Question : Problem: Low Performance from Plextor PX-708A

Recently was given a PX-708A for Christmas.
Mounted it.  Took out the 8/8/24 Yamaha CDRW
Hooked the PX-708A into its spot and started computer.
Recognized, installed, Nero recognizes it, great :)
So I go to burn my first DVD.
I run through, hit burn, and its only going at 900-1.1x, not anywhere near 4x which is what my DVD+R media is supposedly good for.
ok... so after an hour, I throw a CD in there... 48x CD-R, and 40x burner is in the PX-708A, it starts off, and only makes it to 19x at max.
I disable everything but system processed, same.
I install Roxio that came with the drive, same.
I updated firmware from Plextor's website, same.
Im beginning to run out of options that I can think of...

I have a MSI KT3 Ultra mobo
The 40gb seagate HD that is C: is on the raid controller, but the Raids are setup to just act like extra IDEs.  The 80gb Maxtor is on the other raid controller and it is D:
16x Lite On DVD-Rom is primary master on IDE setup, Plextor is secondary master, where the 8/8/24 yamaha used to be.  I have 1024mb of DDR 266mhz ram, AMD Athlon 1800(1500mhz), Nvidia Geforce3 Ti200 video card, Sound Blaster Audigy sound card, running win2k service pack4 with all updates recommended, and all driver updates to my knowledge of this date.  I "think" my power source is 350 watt Antec Power Supply, and there are 2 case fans, 80mm I believe.  The only thing running at startup is Tiny Personal Firewall 2.0, Norton AV 2003, and Window's processes.  Computer is roughly 2 years old, creeping towards 3, with the only upgrade being the new PX-708A.

Ive been told my 1500mhz AMD wasnt able to cut 4x...  
Ive been told I need new HDs....
Ive been told I need new IDE cables....
Ive been told to reinstall 2000 or get rid of that "cruddy" OS and get XP(wanted to knock the guy's lights out)
Ive been told I need to update all my drivers again(dont see this doing much....)
Ive been told I needed more wattage from PSource(?)
*edit*
HDs are both 7200 rpm btw.
also get a driver_power_state_failure blue screen at shutdown now, it may have been since the writer was put in... or it may have been after roxio..  I have been told Roxio is what causes it though.
Nero CD speed utility also puts it at 19x....
When checking the "Determine maximum speed" in nero on the Burn tab. (5.5.10.7 ver), it will determine the maximum speed to be 4000k/sec, 27x CD-Rom and 3x DVD..., however still burns at 19x CD-Rom and 1.1x DVD max.

Just wanted some expert advice.... yell for anything else you need to know... I can dig deeper.
I put this here because its a form of storage and I dont see another category closer related....

Answer : Problem: Low Performance from Plextor PX-708A

Is DMA on for this drive in Device Manager ( or whatever it is in 2000 )? It is UDMA in the BIOS post, correct?