My Plextor 708a DVD burner died a few months ago - like the day after the 1-year warranty expired - Murphy's Law... It was a Christmas gift from my wife and if I recall it cost like $350 two years ago. I've been hesitant to replace it since I just assumed they were still pretty expensive, but a recent trip to CompUSA and I find some, shall we say "generic" Taiwanese "no name" brand DVD burners for like $75. I've experienced bad things when trying to buy cheap CD burners, like buffer overruns, buffer underuns, etc. that caused more coasters than you can shake a stick at! So I was hesitant to plop down $75 for some no-name brand. I've learned to trust the Plextor brand with their excellent buffer overrun/underrun protection. They've also been on the "bleeding edge" performance with typically the fastest CD burners and DVD burners. When you wanted the best DVD or CD burner you went with Plextor - plain and simple. But Sony, Samsung, and others have certainly caught up to Plextor.
In fact, I just came across a news release from a major electronics company, namely Samsung offering a super fast 16X DVD burner with 5X dual speed recording - all for just $75 bucks! Nice! Now Samsung is a brand name I can trust. Looks like I might finally replace my DVD burner after all...
Check out the release:
SAMSUNG INTRODUCES NEW 16X DVD REWRITABLE DRIVE WITH 5X DUAL SPEED RECORDING
San Jose, CA - February 17, 2005 - Samsung Electronics Ltd., the worldwide digital consumer electronics and information technology leader, builds on the tremendous success of its award-wining 16X DVD ReWritable disc drive technology with the introduction of the faster, more powerful Writemaster TS-H552U. Designed for the consumer market, the TS-H552U offers an amazing 5X dual layer speed recording -- one of the fastest in the industry today. The TS-H552U is currently shipping nationwide with an estimated street price of $75.
The 5X dual layer speed recording of the TS-H552U is twice as fast as Samsung's first 16X dual layer DVD RW drive. This dramatically improved speed helps to significantly cut down on timing issues, such as backup recording. For example, a file that would have taken 30 minutes to back up, now just takes 15 minutes, which is particularly helpful for users who conduct vast amounts of video or data backup. The 5X dual layer speed also allows users to input large amounts of data, such as video, photos or information from a database, onto a DVD at a much fast rate compared to Samsung's first drive. The TS-H552U also offers further advanced stability in dual layer operation than in prior drives.
Supporting all the popular DVD recordable/rewritable formats, the TS-H552U provides computer users with greater storage power and even more flexibility to enjoy favorite movies and music, and archive data without regard to format variations.
"With DVD storage now the standard media format, Samsung is capitalizing upon the success of its current line of drives and is looking for ways to offer consumers even greater drive speed, quality and features," comments Albert Kim, National Sales Manager, Storage Systems for Samsung SSI. "The new TS-H552U provides users with one of the fastest dual layer drives on the market today, allowing them to burn or convert video clips, create custom CD-R discs in just minutes and save vast amounts of data faster than ever. The TS-H552U further empowers computer users and multimedia enthusiasts by offering cutting-edge technologies at an ultra-affordable price point."
The TS-H552U offers double-layer data storage up to 8.5GB in one disc, which is two times more than single-layer DVD and 12 times more than a CD disc. Samsung's latest drive also features its Silent Pulse Width Modulation (SPWM) technology and an Automatic Ball Balancing System (ABS) to reduce noise when recording or reading at high speeds and ensure outstanding functionality.
Many high-end technologies are featured in the TS-H552U to ensure quick and reliable performance of the drive. These technologies include Speed Adjustment Technology (SAT), which automatically optimizes the speed according to the disc quality; Tilt Actuator Compensation (TAC), which gives the disc a tilt with the objective lens for the most reliable writing condition; and Double Optimum Power Control (OPC), which strengthens the writing performance by controlling the laser power in the inner and outer sides of the disc. The drive also includes a power save function and technology to prevent Buffer Under Run Error.
