NEC 3520A OEM experiences...

[DD51]

My thoughts on the NEC 3520A OEM Burner.

I got this burner about a week ago and these are my thoughts regarding this burner.
I'll keep this short...
I first installed this burner to replace my Pioneer A05.
It's set on master with a Lite-on DVD ROM as Slave.
After my first original firmware burn (1.04) I immediately flashed my 3520A OEM with firmware "I-O Data 3.22 with DL-9 support (rebadged to NEC 3520)"
and burned 2 movies.

My first burn below with original firmware (v1.04):

28/03/2005 7:22:23 PM info ********** Report session closed ***********
28/03/2005 7:22:20 PM info Write completed
28/03/2005 7:22:20 PM info Average speed x5.48 Reference x1 = 1385.00 kbps
28/03/2005 7:22:20 PM info Total burning time 00:10:03.360
28/03/2005 7:13:03 PM info Lead-in burning time (mS) 10001
28/03/2005 7:12:17 PM info Starting write buffer
28/03/2005 7:12:17 PM info Starting to write...
28/03/2005 7:12:17 PM info Buffer under-run proof enabled
28/03/2005 7:12:17 PM info DVD-R SAO writing mode selected
28/03/2005 7:12:17 PM info Writing speed requested x8.0, effective x6.0
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info Writing session #1 and closing disc.
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info Open Image file "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\CopyToDvd\COPYTODVD_03282005_191216_781.cache"
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info Available sector size : 2297888
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info Available write speed: x8.0, x6.0, x4.0, x2.0
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info Media ID: RITEKG05
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info Blank or incomplete DVD
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info Detected media $0011: DVD-R
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info Blank or incomplete DVD
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info Detected media $0011: DVD-R
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info Finished browsing files - Data size 4.28 Gb.
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info Start Browsing file structures
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info IDE Controler manufacturer : Intel
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info IDE Controler Description : Intel(R) 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 24DB
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info IDE Controler manufacturer : Intel
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info IDE Controler Description : Intel(R) 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 24D1
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info Supported Media: DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info Writing device used: 3:0:0 - _NEC DVD_RW ND-3520A 1.04 [F] (Ide)
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info Using Patin-Couffin driver Version 1.27, Internal revision 27 - Async. Access mode
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info Using DVD Video filelist creation mode.
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info ParamStr 3 = "/writedevice=F"
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info ParamStr 2 = "/volumename=Something's Gotta Give"
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info ParamStr 1 = "/dvdvideofl=C:\PROGRA~1\VSO\COPYTO~1\~c2c_fl.tmp"
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info ParamStr 0 = "C:\PROGRA~1\VSO\COPYTO~1\CopyToCd.exe"
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info User default language : 4105 (0x1009h) - English (Canadian)
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info System default language : 1033 (0x0409h) - English (United States)
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info Version 3.0.46.79
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info ExeName : "C:\PROGRA~1\VSO\COPYTO~1\CopyToCd.exe"
28/03/2005 7:12:16 PM info OS : Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (Build 2600)

Here's my second burn with firmware "I-O Data 3.22 with DL-9 support (rebadged to NEC 3520)":

