Memorex 52/24/52 CD-RW Quickie Preview

[cfitz]

Staples has 48x Verbatim Super Azo in 10 packs & 48x Fuji's in 15 packs.

I was hoping Staples would have the 48x discs in singles, but 10 pack was the minimum.

Give Target a try. They sell Verbatim Super Azo in my area, and they sell in some smaller packages (although I don't think they have singles). The last I checked they had reduced the price of a 50-pack spindle of 48x to $13 - not bad considering that no rebate is required.

I just bought a 32x Verbatim (single disc) to try out. I haven't burned it yet, but Smart Burn advises it's a 32x disc, nothing more.

Don't get your hopes up too high. The newer LiteOn drives aren't big fans of Verbatim Super Azo - check out TheWizard's media compatibility thread.

cfitz

[Spazmogen]

Thanks for the heads up.

I'm glad I only bought a single disc!

I'm holding off until Florida. Thanksgiving sales! Fuji 48x cheaper than I can get them in Canada.

You guys must be getting sick of hearing about my pending vacation/shopping spree.

I don't even leave until Thursday of next week, and I've already bought:
100 spindle of 99min cd-r's from www.yesbuy.net
10 Verbatim 24x cd-rw's from www.amazon.com
Olympus D-520 Digital Camera From: http://shop.store.yahoo.com/mpsuperbuys/225325.html

At this point Visa's Loss Prevention Section called me...to make sure my credit card hadn't been stolen! Then she wished me a great vacation !

128mb Smart Media Card from: www.amazon.com
MAHA rechargeable batteries & 100 minute quick charger. From: http://www.thomas-distributing.com

All of these with a huge savings to what I could get them for up here.

All I'll have left to buy will be 2 bottles of over proof Rum!
See what happens when you only get South every 5 years or so?

I love America!

[cfitz]

You guys must be getting sick of hearing about my pending vacation/shopping spree.

Not really. We just want to know what you are getting us...

cfitz

[coolestnitish]

100 spindle of 99min cd-r's from www.yesbuy.net
10 Verbatim 24x cd-rw's from www.amazon.com
128mb Smart Media Card from: www.amazon.com
MAHA rechargeable batteries & 100 minute quick charger.

Holy Jeeez, Spazmogen. Looks like you are going to have a technologically full Holiday. I bet when you go to Florida, and get all that stuff, you will have a wierd feeling. One feeling will be to stay there and enjoy the weather(dont even get me started on Canadian winter), the other will be to go home ASAP and try all that stuff. lol.

[Spazmogen]

The downside is I'll have to pay for all of this BEFORE Christmas!

Thank God for Visa.

[coolestnitish]

I wouldn't mind paying before Christmas if I was saving a lot. And in your case, looks like you are saving quite a lot.

[dhc014]

Sorry to bring back an old topic, but why was there never an official review of this drive?

[Ian]

No time? To make a long story short, I bought the drive myself so I don't have Memorex riding my ass to finish the review.

The drive has been pushed back in the review queue to make way for other reviews. I'll get to it one of these days...

[dhc014]

Well, if you ever need it here's a HUGE MEMOREX LOGO!!!

nevermind

[czgu]

Here's the firmware. You can download it here.

Once again, link back to this page. That firmware download link isn't permanent. I'll probably find a new home for it tomorrow.

It's 52x24x52 burner, why need this firmware?
At Officedepot, it is only $15.0 ($80-$25 coupon - $40 rebate) w/free shipping.

[Ian]

Here's the firmware. You can download it here.

Once again, link back to this page. That firmware download link isn't permanent. I'll probably find a new home for it tomorrow.

It's 52x24x52 burner, why need this firmware?

Some people wanted it to overclock their 48/24/48 CD-RW.

[czgu]

Can this firmware be used to over clocking my HP burner?

[Ian]

Probably not.

[Rich]

Hi Everybody,

I haven't been around for a while since all the info here helped me decide on a Teac 16/10/40 back in the spring of '01.

Now I just (Tues 1/14) bought the Memorex 52/24/52 and I'm very pleased.

After a putrid first test which was on my flaky tower - I installed it into my ADS brand USB 2.0 drive enclosure. It will connect to USB 1 or 2. . . . and hooked it to my cardbus to USB 2.0 adapter.

This test I gave it several directories and a large (like 242 meg) and small files. It totaled 656 MB (688,414,720 bytes). The Memorex 52x24x52x burned it in 2:49 including lead in and out. Internal speed on a USB cable. Pretty cool.

It does have a newer revision though. Instead of the 6ws2 I see mentioned here this one has 6ws3.

Now over night something is gone ka-ka and Nero’s InfoTool has quit working. It just pops up and back down without opening all the way. . ..gotta figure that out.

Somewhere I read someone said that Roxio didn't support this drive. I've had Roxio for 1.5 years and they keep adding drives. It's probably just a matter of time. Now I get to play with Nero, so that's cool.