The TS-H552B is capable of recording DVD+R media at 16X, DVD-R at 16X, DVD+/-RW at 4X and double layer DVD+R. For more information about Samsung's Optical disc drives visit the Web site at http://www.samsung.com
Samsung
TS-H552U Specifications
|
Data
Transfer Rate |
Media
Type |
Write |
Read |
|
| |
|
|
DVD+R |
16X
(21.6MB/sec) |
8X
(10.8MB/sec) |
|
| |
|
|
DVD+R
|
5X
(6.75MB/sec) |
8X
(10.8MB/sec) |
|
| |
|
|
DVD+RW |
4X
(5.4MB/sec) |
8X
(10.8MB/sec) |
|
| |
|
|
DVD-R |
16X
(21.6MB/sec) |
8X
(10.8MB/sec) |
|
| |
|
|
DVD-RW |
4X
(5.4MB/sec) |
8X
(10.8MB/sec) |
|
| |
|
|
DVD-ROM |
- |
16X
(21.6MB/sec) |
|
| |
|
|
CD-ROM |
- |
48X
(7.2MB/sec) |
|
| |
|
|
CD-R |
40X
(6.0MB/sec) |
48X
(7.2MB/sec) |
|
| |
|
|
CD-RW |
32X
(4.8MB/sec) |
32X
(4.8MB/sec) |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Burst
Transfer Rate |
PIO Mode 4
(16.6MB/sec) |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Ultra DMA Mode 2
(33.3MB/sec) |
|
| |||
|
Average
Seek Time |
DVD-ROM: 130ms |
|
|
| ||
|
|
CD-ROM: 110ms |
|
|
| ||
|
Supported
Disc |
DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-ROM,
DVD-Video |
|
| |||
|
|
CD-R, CD-RW, CD-ROM/XA, CD-ROM, CD-Audio,
Video-CD, | |||||
|
|
CD-I(FMV), Photo CD, CD-Extra,
CD-TEXT |
|
| |||
|
Buffer
Memory |
2 MB |
|
|
|
| |
|
Dimensions
(WxHxD mm) |
148.2 x 42 x 184 |
|
|
| ||
|
Weight
(kg) |
0.75 |
|
|
|
| |
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2003 parent company sales of US$36.4 billion and net income of US$5.0 billion. Employing approximately 88,000 people in 89 offices in 46 countries, the company consists of six main business units: Corporate Technology Operations, Digital Appliance Business, Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business and Telecommunication Network Business. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is the world's largest producer of color monitors, color TVs, memory chips, TFT-LCDs and VCRs. For more information, visit www.samsung.com.
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my samsung writemaster model TS-H552B/WRBH is not behaving at all. most of the DVDs go half burnt and thus unusable. No help, at all
samsung writemaster ts-h552u is costing me a lot of money in blank media.
it burns for five minutes then stops.....it's useless and YES I AM USING THE RECOMMENDED BLANK MEDIA
I am facing the same problem. No amount of performance tweaking has produced any result. The recorder burns for five minutes then hangs. The lights go out and the slider on the burn window stays as it is. One time I let it go on for 9 hours without any change. Did you get a solution to this problem?
I am facing the same problem. my samsung writemaster ts-h552u is costing me a lot of money in blank media.The recorder burns for five minutes then hangs. The lights go out and the slider on the burn window stays as it is. One time I let it go on for 9 hours without any change. Did you get a solution to this problem?
I have had similar problems with my TS-H552U. I upgraded the firmware via the utility form Samsung and it appears to be performing OK now. I hope this helps.
I have a problem too, with my TS-H552U DVD burner. I instal in the computer the burner and I start the coputer, windows xp automacally install the driver but the DVD drive don't read any kind of CD or DVD.
After I write a CD with Nero and I want to see what I write (in other cd drive) he send me a message "the drive is empty or no disc".
PS I buy the drive from the magazine and it is new.
I the TS-H552U drive - fine at burning CD and ordinary DVD - but Dual Layer - major issues - I have bought media - and Nero 7 and other burning software - all fail - some immediately - with drive re-sets - others after 56 minutes of burning - say failed and in fact have burnt nothing.
Why is this dual layer business so complex?
Any suggetsions - other than binning it all.
I got a similar problem-or worse.. my Dual layer writer worked fine for a couple months and now cannot write anything. It can read original DVD's and CD's, but it cannot read my backup CDs which I wrote using the very same writer 2months ago.
I have the same problem. just got the burner 2 months ago. Hardly burned more then 20 disc. Now having problem reading DL DVDs. Piece of junk...
which is the best software to burn dvd for tsst corp cd/dvdw ts h552u i need to know cusit cannot burn any cd or divd on this writemaster please rply ??thanks
I brought a Samsung DVD same one mentioned and at firts it used to write really very fast liek and entire 4.7 gb disc in like 5 mins approx then after I used it to copy huge files from the DVD to the computer it started acting funny.
No every 4.7 gb disc takes 30 mins to burn.
can someone tell me what the hell happened and how i can rectify it
My samsumg tsh552U died after a year. it was replaced by my vendor. it worked for a week and the new one died. took my cd burner with it.
Bah,
Bought it yesterday, nothing but trouble, trying to backup video and guess what, i have about 10 coasters from thie piece of shit. Updated the firmware, tried diffrent media. i found 1 16x Memorex that worked, went out and bought more of the exact same disc, and now it only burns them at 2x. This drive is a piece of garbage. Never had this much trouble or burned this many coasters. Samsung you better get over here and give me a some oralsex to make up for this piece of shit hardware.
