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OPTIARC DVD Superdrive

S

speekez

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Nov 19, 2003
350
2
Did anyone else's new Mac Pro come shipped with a Optiarc DVD Superdrive? I don't see it mentioned much here. The model comes up as AD-7170A in System Profiler.

What's the word on this drive? Slow? Can it be flashed?
 
Mine came with a pair of the same model. Apparently its a Sony / NEC rebranding job. I don't know any specifics about speed / flashing though.
 
Yes, my Mac Pro has this Sony/Nec Superdrive. Haven't tried buring a DVD yet. I have to get a few dual layer DVD disks and try it.
 
I have the same drive and it is a load of rubbish

Im going to check the firmware and cache when I get home

Burning a 4.3gig dvd of video files in toast 8:
I hit the burn button and toast starts to count down from 3 minutes
14 minutes later it completes the burn and then spends another 14 verifying
I feel like sending it back
the spec says 16 to 18times speed but toast says the average is x2

this is false advertising and breaks the sale of good and services act of Ireland

i feel like I want to swap for a pioneer but I have had the mac pro for a few months now

what burn speeds are people getting with this dvd writer?


-------------------------
8core 2.8, 2gig, 320gig, 8800graphics, leopard 10.5.2
 
i don't know but they're not good. thing is SO freaking loud and slow.

luckily i burn a dvd/cd once in a blue moon. pfft. media ...
 
mgsarch said:
i don't know but they're not good. thing is SO freaking loud and slow.

luckily i burn a dvd/cd once in a blue moon. pfft. media ...
Click to expand...

sounds like its faulty and apple should give you a pioneer instead

if you buy online does that mean you have to pay to send the dvd drive back to them? It would be better if they sent you out one and collected the old one
 
Optiarc AD-7170A
Review Posted on 01/11/2006
CDFreaks Burn Statistics - Total success rate: 97.79% - Excellent
Based on 69,128 burns
http://www.cdfreaks.com/devices/DVD__RW/Optiarc/AD-7170A.html

Actually, it's a pretty good drive... just very OLD. Mine came with Firmware version 1.NC, which is... very OLD. Current version is 1.04, which is about a DOZEN steps above what Apple shipped this drive with :confused:
It appears that the more recent Optiarc AD-7191A is a step backwards, but the 'not shipping in the USA' AD-7200A looks to be a winner.
http://www.cdfreaks.com/devices/DVD__RW/Optiarc/AD-7191A.html
http://www.cdfreaks.com/reviews/Optiarc-AD-7200A-DVD-Burner-Review

Whatever, my Lite-On LH-20A1H just died at age 12 months (darn thing wouldn't even fit in my 2008MP!). I needed another Lightscribe drive, so, I just received the Samsung SH-S202N, gave it the Book Type patch, and I'm burning up a storm. So far, so good.
http://www.cdfreaks.com/reviews/Samsung-SH-S203B-DVD-Burner-Review
The 202N is the 203 with a P-ATA interface and Lightscribe.
http://club.cdfreaks.com/f105/patch-utility-samsung-mtk-based-dvd-writers-v2-3-1-new-242508
:D :cool: ;)
 
When burning a data dvd of 4.3 gig Toast 8 starts its countdown clock at 3 mins
14 mins later the disk is burnt and then it takes another 14mins to verify

Im using verbatim 16 speed media

how crap is that?

would chaging the version of toast matter? is there a native leopard version?

cant think of anything else other than its a crap dvd drive and apple have made it worse with their firmware????

its not a super drive
Its a super slow drive, super crap drive perhaps............
 
I have this same drive and it is slow. Burning DVD's is 3x as long as my previous Mac Pro with a Pioneer drive and CD's are just as slow. I guess I'll replace it with a Pioneer again.
 
Tootlek said:
sounds like its faulty and apple should give you a pioneer instead

if you buy online does that mean you have to pay to send the dvd drive back to them? It would be better if they sent you out one and collected the old one
Click to expand...
The Optiarc in my MP 2008 wouldn't even burn CDs consistently even after updating the firmware. AppleCare did a DIY swap and sent me a Pioneer 112D, which works great.
 
The Optiarc 7170-A 1.NC in my Mac Pro is fast enough. Drives typically never burn at full speed and slow down as they get closer to the outer edges. It is pretty loud though, but not constantly.
 
hakuryuu said:
The Optiarc 7170-A 1.NC in my Mac Pro is fast enough. Drives typically never burn at full speed and slow down as they get closer to the outer edges. It is pretty loud though, but not constantly.
Click to expand...

You guys don't hear your optiarc ramp up RIDICULOUSLY loud when it first starts? I guess ridiculous is relative but my MP is silent and the only thing I ever hear is that god damned optiarc. It sounds like a freaking jet engine, i freaked out the first time thinking my fans had gone haywire.
 
mgsarch said:
You guys don't hear your optiarc ramp up RIDICULOUSLY loud when it first starts? I guess ridiculous is relative but my MP is silent and the only thing I ever hear is that god damned optiarc. It sounds like a freaking jet engine, i freaked out the first time thinking my fans had gone haywire.
Click to expand...

Oh, it does when it firsts scans the disc, but its never as loud afterwards. But i've had plenty of loud drives over the years so it didn't strike me as out of the ordinary.
 
hakuryuu said:
Oh, it does when it firsts scans the disc, but its never as loud afterwards. But i've had plenty of loud drives over the years so it didn't strike me as out of the ordinary.
Click to expand...

Same here. It doesn't bother me in the slightest, those 2 seconds of noise during start-up. As long as the drive remains fast and stable, I have no problem with it.

--Erwin
 
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