SCSI CD-RW - any recomendations?

[T3000]

Looking to add an external CD writer to my Amiga arsenal for back-ups. An internal unit in a scsi case would be fine also. Any recomendations as to the most compatible brand? Software needed to drive the unit? Will be used to back-up different machines. Thanks.

[InTheSand]

Yamaha CRW4416SX?

Can't say I've ever used one with an Amiga, but the internal version when used with a PC was always a very solid drive back in the day...

 - Ali

[alexh]

How about a DVD-RW or DVD-RAM drive. 9Gbytes of RW media is surely better than 700Mbyte?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130263197198

[InTheSand]

Hmmm... One piece of el-boggy 4.7Gb media would back up most Amigas!!

But would a stock Amiga be able to generate enough continuous data for a DVD writer? I realise modern PATA/SATA drives have advanced buffer under-run protection and can resume writing from where they left off, but an old SCSI writer is less of a sure thing...

 - Ali

[marcfrick2112]

Hi T3000: As for software, there's a free keyfile and downloads for MakeCD here According to some users here, it'll handle most CD writers, I got a beat-up IDE LG CD writer off EBay for like $5.99, worked fine with MakeCD right away. I have heard of DVD-RAM discs being useable as well, MakeCD just treats it like a really big CD-R, but I personally had no luck using DVD burners on Amiga, I only had one LiteON unit to try.. I confess I haven't tried the SCSI CD burner in my 4000T yet with MakeCD, but I can't see why it wouldn't work. As always, YMMV ...
  As for brand, Yamaha and Plextor are highly regarded, not just by Amiga users...

Oh, somewhere there is a 'MakeCD Compatibilty List' Sorry to tired to find it now....

You may also be able to find MasterISO for burning... but not sure if it works with newer drives....
Oh, and Frying Pan (shareware)

[Zac67]

All DVD burners I've seen have buffer underrun protection - old models using Z-CLV writing can't actually work without it. Can't find the exact specs for this Panasonic model though.

[Kin-Hell]

alexh wrote:
How about a DVD-RW or DVD-RAM drive. 9Gbytes of RW media is surely better than 700Mbyte?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130263197198

Yeah, but DVD-RAM Media! It's just old hat now even by the Amiga's standard. I managed to write files to an IDE Pioneer A105 DVD Burner. I could read the files on a PeeCee, but not the Amiga!? - even though the Amiga said there was some data on the disk & reported its size less the 300mb written to it.

Was using BurnIt & perhaps needed to spend more time rtfm!

Still, it wasn't a priority. A CD @ 700Mb a time is lots of space for backup under Amiga. Personally, if I need more, I plug the SCSI Tape drive into the Z3!  :-D

RE which SCSI CD-RW to go for, I'd recommend PlexWriter devices. (Plextor) :-)

[alexh]

Kin-Hell wrote:
Yeah, but DVD-RAM Media! It's just old hat now even by the Amiga's standard.

And yet you can still buy it everywhere. Even in PCWorld and my local Tescos.

http://svp.co.uk/category/dvd_minus_ram

For backup purposes it's fine plus the media will probably last longer. Some DVD-RAM drives also read/write CD-RW so IMHO they are a good buy. A better buy than a SCSI CD-RW drive. Just be-aware of cartridge based ones.

A SCSI DVD-RW drive would be preferable but then you're gonna pay a lot more for one.

EDIT: You could always use an IDE DVD-RW with a SCSI->IDE adapter.

[Kin-Hell]

Yeah alexh, you're prolly right about the media lasting longer in a roundabout way!

But ere, ...Tes'Co'sis down ere don't sell friggin DVD_RAM media! - wtf?  :crazy:

'Tis the write speed though! - Grim at best!  :sleep:

[alexh]

Kin-Hell wrote:
'Tis the write speed though! - Grim at best!  :sleep:

DVD-RAM 1x (i.e. 1385KiB/s) is close to the maximum you are going to get out of an A3000 or ZII Amiga SCSI card.

[AmigaHeretic]

SCSI-To-IDE  Maybe something like this would be better.  Then you could just use any old CD/DVD burner laying around.

[alexh]

If you get an A-Card one, try to update to the latest firmware before using with ATAPI devices. (You'll need access to a PC SCSI card to do so)

[T3000]

marcfrick2112 wrote:
  As for brand, Yamaha and Plextor are highly regarded, not just by Amiga users...

Oh, somewhere there is a 'MakeCD Compatibilty List' Sorry to tired to find it now....

Picked up MakeCD 3.2 at AmiWest for cheap. Found the list mentioned.

700MB is far more than the 100MB zips I have been using. Waiting for the dreaded click of death someday.  Compatability would be most desirable as my A3000 and A4000 are both equipped with a WarpEngine'040. Maybe replacing the eternal CD-ROM on my A3000 with an external CD ROM/Burner and then using it on the A4000 when needed. Or/and replacing the CD-ROM on the Flyer Bay with a burner.

4gig back-up would be better. Which external SCSI DVD burners work with MakeCD and the Amiga and Flyer SCSI? Don't see any on the list... Looks like I got more investigating to do.

Laterz

[Kin-Hell]

ffs! Dbl post!

[Kin-Hell]

Don't forget, Flyer SCSI is only accessible through the Toaster/Flyer front end & not AmigaDOS.
Either way, as long as you go for the type alexh fingered on eBay, it should work. That's the DVD-RAM standard.  ;-)