Mt. Rainier (CD-MRW) formatting is getting faster?

[KCK]

Several reviews of recent drives at http://www.cdfreaks.com, http://www.cdrinfo.com and http://www.cdrlabs.com give results for CD-MRW (Mt. Rainier) tests with InCD. For testing writing speeds, typically two cases are distinguished: (A) while the format is in progress; and (B) to a formatted disc. (Also some reviewers write vaguely that the writing speed depends on how far the backgroud formatting has progressed.)

I find it difficult to interpret such results for the following reasons.

First, how does one know that background formatting has finished? Even if a system sits idle for a while, so that background formatting starts, do we have to wait for minutes, hours or days?

For example, on my XP Pro SP1 box with Lite-On LTR48125W VS08 and InCD 3.51.61, if a disc is not used after InCD formatting, then the burner sits idle (no red LED blinks) for several minutes (I never had the patience to measure it). I wonder if other burners behave similarly.

Second, it seems that for the newest drives, CD-MRW writing speeds are quite insensitive to this mysterious background formatting! I guess background formatting depends mostly on the burner's hardware and firmware (rather than Windows and InCD); thus the latest drives seem to offer significant improvements in this area.

My LTR48125W apparently does writing and formatting on the fly, since the pattern of red blinks is essentially the same when writing to an old disc or a fresh one.

I would welcome comments, especially from reviewers/owners of the latest drives.

PS: Sorry for crossposting, but the matter is of interest in this forum as well.

[Ian]

First, how does one know that background formatting has finished? Even if a system sits idle for a while, so that background formatting starts, do we have to wait for minutes, hours or days?

>>Its usually only a matter of minutes. Some of the older drives took about 20 minutes to fully format a CD-MRW disc. Newer ones are of course faster. And yes, it is hard to tell when its done.

Second, it seems that for the newest drives, CD-MRW writing speeds are quite insensitive to this mysterious background formatting! I guess background formatting depends mostly on the burner's hardware and firmware (rather than Windows and InCD); thus the latest drives seem to offer significant improvements in this area.

>>Like you said, it really depends on the drive and/or firmware. Some are faster when the formatting is still going on, when others are faster when the disc is fully formatted. Others perform about the same no matter what.

[KCK]

Wow, that was fast! Thank you Ian; I hope your further reviews will shed more light on this feature.

[Alejandra]

First, how does one know that background formatting has finished? Even if a system sits idle for a while, so that background formatting starts, do we have to wait for minutes, hours or days?

Well a way to know if the disc is already formated you can use Nero Medium Info.

See these pics:


when it finishes:


But if you eject the disc, then insert it again you see this:


but doesn't matter because whe you write some data the format process resumes, all in backround.

[KCK]

Alejandra:

Thanks for the pictures. How did you get the first one? By calling up Nero while InCD was still formatting? (Then you are bolder than me; I'd be afraid to ruin the disc.) So what is your estimate for the total formatting time on your burner?

Why is the total capacity in the first picture smaller than in the second one? On my 80min discs, I've got 79:57.73 on a disc with background formatting suspended, and the same figures on a completely formatted disc.

In general, does your burner behave similarly to my LTR48125W as described in the original message?

[Alejandra]

Remember that formatting a disc in MRW is in background so since InCD or DCD shows the message that the disc is already for reading and writing you can run nero to check the Medium Info, and because InCD or DCD takes the control of the disc Nero can't use it for writing directly.

Even if you eject the disc when you put it back the format resumes, if you try to write to the disc formating and writing are in the same process so you never ruin the disc, this is great, don't you think?

I didn't take the time of the format process but I will.

I have two kind of mini-CDRW (21 min or 3") media, the larger ones are @10x RW rated from Melody (melodymedia.net) in ISO mode their capacity are 210MB, the other ones are @4x RW rated from Office Depot and their capacity are 193 MB in ISO format, I use these a lot because are very portable, I can carry them even in my littlest purse.

In general the 52246S and 48125W behave similary, well I have the 52x drive from one week ago, so probably I will notice diferences later.