Gamecube disc read errors, even after pot tweak

[Arcardy]

Hello, I sadly get frequent gamecube disc read errors.
Please help me, I would appreciate it.

My setup:
PAL DOL-101
Qoob Full size DVD Shell
Super Mario Sunshine savegame exploit to boot Swiss
Pioneer BDR-212DBK internal bluray burner.

So I boot up Swiss using the savegame exploit. I then insert a burned full size dvd.
I used a cheaper one CMC Magnetics AM3. They worked fine, until I played for one hour and I got read errors.
I then did a little pot tweak from 254 ohms to 194 ohms. I also cleaned the laser lens usign a q-tip and isopropanol alcohol (99%).
Now I did burn a Verbatim DVD-R (Media ID: MCC 03RG20). I get more frequent read errors. I burned one at 8x and I get read errors after 10 minutes.
Now I burned one at the slowest available speed (4x) and I get read erros just after booting up the game.
I always hear some weird clacking noise, I think those are the read erros?

What shall I do? I do want to use optical media, I do not want to use SD cards.
My gamecube wasn't heavily used. I own it since I am a child.

Shall I do another pot tweak or shall I look out for better blank discs? Only problem is that here in germany, it is hard to get anything other than CMC Magnetics discs or Verbatim (who were also bought by CMC by the way).

Please help me. Thank you!!

[emu_kidid]

How do original discs fare in your drive now, do they too throw read errors? Another reduction in the potentiometer might help, but this is how all disc drives tend to go bad (from DVD-R) and why everyone has moved on to use other medium types (SD, etc). If you really must use discs, get yourself another GameCube with a working drive, set the potentiometer to 150 or so before attempting to read any backups on it so the laser doesn't have to work as hard from the get go.

[Papy.G]

What shall I do? I do want to use optical media, I do not want to use SD cards.
My gamecube wasn't heavily used. I own it since I am a child.

There is nothing but good reasons to give up on using DVD-Rs and go for SD cards:
- Expand your console lifespan.
- Quieter operation.
- No hassle ISO copy.
- No disc swap from power on to play.
- Cheaper media cost (no bad burn waste).

On top of that, you're already using a Game Exploit (the faster among all), so you really only need an SD Gecko and SD card.

[Nick.Ren]

What shall I do? I do want to use optical media, I do not want to use SD cards.
My gamecube wasn't heavily used. I own it since I am a child.

There is nothing but good reasons to give up on using DVD-Rs and go for SD cards:
- Expand your console lifespan.
- Quieter operation.
- No hassle ISO copy.
- No disc swap from power on to play.
- Cheaper media cost (no bad burn waste).

On top of that, you're already using a Game Exploit (the faster among all), so you really only need an SD Gecko and SD card.

Couldn't agree more.