USB CD drives & cache settings...

[wad62]

Hi all, appologies if this question has already been addressed but I couldn't find an existing thread on the subject...

I am using a newly acquired Samsung SE-S224Q usb optical drive in conjunction with DBpoweramp (R13), and I'm trying to establish the best ripping configuration before I attempt to rip my 4k cd's.

The manual indicates that the drive has a 2MB 'buffer memory', (if anyone knows a way of confirming this in XP please feel free to help). I've used DBpoweramp's 'detect' cache function, and it does not identify any cache, however the help text indicates that this auto-detect function is not reliable for usb drives.

So my next best guess will be to set a cache setting of 2048k, and just hope the manual is correct...

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance...

[Spoon]

Re: USB CD drives & cache settings...

CD drives never have an audio cache over 2048K, so that setting is right, but perhaps more than the real size.

[wad62]

Re: USB CD drives & cache settings...

...thanks spoon, it's actually a DVD/CD combi, one assumes that the advertised 2MB 'buffer' is common to both.

[bhoar]

Re: USB CD drives & cache settings...

...thanks spoon, it's actually a DVD/CD combi, one assumes that the advertised 2MB 'buffer' is common to both.

The 2MB cache is common to CD or DVD use. However, there seems to be an exception in many drives in how *audio* CDs are handled, the drives often appear to use a much smaller subset of the cache for buffering/read-ahead purposes with those.

-brendan

[wad62]

Re: USB CD drives & cache settings...

Thanks brendan... I've put a call into the manufacturer in an effort to find a way of turning off the cache...I presume this would be the best configuration option with respect to DBpoweramp.

[Spoon]

Re: USB CD drives & cache settings...

With 99.99% of drives you cannot turn off the cache, only invalidate it with a read ahead buffer.

[wad62]

Re: USB CD drives & cache settings...

Some follow up info...

I've now ripped about 500 CD's and have settled upon a 'secure' configuration of cache = 'none', and C2 checking turned on.

Interestingly enough on the occasional times that frames are re-ripped I get an 'AccurateRip', although most times the re-rip merely results in reduced errors.

Would imply that there is no cache being used?

[Spoon]

Re: USB CD drives & cache settings...

Not 100%, you would have to try the same disc with a cache set on.

[Briain]

Re: USB CD drives & cache settings...

Hi Wad62

Several friends have asked me to recommend an external USB CDR which will be used for burning audio CD's and also to rip their collection. I've had a good look and the only one I can see which is both available and also listed on the Accurate Rip list is the Plextor PX-608U.

I’ve just found this thread and I see that you have used the Samsung SE-S224Q and wondered if you managed to get the offset info OK and get Accurate Rip to successfully work?

I think recommending the Plextor would be the safest option but the SE-S224Q is half the price and also quicker machine for burning CDR's; it would be thus be good to know if it's a viable option.

Before noticing this thread, I posted a similar question as a new topic but since you have one, it would be good to know your thoughts.

Bri