# Cache Size Of My New CD/RW Drive

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cache-size-of-my-new-cd-rw-drive/196762>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 21, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cache-size-of-my-new-cd-rw-drive/196762 "2003-08-21T20:22:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cache-size-of-my-new-cd-rw-drive/196762/1 "2003-08-21T20:22:53Z")

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Just bought a new CD/RW for my system. The Best Buy ad and web site states that the drive has an 8MB cache but the manufacturer’s site only states a 2MB cache. Is there anyway for me to check the cache size in windows? Thanks in advance.

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**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cache-size-of-my-new-cd-rw-drive/196762/2 "2003-08-21T22:02:13Z")

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Most burner software should be able to give you detailed info about the drive. Check for something like “CD Drive Information” or the like.

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**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cache-size-of-my-new-cd-rw-drive/196762/3 "2003-08-21T23:50:51Z")

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Thanks, that did it. Turns out it only has a 2MB Cache buffer. Damn Best Buy and their false advertising. But then again, what can you expect for $12 after rebate? Seems to work good enough.

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**Author:** ![KenGr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecc23a/32.png) [@KenGr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KenGr)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cache-size-of-my-new-cd-rw-drive/196762/4 "2003-08-21T23:59:38Z")

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I’d say you haven’t been “damaged”. Given CD transfer rates, a larger cache would be of no practical importance. Benchmark testers are having trouble seeing much advantage to 8MB cache even on hard disks.

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**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cache-size-of-my-new-cd-rw-drive/196762/5 "2003-08-22T01:13:20Z")

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Oh, I’m not really pissed, I’m actually quite happy with it. Like I said, it was only $12 after rebate and it works really good. I was just curious as to who was right.