds on yours have changed with use.
The only equipment sound changes I've experienced is when something's about to
croak (e.g. HDs, power supply, fans)! How long have you had it? I'm actually
going to have to get rid of the 128 MB … I'm trying to figure out if the
noise would be less with an internal drive, though I love the flexibility of
the external. How long did it take to "quiet down"?
Gayle
I probably had the 230 MB Pinnacle for about three months when it became
less noisy. It made some rather strange start/stop whirring noises when newer
also, kind of like a fan starting and stopping, which made me wonder if it
might croak soon. It didn't, and it now runs very quietly. I leave it on
continuously, so I assume it should've croaked by now… I've had it since
late November.
Paul S.
I've had the 128 MB more than a year … guess it's not going to get better 🙁
Gayle G de N