28/03/2005 11:35:50 PM info ********** Report session closed ***********
28/03/2005 11:35:48 PM info Write completed
28/03/2005 11:35:48 PM info Average speed x5.54 Reference x1 = 1385.00 kbps
28/03/2005 11:35:48 PM info Total burning time 00:10:00.578
28/03/2005 11:26:28 PM info Lead-in burning time (mS) 10001
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info Starting write buffer
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info Starting to write...
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info Buffer under-run proof enabled
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info DVD-R SAO writing mode selected
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info Writing speed requested x8.0, effective x6.0
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info Writing session #1 and closing disc.
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info Open Image file "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\CopyToDvd\COPYTODVD_03282005_232547_203.cache"
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info Available sector size : 2297888
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info Available write speed: x8.0, x6.0, x4.0, x2.0
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info Media ID: RITEKG05
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info Blank or incomplete DVD
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info Detected media $0011: DVD-R
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info Blank or incomplete DVD
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info Detected media $0011: DVD-R
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info Finished browsing files - Data size 4.31 Gb.
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info Start Browsing file structures
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info IDE Controler manufacturer : Intel
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info IDE Controler Description : Intel(R) 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 24DB
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info IDE Controler manufacturer : Intel
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info IDE Controler Description : Intel(R) 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 24D1
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info Supported Media: DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R, DL DVD-R
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info Writing device used: 3:0:0 - _NEC DVD_RW ND-3520AW 3.22 [F] (Ide)
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info Using Patin-Couffin driver Version 1.27, Internal revision 27 - Async. Access mode
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info Using DVD Video filelist creation mode.
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info ParamStr 3 = "/writedevice=F"
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info ParamStr 2 = "/volumename=Terminal"
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info ParamStr 1 = "/dvdvideofl=C:\PROGRA~1\VSO\COPYTO~1\~c2c_fl.tmp"
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info ParamStr 0 = "C:\PROGRA~1\VSO\COPYTO~1\CopyToCd.exe"
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info User default language : 4105 (0x1009h) - English (Canadian)
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info System default language : 1033 (0x0409h) - English (United States)
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info Version 3.0.46.79
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info ExeName : "C:\PROGRA~1\VSO\COPYTO~1\CopyToCd.exe"
28/03/2005 11:25:47 PM info OS : Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (Build 2600)

This puzzled me:
Both these burns I thought would have been defective cause my burner was making a clicking sound while burning. A 3-click sound and immediately following the clicking sound the speed dramatically decreased but it picked up again right after. I believe it might be the laser reseting itself. (I'm puzzled as to why this happens)
They both took about 10 minutes to complete and tested both my burns with DVDinfoPRO and results are good. I also watched both movies and they play flawlessly.

Now I reflashed my burner to:
Liggy's And Dee's NEC ND-3520 1.U9 (Beta9), bitsetting along with RPC1 and Rip Lock (based on Mad Dog 1.F3) (NEW 30-03-2005)
This is the only burn I've done with this new firmware:
Here's the log:

01/04/2005 11:29:36 PM info ********** Report session closed ***********
01/04/2005 11:29:34 PM info Write completed
01/04/2005 11:29:34 PM info Average speed x7.24 Reference x1 = 1385.00 kbps
01/04/2005 11:29:34 PM info Total burning time 00:07:04.438
01/04/2005 11:23:21 PM info Lead-in burning time (mS) 10047
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info Starting write buffer
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info Starting to write...
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info Buffer under-run proof enabled
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info DVD-R SAO writing mode selected
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info Writing speed requested x12.0, effective x6.0
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info Writing session #1 and closing disc.
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info Open Image file "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\CopyToDvd\COPYTODVD_04012005_232229_515.cache"
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info Available sector size : 2297888
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info Available write speed: x12.0, x8.0, x6.0, x4.0, x2.0
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info Media ID: RITEKG05
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info Blank or incomplete DVD
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info Detected media $0011: DVD-R
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info Blank or incomplete DVD
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info Detected media $0011: DVD-R
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info Finished browsing files - Data size 3.94 Gb.
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info Start Browsing file structures
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info IDE Controler manufacturer : Intel
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info IDE Controler Description : Intel(R) 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 24DB
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info IDE Controler manufacturer : Intel
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info IDE Controler Description : Intel(R) 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 24D1
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info Supported Media: DVD-R, DVD-RW Seq., DVD-RW RO, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DL DVD+R
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info Writing device used: 3:0:0 - _NEC DVD_RW ND-3520A 1.U9 [F] (Ide)
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info Using Patin-Couffin driver Version 1.27, Internal revision 27 - Async. Access mode
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info Using DVD Video filelist creation mode.
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info ParamStr 3 = "/writedevice=F"
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info ParamStr 2 = "/volumename=Robots"
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info ParamStr 1 = "/dvdvideofl=C:\PROGRA~1\VSO\COPYTO~1\~c2c_fl.tmp"
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info ParamStr 0 = "C:\PROGRA~1\VSO\COPYTO~1\CopyToCd.exe"
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info User default language : 4105 (0x1009h) - English (Canadian)
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info System default language : 1033 (0x0409h) - English (United States)
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info Version 3.0.46.79
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info ExeName : "C:\PROGRA~1\VSO\COPYTO~1\CopyToCd.exe"
01/04/2005 11:22:29 PM info OS : Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (Build 2600)