Either go bankrupt, or dont sell GARBAGE.
anyone know how to get this thing to read rome:total war gold edition?
the peice of junk won't even read the disc, it reads everyting else fine, just not this. have I missed a hardware setting somewhere or are there any specific cabling issues I don't know about
What a major pile of crap, I havnt burnt one sucessful dvd with the garbage in the 12 months i have had it. It wont read half 99% of the discs i put in there, it sux. I have upgraded the firm ware which made bugger all difference. My mate bought a poineer burner the other day and he is using the exact same burning software and discs as me and is burning away like a legend . I wont buy anything from samsung again they make inferiour cheap and nasty junk..
What a major pile of crap, I havnt burnt one sucessful dvd with the garbage in the 12 months i have had it. It wont read half 99% of the discs i put in there, it sux. I have upgraded the firm ware which made bugger all difference. My mate bought a poineer burner the other day and he is using the exact same burning software and discs as me and is burning away like a legend . I wont buy anything from samsung again they make inferiour cheap and nasty junk..
My TS-H552U isn't capable of burning a CD or DVD eather. Is there a driver fix or a recall?
I have gateway gt5014 and have trouble with the ts-h552b. gateway says that they will send replacement yet I bought at bestbuy and I'm wating for a response from them..I cant beleive that this has been going on for over a year (I've been reading in fourms).I bought my unit in jan 06 and I just noticed the front of drive DOES NOT have the DL logo and it has the dvd+RW logo....WHAT THE...!!??
tHE BOX AND INFO List dual layer dvd+/- RW I am not sure that that is what a TSST CORP TS-H552B is!! I will try to find out more about this......Any one else please post with comments....THIS IS SO AGGRAVATING!!!!
WILLIAM
My Samsung ts-h552u quit working, period. I expected more from Samsung.
Mike R.
Same problem here. My TS-H552U worked great for about 6 months, and now it burns the 2% of the disc and the drive light goes off and the software progress bar stays there, at 2%.
I left the drive all the night long and when I came in the morning it was still at 2%, led off.
I tried to burn different things, small information, etc. with no luck.
It is only burning regular CDs.
I am turning it back to the dealer, won't buy samsung again.
my samsung dvd writer model ts-h552u can read and write dvds as it used to but can not read cds and vcds as it used to.
my samsung ts-h552b dvd writer STOPPED working and i only bunred disks 6 times. DONT BUY IT, dont buy AN EMACHINES COMPUTER EITHER.
JUST DONT DO IT......its fauly and a rip off as it malfunctions within a few months use!!!!!!!
Used this burner for about a year without any problems.
Now it started ejecting on its own with no reason, cant read CDs or DVDs unless I make him swallow it more then 10 times.
It worked, and now it doesn't. Junk, junk, junk... don't EVER buy Samsung!!!
To make things worse I can't find my warranty paper anywhere, so I'm left with a piece of electronics shit attached to my computer.
Well...looks like i'm not the only one.
POS!!!!!!!!!
I went all out and got the fastest dual layer external samsung burner (cant remember the model...)
It read dvds for an hour (after first installing it)...then the "live update" piece of shit app installed firmware version "BOOT"....WTF IS BOOT?!?!! Now the light stays on and teh tray wont open.
So i manually installed V03...now the tray opens but dosnt read anything
So i flipped it over and saw the OEM version was 02...so installed that firmware....STILL WONT READ A DVD/CD/ANYTHING!!!!
It's one day old...and to make matters worse i spent my entire day off yesterday trying to get this waste of fn money to work!!!!
Will never buy samsung again....
this Samsung Writemaster TS-H552U DVD Burner really sucks... i wish i'd never buy this piece of junk i cant burn any thing...
My TSSTcorp CD/DVDW TS-H552U sucks! i have nearly the same problems like vedraan,...
Drive ejecting without command or any action from me. puting it in, and swallows again... and so on... using it about a year and it worked good, but now such a bullshit... and WHY is there NO SUPPORT, may be there is one, but if, ITS VERY HARD TO FIND!!! thats sucks so much, getting me harcore pissed off, watching a movie @ my pc and it breaks up and fuckin' drive comes out!!!
i have had this drive for ages and it gets used frequently not hammered! ive used all sorts of media mostly ritek based dyes of the G04/GO5 and mcc,cmc,dyes.the problems you can encounter are trying to burn to quick,and a coaster is the end result! it has created perfect audio cds on three different media types,and dvds are very good quality when played back on my pioneer dvd player.however it
does according to some write better on + r but this is a personal thing!i notice users say here its crap! i dont think its crap it just needs carefull choice of media and US06 firmware from samsung,s site.other than that it just relable for me!
I have had the same drive now for 2 years or so. Some time ago, I started getting heaps of coasters (failed burns). I tracked it down to the transfer mode of the IDE controller. It works fine when set to PIO and fails when set to DMA.
I have no clue what this means other than when a burn fails, it almost always turns out to be this setting has reset to use DMA.
