Is my computer too slow to burn DVD?

[em64t]

I just recently reinstalled Windows 2000 on an old computer. I want to know if perhaps the computer is too slow for DVD burning or not. I ask this because when the computer was new five years ago, it included a CD-RW and a DVD-ROM not a DVD burner. When I tried to burn it said that it is NOT recommended to burn faster than 4X! No problem, the RW media I used was rated at 4X. But the result is it took over an hour to burn ... slower than 1X! :eek:

The hardware:
hp pavilion 7875
AMD Athlon 1300
384 MB RAM
Nvidia GeForce2MX w/32 MB VRAM
Pacific Digital External USB 2.0 16X double layer burner

The software:
Windows 2.000 Pro w/SP4
Roxio Easy CD & DVD Creator 7 (bundled with DVD burner)

[blutach]

I wouldn't use an external burner ever. Certainly not higher than 2x and on your machine 1x.

I also wouldn't use Roxio. Try the freeware ImgBurn (www.imgburn.com).

Regards

[ilovejedd]

It's probably not the processor with the problem. As long as you have at least 1GHz and 256MB RAM, I think you should be safe. It's not that much of a resource hog. Just don't run any anti-virus prorams, etc while burning. Maybe your PC only has USB 1.1 ports? Maybe you can install a USB 2.0 PCI card? You can get one for less than $20.

I have a Celeron 1.40GHz laptop with 256MB RAM and I had no problems burning DVD+R at 8x using Nero Express with a 16x/4x/40x TEAC external USB DVD+/-RW drive. The 8x was because of the media. I now have a desktop with an internal DVD burner so I find myself not using the external USB drive at all. :o

[em64t]

I did try ImgBurn and it was not any faster. ilovejedd may be right. The computer is dated March, 2001 and USB 2.0 would not be official until months later. What about put in an internal DVD burner? I can replace the CD-RW and I can then copy from DVD to DVD.

[ilovejedd]

Yep, go with the internal drive. Probably less of a hassle installing and making that work than installing a USB 2.0 PCI card. Just make sure you buy the burner from somewhere you can easily return it, just in case it doesn't work. ;)

[em64t]

Yes I know about the return thingie that is why I bought it at a retail store ... yes maybe not the lowest price. I have 14 days to return either or both drives. I did try the internal drive. It burnt faster. I think I might keep the internal one. BTW, the USB drive burnt a CD at 6X when I used 16X media, so I think it was limited by the 12 Mbps bus of the USB 1.1 spec.

[scharfis_brain]

I got a PC with nearly identical specs and I am able to burn DVDs at 16x without any problems.
You just have to ensure that the harddisks are able to deliver 23 MB/sec in your PC.

16x DVD burning even should be possible in an P3-500 with a good configuration.

[mudda_t]

I've had success with a PIII-533 256mb, celeron-600 256mb, and a bunch of PII's.
.
Never at 16X (never tried), most between 2-8X. The biggest problem I've had with old rigs is not enough space, small hdd's.