External DVD-RW Drive

Several days ago, I purchased the Samsung SE-S184M external DVD drive for creating DVDs. This drive uses a USB 2.0 port but the USB port on my laptop computer is 1.1. I also purchased a USB 2.0 PCMCIA cardbus to add USB 2.0 ports to my laptop computer but it only allows the DVD drive to transmit data at 4X which is no different than the speed obtained using the USB 1.1 port on my laptop.

I also used an internal DVD drive and converted it to an external drive using an external DVD drive enclosure. After doing this, I received the same speed as the Samsung external drive.

I own a Compaq Presario R4125 model which I purchased 2 years ago. It has a DVD drive that writes at 4X speed. I assume my laptop can only handle 4X speed which is why my external drive connected to the laptop can only write at speeds not exceeding 4X. Is this assumption correct?

How can I increase the writing speed for this external drive? Do I need to buy a new PCMCIA card to make this drive write at 8X or 12X speeds.

I want to write at this speed because I own Verbatim 16X DVDs which is considered to be one of the best media for recording movies. To produce good burns of movies using this media, I would need to write at 8X or 12X speed.

 

The restriction of a 4x writing speed is due to the hardware of the burner itself. AFAIK you can't get a higher write speed through an add-on or software, you need to buy a new burner that's rated at 8x or 16x.

 

I looked it up it is 18XDVD burner. I was thinking the same thing.

 

This drive can write up to 18X for DVD+R and DVD-R discs.

Here is the specifications for this drive:

http://www.techbuy.com.au/p/72889/DVDROM_STANDALONE/Samsung/SE-S184M_AUBM.asp

 

Let me ask this question. Is it common for USB 2.0 PCMCIA cardbus to fail? I read some posts on other boards from people saying that one type of PCMCIA board worked for them but other brands don't. Does brand really make a difference for USB 2.0 PCMCIA cardbus?

 

I can reliably get 12X from my SHS182M in an I/O Magic case. I hear it's because of my VIA chipset. If what I've seen is correct, NEC is the chipset of choice for higher speeds on USB.

 

Because I only have USB 1.1 ports, I can't use these ports for a DVD drive because it would be too slow. I forgot I also have a Firewire port. If I decide to buy an internal drive and connect it to an external drive enclosure that has Firewire capability, what writing DVD speed can I expect from this setup? Assume I get an internal drive that has the ability to write at 20X for DVD-R and DVD+R discs.

 

Well 18XDVD is 24.93MB/s and firewire 400 is 49.15 you have some room. But the USB 2.0 you have is 60MB/s and something is not right. I would not run out and spend more money until I had a good explanation why your current setup is not performing.