Superdrive slow??????

[deputy_doofy]

I have a MacBook Pro 2.33GHz (Core2) with a HL-DT-ST-DVDRW GWA4080MA (AE38). I've been noticing that this drive is pretty **** slow. Since I couldn't find benchmarking programs for Mac, I ran Nero CD/DVD speed tests in Windows XP (BootCamp).
CD Read = 8x
DVD Read = 1.1x
CD Burn (using different brand discs at 40x and 52x) = 8x (to start, but slowed down as it progressed)

I should not have an optical drive that's only slightly faster than my iBook from 2001. What gives?

Interestingly enough, tried another 52x using Toast rather than the finder. It had me at 10x, eventually going to 11x, eventually jumping to 20x, and then flip-flopped from 20x to 21x for the remainder of the 700mb burn. Really. Is this normal? Am I seeing a normal 24x Superdrive (CD-R) at work here? My PowerMac G5's burner seems faster and it, too, is rated at 24x.
Pretty soon, I'll "race" my MBP against another MBP of the same model and see what's up.

Thanks!

 

[AlexisV]

It's a laptop drive, which are slower than the desktops. That's why your G5 Mac Pro is faster, with it's desktop drive.

The iMac, laptops and Mini all share the same drives.

There's a chance your drive is slow because it's giving up the ghost, but laptop drives are not the fastest anyway.

 

[deputy_doofy]

Well, it's good to know that I may not be alone, but it also seems misleading telling me I have a 24x CD burner when it never really reaches that. I think my PB 12's CD burner may be faster (also 24x). It's a bit disappointing, but as long as it works, I guess I'll deal.

 

[deputy_doofy]

Can someone tell me if there are any optical drive benchmarking programs for Mac so I can run some more tests?

Thanks.

 

[Holy Hanson]

OK I feel that we have a problem...

Just come home with a new Imac (20" intel core 2 duo) and felt the same. Slow burning, copying... on the other hand I am really happy with this computer. But why it´s so slow when burning...? Have about 5 others computers at home (Mac and PC) but never experience (or with a external drive) that poor performance. Missing something...

 

[Cloudane]

Same here (new 20" Al-iMac).

Although it said 8x as the burn speed, it's been doing my DVD for 25 minutes now (it's just about to finish and start verifying) which I find excruciatingly slow coming from my PC which could do them in under 5 minutes. I realise it's technically a laptop drive and thus a *little* slower (8x rather than 16x for instance), but this is pretty bad!

Edit: My fault, it was a dodgy disc. Make sure you have a more thorough check before complaining, kids!
Second one finished in 12 minutes, which is a lot more sensible (it's still not *blazingly* fast, but I don't expect it to be, given that it's a laptop drive and sat vertically too)

 

[hv00552]

Slow burning

I have a 20 inch Imac Alu with a Matshita UJ-85J superdrive.
A DVD takes 50 min to burn with Roxio toast 8.
DVD is 16x -R from Platinum.
Roxio says the speed is 3X.

I tried it in WinXP bootcamp and used Nero also then it takes 50 min. at a burningspeed of 8X ??