16x -R - MCC 03RG20
For our first test, we used Verbatim 16x DVD-R media to test the high speed -R write capabilities of each drive.
The GSA-4163B takes the lead as it writes a full disc in 316 seconds. Our winner from the last roundup, NEC, comes in at second place with its ND-3540A, writing the disc at 355 seconds. And last place goes to Toshiba's SD-R5372 as it writes a full 16x DVD-R disc in 447 seconds.
As far as reading back the created data discs on each drive, BenQ's DW1640 reads back its disc the fastest, in 297 seconds, with the ND-3540A following closely behind at 300 seconds. The rest performed the task at above the 7min mark and the SD-R5372 couldn't even read back its disc.
It's not surprising that the SD-R5372 couldn't read its disc. It had 545,904 PI errors spread out across the disc. What is surprising is that the ND-3540A came in at the second fastest when reading back its disc while it had the second highest number of PI errors - 386,858 to be exact.
We have created ZIP files of the screenshots that we have taken of the Nero CD-DVD Speed and PlexTools benchmarks. Feel free to click on the links below to download them.
BenQ DW1640
LG GSA-4163B
NEC ND-3540A
Pioneer DVR-109D
Sony DRU-720A
Toshiba SD-R5372
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trance - Friday, July 22, 2005 - link
Ordered mine from NCIX.com. Still haven't recieved it yet though...Gage8 - Wednesday, July 20, 2005 - link
"Any clue as to when the new BenQ will be available?"That's my question. It seems like the BenQ is the drive to have...yet no one has it.
trance - Sunday, July 17, 2005 - link
Any clue as to when the new BenQ will be available?vtqanh - Saturday, July 16, 2005 - link
No Plextor drive? What kind of optical drive review that doesnt include a Plextor drive?USAF1 - Friday, July 15, 2005 - link
#48 - Apparently, there are some pretty serious compatibility issues with the Plextor PX-712SA/PX-716SA and some of the NEWER controllers. For example, from what I've read on various forums, the native nForce4 SATA controller has some pretty serious issues with burning CD's and DVD's. Plextor's tech support department has commented on the issue and blamed nvidia's SATA implementation/drivers. Check out this compatibility matrix from Plextor's website:http://www.plextor.com/english/support/media_712SA...
See any nForce4 boards on there? I imagine compatibility issues would explain the two star newegg rating.
PuravSanghani - Thursday, July 14, 2005 - link
#47: Its a slow and painful process isn't it? We would all like to be done with those wide flat annoying IDE cables and hook ourselves up with the thin, easy to work with SATA cables.The fact is, as long as the more critical [hard] drives are being manufactured with the IDE interface, there will still be a demand for the IDE interface on motherboards.
For optical drives, there really isn't a need for the switch to the SATA interface because 1)there wouldn't be any performance increases due to the limitations of current DVDR hardware and media, and 2)because the IDE interface is still around on motherboards.
I'm sure that once all HDD manufacturers have converted fully to SATA, optical drives will follow suit much more quickly since all we need is basically a SATA bridge. But until then...let us begin to give IDE an extended good-bye starting...nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn-now!
Anton74 - Thursday, July 14, 2005 - link
...and speaking of the Plextor PX-716SA/SW (SATA), it has a customer rating of 2 out of 5 on newegg (based on 341 votes). Yet all but 3 of the 40 customer reviewers rate it 5 out of 5.Apparently the drive needs an updated BIOS and an appropriate up-to-date motherboard to function properly. Maybe that's what caused the low customer rating?
Just wondering.
Anton
Anton74 - Thursday, July 14, 2005 - link
On a side note, why is it that nearly all of these drives are still PATA, and not SATA? There's 3 such SATA drives listed for sale on newegg, the Plextor 712 in 2 different colors, and the Plextor 716. They are of course more expensive than most at $83 (with $20 mail in rebate) and $126 respectively.I'm just wondering why we can't get rid of IDE altogether. Is a SATA interface more expensive to make? Can't be that big a difference looking at hard drive prices.
Anton
Miggle - Wednesday, July 13, 2005 - link
BTW, how come the sony 800A wasn't reviewed? Its being sold here but I chose the LG drive over itRMSe17 - Wednesday, July 13, 2005 - link
PuravSanghani, sorry didn't see your first post when I posted