#hardware
8 messages in this thread
HELP!!! I am on the verge of purchasing a CD-ROM drive for my sustem but don't
know what to look for in hardware, access speed, compatabiliy or quality. Any
information would be appreciated.
download the files CDFAQ.TXT and CDROMF.ZIP. These files will proviude you
with some very useful background material to make your purchase more useful.
I had an experience with a CD-ROM drive that led me to make an important
recommendation. Whatever drive you choose, make sure the store promises and
guarantees that if it will not work properly with your PC, you can immediately
return it for a refund. I make this recommendation because there's no way you
can tell in advance whether a drive will work, regardless of the magazine
reviews and "expert" opinions.
Last year, I purchased one of the low-cost Mitsumi LU002 drives. At
first, I was dissatisfied with its performance. I got dozens of "CDR101: Drive
not ready" error messages, and the drive transferred data at no better than 120
KB/second or so. Inquiries to Mitsumi and help messages on this forum produced
no results.
Then, I switched motherboards, using the same 33-MHz 386 CPU, memory
chips and expansion cards from the previous system board. Suddenly, the Mitsumi
turned into a competent performer, transferring data at the 150 KB/second MPC
standard. Multimedia programs which had stuttered now flowed and worked
properly.
Why did that happen? What factor in the motherboard change improved the
Mitsumi's performance? No one knows, especially in this forum. I've had a
standing question for a couple of weeks (actually two, since I'm still trying
to find why the drive would fail to read files on two discs I recently tried)
on the change in the Mitsumi, and I've received zero responses.
Obviously, even the experts are stumped when it comes to CD-ROM
installation and performance. That why I can't overemphasize buying your drive
from a place that will allow a return and refund in case it doesn't work
properly in your RC.
Kevin,
Let me know who made the chip set on the motherboard. I'll bet you have slower
performance with an OPTI chip set and then changed motherboards which had a
different manufacturer of chips on the motherboard. Check. Let us know. The
firmware codes for chip sets on motherboards has a significant impact
(especially in multimedia applications) on CD-ROM. this is a little known
technical fact and should be brought to the public's eye.
Roger Hutchison CD ROM, Inc.
Roger, in glancing at the old and new motherboards, both have several
surface-mounted VLSI chips with "SIS" on them. Hmmm.
Ironically, both motherboards also have AMI BIOS. The old motherboard
had a 1991 BIOS. The new motherboard – one of the system boards designed to
take either 386 or 486 CPUs – has a 1992 AMI BIOS.
OK Kevin,
Not the BIOS, but the chips that make the motherboard tick. That's where your
issue lies, I'll bet.
Can't diagnose the problem unless you tell me who made the chip set. I need
manufacturers name and chip ID's.
Regards,
Roger Hutchison
Roger.
excuse me for jumping in here but you wouldn't happen to have an actual list of
the different Chip sets with corresponding performance ratings, I'm in the
process of compiling a technical support newsletter and this would be extreemly
benificial.
James M. Murphy
James Murphy Consulting
Green Bay, Wisconsin U.S.A.
James,
We have some unofficial testing results of motherboard chip performances as
they relate to video and audio (multimedia) discs. It is an interesting
observation but not all chips are equal when it comes to multimedia
performance. Gateway 2000, Compaq, IBM and others should take note of this.
In regards to publishing these results, it is premature.