Burn Tests DVD+R Media

We have a number of different brands of DVD+R media ranging in quality...

CMC MAG F01

This is an Imation disc rated at 8x write speeds...



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The CMC media did not do well, writing at only 4x speeds when it was rated at 8x.



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The transfer rate test produced the same results, reading the disc at only 4x.



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Nero's CD-DVD speed had some trouble reading the disc towards the end at 12x. The drive never got back up to 12x most likely due to some errors in the burn quality. PlexTools also scanned a good amount of C1 errors that shows this media isn't the best to use.

Ritek R03

Here's another 8x disc, this one by Ritek...



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The Ritek brand media, however, performed better as it peaked at the end at about 12x. Sony claims in its documentation that the DRU-540A is capable of burning some 8x media at 12x speeds. The Ritek R03 was one of them.



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The transfer rate tests proved a reliable burn...



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PlexTools shows that it may have had some trouble reading the disc towards the middle but smoothed out as it continued.

Burn Tests CDR Media cont’d Burn Tests DVD+R Media cont'd
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  • KristopherKubicki - Friday, August 20, 2004 - link

    http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?desc... Have it reviewed already, along with the Pioneer 16X ; we are just waiting to publish.

    Kristopher
  • sgd2z - Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - link

    16X Drive from BenQ, can we have that in your next DVD RW roundup? http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?desc...
  • PuravSanghani - Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - link

    TrogdorJW: This issue is common among low quality media like the Philips C08 and the VDSPMSAB 001 DVD+R's we tested with the DRU-540A. While forcing write speeds to a lower setting may reduce coaster production for some media, there are those other low quality media that may choke on certain drives no matter what write speeds you force on them.
  • KristopherKubicki - Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - link

    Ian@CDRlabs: They did not mention the problem to us. If you can buy it, i dont see why we shouldnt review it.

    Kristopher
  • TrogdorJW - Monday, August 16, 2004 - link

    So do the read/burn problems with cheap media persist if you force the record speed to 4X or even 2X? Obviously, buying a 12X burner and using it as a 4X is sort of dumb, but if you're too cheap to find good quality media - or maybe only too cheap some of the time - then it would be nice to know you can force the drive to fall back to a more compatible setting.

    Example: I have problems with my Lite On 52X CD-RW drive when writing Memorex discs at 52X speeds, but when I write them at 32X they work perfectly fine. Is that common, or do I have a faulty drive?
  • RyanVM - Monday, August 16, 2004 - link

    #6,
    http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?desc...
  • Ian@CDRlabs - Monday, August 16, 2004 - link

    According to Sony, there are issues with DVD+RW and DVD-RW media and the 1.0a firmware. I'm surprised they didn't ask you to hold off on this review.
  • PuravSanghani - Monday, August 16, 2004 - link

    #5 & 6: There is a SATA version of the 712A named appropriately PX-712SA/SW and MSI's XA52P has a SATA interface but is said to only work in conjunction with Intel chipsets.

    Sony currently does not have any SATA optical drives, but there is always the future right :)

    #7: The DRU-540A is not Mac compatible.
  • WooDaddy - Monday, August 16, 2004 - link

    Good review. Is this the latest drive that Sony released? Also, sorta unrelated, is this Mac compatible? Does it have bitsetting support easily available?

    Ok.. more unrelated questions..

    I CAN'T GET TO THE FORUMS!!! Are they down?
    OMIGAWDBBQTGIMSWYMGY!!! (Shake what yo mamma gave ya)

  • epicstruggle - Monday, August 16, 2004 - link

    #5 is there a dvdrw that does support sata? I know they are coming out, but is there one out now?

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