The first thing I noticed is this:
Available write speed: x12.0, x8.0, x6.0, x4.0, x2.0 and this using the exact same media. I noticed during burning process that the speed did reach 12X. I was sure that this would be a defective burn. but no! Tested with DVDinfoPRO = good and the movie played fine. The speed did vary during the burn process and I really wonder if this is normal. The clicking sounds are still there!
The burn process decreased to just a little over 7 minutes. (I realize the file burned (3.94GB) is smaller but the avg. speed did increase to 7.24 vs. 5.48 and 5.54.)

My final thought:
Despite the clicking sound (which does bother/puzzles me) I must say that I love this burner. I love the speed it burns at but really want good burns. So far soo good! I also heard that the RITEK media's might be hit and miss with the 3520A but my burns are very good so far.
I'll be further testing as I do more burns and will keep you posted.

sincerest regards,

 

[PC-GUY]

Cool. Good luck with it.

 

[LTR12101B]

The Liggy/Dee modified firmware has custom speeds and strategies.... unlike Liteon, BTC and a few others, where omnipatcher (Liteon's only, lacks support for latest firmware) or Media code speed edit can substitute media strategies, the logically arranged media tables of the NEC's make it possible for tweakers to mix strategies at different speeds on the same media.

The audible clicks are a little worrying, not sure that the drive should click during readjustment.

If you take a write speed plot in CDspeed (sacrificing a blank for testing), you may see several drop-spikes in the speed - this is where it recalibrates.

I'd also suggest seek-testing on a full or nearly full DVD, and listen for any suggestion that the mechanism is catching.

 

[scarecrow]

Maybe a sign of F/W immaturity. Currently using a Liggy on a 3500AG, and have used another one before, and never ever heard a click in any disk.
Firmware development on 3520 is not there yet, but it should improve day by day.

 

[DD51]

Thanks for your replies...I appreciate any info I can get.
Here's my latest burn. This time I used DVD Decrypter and burned at max speed. It went faster than the last time but i noticed this time that the device buffer didn't always stay in the 90's. It fell down in the single digits on a few occasions. Should I be worried about this?
The burner goes, from beginning to end, to 4x then increses to 8x then to 10x and finally to 12x.

Thanks for any advice.


Here's the latest log of my latest burn:

I 16:48:50 DVD Decrypter Version 3.5.4.0 started!
I 16:48:50 Microsoft Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600 : Service Pack 2)
I 16:48:50 Initialising SPTI...
I 16:48:50 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...
I 16:48:50 Found 4 DVD-ROMs and 1 DVD±RW!
I 16:51:25 Operation Started!
I 16:51:25 Source File: E:\SPONGEBOB_THEMOVIE.ISO
I 16:51:25 Source File Sectors: 2,126,741 (MODE1/2048)
I 16:51:25 Source File Size: 4,355,565,568 bytes
I 16:51:25 Source File Implementation Identifier: DVD Shrink
I 16:51:25 Destination Device: [3:0:0] _NEC DVD_RW ND-3520A 1.U9 ( F: ) (ATA)
I 16:51:25 Destination Media Type: DVD-R (Disc ID: RITEKG05) (Speeds: 2x, 4x, 6x, 8x, 12x)
I 16:51:25 Destination Media Sectors: 2,297,888
I 16:51:25 Write Mode: DVD
I 16:51:25 Write Type: SAO
I 16:51:25 Write Speed: MAX
I 16:51:25 Link Size: Auto
I 16:51:25 Test Mode: No
I 16:51:25 BURN-Proof: Enabled
I 16:51:25 Filling Buffer...
I 16:51:25 Writing LeadIn...
I 16:52:05 Writing Image...
I 16:57:48 Synchronising Cache...
I 16:58:07 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:06:41
I 16:58:07 Average Write Rate: 12,400 KB/s (9.0x) - Maximum Write Rate: 17,253 KB/s (12.5x)

Regards,

 

[ChickenMan]

I have a NEC 3520A and using the 3520_3.22_RPC+RL.BIN f/w that gives me the unit as zone free and with full ripping speeds, I'm totally uninterested in over-speed burning as all that does is shorten the life expectancy of the burnt didk.

