Is 8x, the fastest possible DVD write speed for the X40?

[tsammyc]

Was just thinking about it and recall that my USB 2.0 external hard drive can be written to at about 12 MB/sec maximum even though it has a really fast 200GB hard disk in it. I theorize that this is because the USB2.0 interface although theoretically 480 Mb/sec (note Mb/sec vs MB/sec means Megabits versus Megabytes) has certain limitations. Checking several USB2.0 vs Firewire articles on the internet seems to confirm that 12 MB/sec is about as fast as USB2.0 can go. My 4x USB2.0 DVD writer is already writing at 5.52MB/sec, so an 8X would be writing at 11 MB/sec, close to the maximum. Therefore, a 12X or 16X USB2.0 DVD writer would be no faster than an 8X due to the limitation of USB2.0. Any problems with this argument?

[Leeper]

That is about right.


Not sure anyone will be able to write past 8X for awhile because the media is not available anywhere.

There does come a point when you have to sacrifice speed for portability so 8X is just fine for more. If I need faster i will go to my desktop and burn from there.

[phr]

Hmm, oh well, I just bought a Mad Dog 16x external usb2 burner at CompUSA for $149.95 when I could have gotten the 8x version for $20 less. I almost got the 8x version but I saw that 16x media is in fact available at the store for about $2.50 a disc (vs. under $1 for 8x media) so I figured the media price would eventually come down and I then might like having the extra speed. I also got a 50-disc spindle of Memorex 8x DVD+R media for $19.99, which is way lower than any other DVD media in the store. I can only think it was mis-priced somehow, but they checked it on the UPC scanner and assured me the price was correct.