Playing CD-Rs on PCE IU

[dave_van_damn]

I really wanna check out Dracula X English translation but I'm a little worried about using CD-Rs on my PCE IU CD-Rom2. I have played many burns on Dreamcast and know from experience and reading online that they can damage the cd drive (or at least they did when I burned them at high speed on cheap discs).

If I burn at x10 (the slowest my burner can handle) using Sony Taiyo Yuden discs am I likely to feck up my console? I know, at least regarding the DC scene this topic divides people as some think its a myth but I wonder what you guys think. After all, DC uses GD-ROM and not CD-ROM...

Thanks!

[Black Tiger]

You can't feck your console. It is proven that playing original discs, cdrs or not using the CD-ROM at all leads to various breakdowns over time. Since your console is already busy fecking itself either way, you might as well get some enjoyment out of it.

[dave_van_damn]

You can't feck your console. It is proven that playing original discs, cdrs or not using the CD-ROM at all leads to various breakdowns over time. Since your console is already busy fecking itself either way, you might as well get some enjoyment out of it.

But will CD-Rs speed up it's journey to death?  Also, burning at x10; recommended or not?

[Dicer]

Burn slow and CD-r's are fine...

[dave_van_damn]

But is 10x considered to be 'slow'?

[Trenton_net]

Burn slow and CD-r's are fine...

From what I recall, slow burns do absolutely nothing to reduce or increase the life of a CD-ROM drive. If your CD-R is rated for a particular speed, you might as well burn at that speed. If anything will effect the life of your CD-ROM drive, it will be the dye of the CD-R being used. Poorer quality dyes will cause the CD-ROM lens to try and focus/re-focus harder and more often, which might lessen it's lifespan. But outside of that, I can't think of anything else.

[Opethian]

honestly if you are worried about the lifespan of your system and you cant afford real games you should rethink your priorities...

[Black Tiger]

You can't feck your console. It is proven that playing original discs, cdrs or not using the CD-ROM at all leads to various breakdowns over time. Since your console is already busy fecking itself either way, you might as well get some enjoyment out of it.

But will CD-Rs speed up it's journey to death?  Also, burning at x10; recommended or not?

I bought a TurboDuo at launch and first got to play occasional (in 1996) and over time an increasing frequency of cdr games, plus constant original discs and to a lesser extent, HuCards, pretty much everyday for 15 years straight with no issues. After my modiefied Duo RX became my main unit, I played the TurboDuo only occasionally and it again never had any issues even though I was very rough with it. After I stopped playing it for a few years I tried it out and it no longer worked right. I don't remember if it is just a cap issue or if it has trouble reading discs. I just decided not to use it until after I can get it refurbished.

I know many people played cdrs exclusively on the same units for years as well without any problems. The bottom line is that no matter what you do, the CD-ROM with last several times a reasonable life expectancy for this type of hardware from that point in time.

It's also cheap and easy to replace the lens and perfect and good enough gears are also available. So don't worry about cdrs, but perhaps be concerned with playing it enough.

[SignOfZeta]

I don't play the number of CDRs that other people play, but I've played a couple of RPGs to completion on both Duo R and the original CDROM2 system like you have. I've never had a single issue and, as far as I know, we have yet to see any real science as to how they could harm a drive if they are burned well enough to play without excessive load times. If the drive is grinding away like mad trying to read code and the music keeps dropping out, obviously there is an issue. If it plays fine I don't see any reason to worry.

The original Duo however, that does have an issue where the sled gets stuck beyond the edge of travel and you have to manually wind it back. It "breaks" the Duo, but in a way you can fix yourself in seconds. It's possible the SuperCDROM2 does this too since they are or similar vintage and construction, but I don't know anything about that. I've never owned one.

In general though, this is old stuff. Run it until is breaks. Fix it, and then run it until it breaks again. Entropy is a basic component of the universe. Even if you put the thing in a closet and never fired it up it still might break just sitting there. The caps will still leak and the gears need regular exercise to stay free. Nothing lasts forever. Live your life and play your games.

[pdiggitydogg]

Most modern burners will burn fine copies at any speed. I have made games for years at 16x or faster without too many issues...but I feel more problems arise from bad Roms and poor quality CDs.

[dave_van_damn]

Okay thanks for the replies!

I'll try Dracula X tonight, hope nothing goes wrong  I live in Hong Kong and I've seen one for sale but it's mega expensive; I'd rather try it out before buying it.

I didn't know you could change the laser for CDROM2 that's reassuring to know.

[Groover]

Anyone know a place to find quality reproductions? I have a mac and I haven't had much luck software wise. Also I need better discs.

[Sarumaru]

PIRATES! All of you!!

[Tatsujin]

if you gonna get that drac x anyway, in case it satisfies you on cd-r, you also might get it just straight, since it will satisfy you anyway.

[esadajr]

from all the threads I've read about it, there's no conclusive evidence using CDRs will screw the reader.

Like Zeta said just live your life.

Knowledge and parts exist to maintain these marvelous devices. Like with many things, there is a TCO involved. Be prepared for things to not make any $ sense.

For "try before you buy" my preference is WiiMednafen. For homebrews, I use the best quality CDRs I can find with an old Liteon drive from 2001 on my Win98 PC. More of a personal preference rather than any science.