2MB or 8MB Data Buffer

[ruderacer]

How important is higher data buffer? Does it make a difference? The Sony has 8MB, how much does the PX708A have? And, how good do you all think this new Lite-On LDW-411S will be? Thanks.

[aviationwiz]

The PX-708A is only a 2MB. It doesn't make a big difference though. I doubght you will ever get a buffer under-run on either a 2mb or 8mb buffer, and that's what it's there for.

[cfitz]

The PX-708A is only a 2MB. It doesn't make a big difference though. I doubght you will ever get a buffer under-run on either a 2mb or 8mb buffer, and that's what it's there for.

Hmmm... Didn't it used to be a big plus? It's the first thing you mentioned in your reasons for buying a Plextor Premium, and was listed as one of the four "Pros" in your personal Premium review:

I'm getting this one. 8MB Buffer, 52x32x52, 1 gig on a 700MB disk. Need I say more?

( http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic. ... 1791#61791 )

Product Pros:

High Speed 52x Writer
First Drive to write at 32x Rewritable
Comes with excellent features like, PoweRec, GigaRec, VariRec, SecuRec, Silent Mode and Q-Check
Sports an 8MB Buffer

( http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic. ... 1463#71463 )

(emphasis mine in both quotations)

I know you hyped Plextor's 8 MB buffer in other posts as well, but can't be bothered to search for them all.

So, let me get this straight. A 2 MB buffer on an 8x DVD burner is nothing to be concerned about, but an 8 MB buffer on a 52x CD burner is a big plus? Even though 8x DVD burning has a higher data rate than 52x CD burning? Curious... I wonder what has changed since your earlier posts and now... Your change of opinion wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that back then the latest Plextor drive had an 8 MB buffer but now the latest Plextor drive only has a 2 MB buffer, would it? Nah....

cfitz

[aviationwiz]

The 8MB Buffer is nicer, but as I used the 8MB and the 2MB more and more, I realized that it is not nesecary. It appears that the 8MB buffer has nothing to do with the quality increase on the Premium over the LTR-52327S


I'd love an 8MB Buffer, but it looks like Plextor made a great drive without the 8MB Buffer. I have no reason to believe that the Sony with an 8MB Buffer would be any better, I bet it would be worse. Plextor is known for quality, Sony is not necesarily known for quality.

[cfitz]

You're too much, aviationwiz! Thanks for the laugh!

cfitz

[Dartman]

I think 8 is better but all my cd burners have 2 and work fine. My Sony 500a has 8 and also does fine. The drives are designed pretty well any more so the buffer isn't as big of a deal as it used to be when we had 486 and early pentium rigs with slow hard drives we were trying to keep up with.
I would prefer 8 in everything if it also did everything I want it too. I'm happy with my Sony and from what I've read most folks are also happy with the Plex so it's just not a huge deal except to make me feel warm and fuzzy inside I guess
Also the Plex is designed by Sanyo and they don't seem to use huge buffers anymore. I'm pretty sure my old 12x non BP Plex had 4 which worked pretty good but without the buffer protection it needed all the help it could get.