I also use the same media as you, RITEKG05, and I'd suggest you limit its write speed to 8x for more consistant quality burns. Also at the 12x your burning at, it appears your system is having difficulty supply the data quick enough to the NEC hence your buffer is low. You could also have some other operation going in the background thats hindering the burn.

I also get no clicking sounds. It runs just as quiet as the 3500A I originally had.

 

[DD51]

I also use the same media as you, RITEKG05, and I'd suggest you limit its write speed to 8x for more consistant quality burns.

Thanks for responding CM. I appreciate the tip.

Also at the 12x your burning at, it appears your system is having difficulty supply the data quick enough to the NEC hence your buffer is low.

I am pretty confident that is not the problem. This drop in buffer also happens @ 4X or under...it does it at about every 1:20 intervals.
I have a pretty fast computer (P4 3.0GHZ OC'd to 3.55GHZ with 1 GIG RAM @ 1:1 ratio or 474MHZ.)

You could also have some other operation going in the background thats hindering the burn.

I'm also pretty sure here that nothing is running in the background.
My hard disk is defragmented using Perfectdisk 7.
I use Webroot spysweeper for spyware. (It's shutdown while burning)
I have running in the background NOD32 & DAEMON Manager. (Could this be the problem?)
If I look at my processes, while idling...nothing seems to move, there are no spikes in my system. I did however notice jumps ONLY when spysweeper runs in the background. Hence the reason I never leave it on.
After reading all of your replies I'm starting to think that I may have received a defective burner

I also get no clicking sounds. It runs just as quiet as the 3500A I originally had.

This probably confirms that my unit is defective. I can't beleive that all the burns I have done so far work flawlessly

Thanks all for your help. I greatly appreciate your feedbacks.
Regards,

 

[simonhunter]

I've ordered one today to fit in my auntie's pc (before I checked dvdrbase!!!). I've had Plextor/Liteon CD burners and Pioneer/Sony (Liteon) DVD burners for my own use and am pretty happy (with exception of Pioneer 108 which is too fussy about media IMHO).

Am I going to get hassle from this drive?

For myself I'll update the f/w with hacked versions etc but for auntie maureen I'm hoping that straight out of the box* it'll be fine!

*Box is, of course, brown as it's OEM

TIAOH

 

[scarecrow]

Am I going to get hassle from this drive?

Cannot really know, but 3500 AG was the most media-unspecific drive I ever owned- and this should apply for 3520 as well. Some media burn at the nominal speed, some others to what the modded Liggy firmware allows, a few (BlueMedia) at 4X instead of 8X, but after almost one thousand burns I NEVER had a bad burn with my NEC.

 

[simonhunter]

I've installed it and burned a DVD movie. The original was ripped with DVD Decrypter and didn't need shrinking.

Burned with Nero Express (my preference - I do have the full package) and it took an hour!

Burned an audio CD at 8x (media is 52x) and worked fine. At 32x got power calibration errors.

Firmware is 1.04, probably need to update?

 

[DD51]

Here are some interessting graphs with the NEC burner burnt on:
Ridata Ritek G05 DVD-R

 

[DD51]

Just as FYI to all.

I found the answer to my clicking sound I described at the beginning of this thread and why the device buffer woulld suddenly drop so low.
I found this answer:

flushing the buffer while shifting up speed is normal for a NEC 35xx drive. That's the technologie NEC uses to minimize burn errors at higher speeds. As long as the results are fine then everything is okay.
A good advice is to use Dee's firmware for example 1.UC (thats what I use) because the flushing buffer time is minimized then. Anyway the drive has a good working buffer-underrun protection so again there is no point to worry about it.

Anyways...my burns so far all work flawlessly and here I was worried