Very nice drive.

Rich

[Rich]

Hi,

I just checked by Roxio.com and this drive, number: 2452AJ is supported by the most recent update. I like that since Roxio has a bunch of nice audio tools with ECDC Platinum.


laterz, rrrrich

[bill1971]

King:
I'm glad I looked at this link. Got the Memorex 52x because I heard it was a Lite-On. Haven't installed yet, but was disappointed that I couldn't find the name Lite-On on the drive sticker, and the model no. didn't begin with "LTR" like a lot of other re-badged Lite-On drives.
Also, the S/N was 13-digit alpha-numeric as opposed to Lite-ons 12-digit numeric S/N.
Hooked it up just to check the BIOS, and it said Memorex 52MAXX, etc. just as you have pictured.

Given the above, and looking at your original post, can I assume that I do, in fact, own a re-badged Lite-On? You would think the retail Memorex box would have made mention of the Mt. Rainier capability.

Sorry to rattle on - I just want to be certain that I do have a Lite-On.
Thanks.

- Bill

[dhc014]

King:
I'm glad I looked at this link. Got the Memorex 52x because I heard it was a Lite-On. Haven't installed yet, but was disappointed that I couldn't find the name Lite-On on the drive sticker, and the model no. didn't begin with "LTR" like a lot of other re-badged Lite-On drives.
Also, the S/N was 13-digit alpha-numeric as opposed to Lite-ons 12-digit numeric S/N.
Hooked it up just to check the BIOS, and it said Memorex 52MAXX, etc. just as you have pictured.

Given the above, and looking at your original post, can I assume that I do, in fact, own a re-badged Lite-On? You would think the retail Memorex box would have made mention of the Mt. Rainier capability.

Sorry to rattle on - I just want to be certain that I do have a Lite-On.
Thanks.

- Bill

Memorex is one of the OEMs that takes the rebadging as far as they can. They get custom firmwares, labels, faceplates, and all. If you have either firmware version 6WS2, 6WS3, or similar then you have a Lite-ON OEM.

[Shockr]

I just rcv'd this drive as a gift. I was going to return it to BestBuy and get a Plextor PW 52x, but reading this thread it looks like this drive will do everything the Plex will (plz tell me if that's an incorrect assumption). The firmware is 6WS2.

The only concern I have at this point, is will this drive overburn? I think I destroyed my Creative drive (a mitsumi 4-2-24) by overburning.. I experienced something I could only call a "click of death" with my poor 4x burner about 8 months ago.. It sounded like it was trying to write to a cd in the next room.. and it had long stopped reading cd's (even though it'd still burn them).

None-the-less, I'm not as "up to speed" on CDRW drives as I'd like to be, and have no idea how to determine if the drive can overburn without risking damage and actually trying it. Any info would be appreciated.

[Ian]

I just rcv'd this drive as a gift. I was going to return it to BestBuy and get a Plextor PW 52x, but reading this thread it looks like this drive will do everything the Plex will (plz tell me if that's an incorrect assumption). The firmware is 6WS2.

>> I hate to break it to you, but there is no 52x Plextor writer.

The only concern I have at this point, is will this drive overburn?

>> Yes, up to 99 minutes.

[dhc014]

There is a newer firmware for your drive if you want it; 6WS3. It's FlashFixed so make sure that you choose the correct drive from the drop down!

[Spazmogen]

The Lite On based drives (Memorex included) handle 99 minute discs with ease:



&

[Shockr]

Ian: My bad, I could've sworn I'd seen a 52x plex at BestBuy.. in retrospect I was probably looking at the 48x next to another brand 52x.


dhc014: Is there any noticeable benefit to flashing to 6WS3? I hate flashing anything without a solid reason.

Spazmogen: Thanks for the details. Has anyone noticed this drive favoring any particular brand cdr?

So, other than the obvious trivial speed/time difference, is there any reason I shouldn't keep this drive rather than grab a Plex 48x?

[dhc014]

It's just an update. Maybe hold off until you find a problem.

[Shockr]

It's just an update. Maybe hold off until you find a problem.

like the drive maxing at 32x? Am I missing something? It consistently plateau's just under 32x.. which makes me think it might be a setting I've missed.

---------------------------------
Nero CD Speed Test results

General Information

Operating System Windows XP Professional
Drive Memorex 52MAXX 2452AJ
Firmware Version 6WS2
Serial Number 
Disc Blank
Capacity 75:00.00

Transfer Rate

Start 18.89x
End 31.87x
Average 28.83x
Type P-CAV


------------------------------------------


There seems to be a Dos mode driver installation program on the cd.. do I need to run this thing? I assumed when XP detected the drive that the appropriate drivers were installed.

[dhc014]

Heh, that looks like a media problem, you could update to 6WS3 to see if it detects that type beter. What media were you using?