Got an 18x Samsung!

[MonsterMan]

First thing, installed the SB02 firmware that's on Samsungs web site.

Second, grabbed a Verbatium 16x DVD+R disc from a known "good" spindle (quick note. Most of my Verbatiums show an error spike around the .7GB marker, with PIE hitting about 50. The spike shows no matter the burn speed or drive (tried 7 so far!). This batch does NOT have said spike). Used CDSpeed to make a data disc.

Burn time? 5:23.

See here:
http://i4.tinypic.com/23h9mhg.png

Sorry about the pic quality. The orginal is 1280x1024. I forgot to resize the CDSpeed window before doing the cap...opps.

Quality scan in progress right now...

Edit:

Quality scan:
http://i5.tinypic.com/23hal92.png

Yikes...maybe I'll drop the firmware to the SB01. It was looking GREAT up until the 2.5GB mark...I bet this'll rock @ 8x (which is where I burn 99% of my Verbatiums anyway).

Sadly, I have no other discs that'll burn @ 18x right now. I'll order some Verbatium 16x -Rs & some TY 16x media Friday...

Now to figure out how to downgrade the firmware...

Edit 2:
Double checking the preview, I see the Verbatium DVD-R's are what did good, not the +Rs. Oppsie. Well, I'll grab some Friday.

Edit #3:
TY 8x DVD-R, burned @ 8x, scanned with BenQ 1620:
http://i6.tinypic.com/23hkrhw.png

PIE way high for these discs, and PIF at the beginning of the disk is out of control. Good thing those 16x TY's seem to burn great (at least from some other peoples scans).

[Dartman]

Niether of those burns look horrible, jitter is pretty low and so is PIF, I'd be happy I think considering what most Samsung drives seem to do. I've been considering one of those but kinda wish BenQ or Pioneer would do one as I trust them more. I may yet jump in, who knows, your burns look good.

[MonsterMan]

Not horrible, no...and better than most Samsungs, for sure! But the scans posted over at CDFreaks of the Verbatium DVD-Rs & TY 16x media were much better.

It IS fast, though...even faster than my 4167!

I've been fairly impressed with the 162L drive I have, burn quality wise. It's no BenQ, but still pretty good. This one looks better, and is faster. Double bonus

[MonsterMan]

Couple more scans:
Verbatium 16x DVD-R MCC03RG20, at 18x:

Burn:
http://i2.tinypic.com/24axvuu.png

5:17, WOW! New record for me.

Scan:

http://i2.tinypic.com/24axy6d.png

Double wow...first time I've seen good quality out of these discs. And in record time, too boot.

Me happy

Alright, TY 16x DVD-R, TYG03, at 18x:

Burn:
http://i2.tinypic.com/24ay80p.png

Hmm, same burn time

Scan:
http://i3.tinypic.com/24az6vc.png

Hmm. Not horrible, but what is the deal with that PIF block around 3.0GB?
PIF on this is way to high for my tastes.

Oh well...time to buy more Verbatium DVD-Rs!!