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A-2 What Affects System Performance
What Affects System Performance
How well your computer functions with the CD-Writer Plus drive,
particularly how fast it writes data to a CD, depends on a number of
factors. Some of these factors are listed below.
■ Processor (CPU). The type and speed of your processor greatly affects
the speed at which your computer transfers data to and from the CD-
Writer Plus drive. If the processor speed is too slow, you may have to
write at 1x speed.
■ RAM. Your computer must have enough memory available to handle
its operating system, the CD-Writer Plus drive’s applications, and the
data you are transferring to and from CDs. The system should not
have to swap data to and from the hard drive.
■ Your Hard Drive. The speed at which your hard drive accesses and
transfers data (its access time and transfer rate) affects performance.
Newer hard drives, those with a storage capacity greater than 528 MB,
are fast enough to handle the CD-Writer Plus drive’s 2x write speed.
■ Parallel Port Type. The type of parallel port on your computer has a
major influence in determining the speed at which your CD-Writer
Plus drive runs. Possible parallel port types are:
■ Standard parallel port (SPP) which is sometimes called bi-
directional or compatible
■ Enhanced parallel port (EPP)
■ Extended capabilities port (ECP)
Most PCs shipped since January 1995 contain support for the
required high-speed EPP and ECP modes. Systems shipped before this
date may only support SPP.
SPP mode allows the CD-Writer Plus drive to run at up to a 2x read
speed and up to a 1x write speed if the other minimum system
requirements are met.
EPP and ECP modes allow the CD-Writer Plus drive to run at up to a
6x read speed and a 2x write speed if the other minimum system
requirements are met.
TIP: Check your computer’s specifications to see which kind of parallel port was
installed. Sometimes a fast ECP/EPP port will be set up as a slow standard
mode port at the factory (for example, some HP Vectra models). Check your