Hope this helps
ts-h552b let me count the troubles..last 7 cds burt failed....have had to flash this thing more then I change my underware...did I mention if there is no cd in the bay I have to smack it to open yet when there is a cd in the bay it opens fine, what moron released this piece of crap...they should have recalled these a long time ago gave the users new drive s and paid the users for the staffs incompetance at building hard ware...this idiot here will never buy from samsung again...first and last product by them...wow way to keep customers sincerely biterly dissapointed
Hi ,
In the beginning that I had that TS-H552U DVD Burner It worked perfect to install all my drivers (had a new pc) and I also started to install my games when suddenly it didn't worked anymore than I restarted my computer and it worked again but not for long and now every time when I'll try to use him it sais 'end now'
by coputer finds it thoug
plz help needed
i just bought this dvd burner and it does not read my cds.or my dvds i would like to know why its not even two days old whats going on here ,,,i will never purchase samsung products again
Hi,
Looks like a lot of folks out there are having problems with this TS-H552U CD/DVD Burner. I have converted .avi files to DVD files, they go to the DVD disk, when the DVD is ejected I can see the burn but it wont play in my DVD player (the one that sits under my TV), I put it back in my pc and look at the disk properties and it tells me that there are no files on the disk, no free space and no used space. I think its the driver? my pc can see/burn/copy to cd but the DVD is a nightmare!! I have managed to burn to DVD with Nero but now that is a problem. Any ideas?
TS-H552U owner here, had it a few yrs now.
It's been generally VERY reliable.
Partial burns are caused by a few things.
Setting burn speed too fast.
It MIGHT say 16x on the disk but mostly they aren't. 12x burns at most, I burn mainly at 10x or 8x. It's rare I get coasters. VERY RARE!
Old firmware. Check your firmware, on this writer firmware is available up to US09, I use US08, it's WAY more stable. I also use the firmware change to reset how many region changes I can have :-)
Too many system resources in use at once. If your doing lots in the background use task manager to close everything but the burn process (dont touch "cancel autoplay", it's part of the burn process). Far too often I've found that because I'm doing too much at once my burn fails midway thru. So I normally do nothing during my burn. Go make tea, use the toilet, get a snack.
Use decent burning software.
Get rid of Nero, it's shit & tries to burn at too high speeds. Ashampoo Burning Studio 6 or Infra Recorder if you like the Nero style of burn.
Memory.
What's your buffer memory like? How big is your pagefile? Set that at a decent size and you won't get buffer underruns. Stopping other running processes frees up memory to the buffer too.
Follow these simple tips and you should get a lot more successful burns.
I experienced similar poblems as pablo with TSSTcorp CD/DVDW TS-H552U. The DVD writitng stops at about 7%. Worse, it hangs my system. Tried both on Windows (Nero) and Linux (K3b) and it screws up both. Do NOT buy it.
mine isnt working too
Hiho,
Anyone have drivers I can install/update to try and make this %$#@!(!! Samsung DVD burner work, please? I am so sick of the Blue Screen of Death I could -well, have- scream(ed)!!!
Anyone home?....
Please advise.
I use Firefox, btw, so any driver updates via MSIE ain't gonna happen...
Thank you!! ^_^
This burner (TS-H552U) came already installed as part of PC system purchase in mid-2005.
I had almost every problem as described on this page for the first year until I gave up on burning anything all together.
Now however it seems to work perfectly and burns everything I've so far thrown at it:) With a vaiety of burn software, too. Haven't got a clue how or why it's behaving so much better now.
Not being too tech savvy, I just suspect that most burning software or blank discs or perhaps even the OS (XP SP1) wasn't upto the best that this hardware offered at the time.
Samsung website has a firmware (ODD driver) updates for TS-H552U now (versions us8 and us9). I still use us6. I'm afraid of updating the current driver in case things will get worse again:)
External Samsung Writemaster just played me one dvd and then said good bye. Nothing works anymore. It does not want to read any disc whatever format and I never burned anything with it. What a piece of shit!
I've had the h552u for some years now, and have found that in the past year or so it has the problem where it hangs halfway through a dvd burn an then i get a write error message...no amount of research or playing with settings has rectified this and i eventually gave up burning dvds and just mounting the image files instead, until...
I tried an old scratched up dvd+r to write an image...and it worked perfectly. Turns out that this drive just wont write DVD- discs, only DVD+. What a rip off! I hadnt thought about this as the drive is supposed to do both, but turns out it doesnt!
If u have this problem try dvd+, or just get a new one, cos lets face it...this ones a pile of...
My Samsung Writemaster worked great at first. Slowly though I started having problems with either the writer not being recognized by the computer or it crapping out in the middle of burning. Wasting many many disks. I determined it is because of the crappy design of the power cord. I can hardly keep it going long enough to use. I'm not sure if it's the cord or the plug on the drive though, since both look fine (not damaged) and I don't have another cord to test with.