Fall 2004 DVDR Roundup: Dual Layer and 16X DVD+R
by Anand Shimpi & Virginia Lee on November 1, 2004 12:05 AM EST- Posted in
- Storage
BenQ DW1620
We took our first look at the BenQ 16X drive just a few weeks ago. Our second look at the DW1620 uses the same firmware, although we were able to get some better media.| BenQ DW1620 16x DVD-/+RW Drive | |
| Interface | PATA |
| CD Write Speed | 40X, 32X, 24X CAV 16X, 8X, 4X CLV |
| CD Rewrite Speed | 24X ZCLV 16X, 10X, 4X CLV |
| CD Read Speed | 40X MAX CAV |
| DVD-R Write Speed | 16X, 12X, 8X CAV 4X, 2X, 1X |
| DVD-RW Rewrite Speed | 4X, 2X, 1X CLV |
| DVD+R Write Speed | 16X, 12X, 8X CAV 4X, 2.4X |
| DVD+RW Rewrite Speed | 4X, 2.4X CLV |
| DVD+DL Write Speed | 2.4X CLV |
| DVD Read Speed | 16X MAX CAV |
| Supported Modes | DAO / DAO-RAW 16 & 96 TAO SAO / RAW SAO, RAW SAO 16 & 96 Packet Write Multi-Session |
| Supported Formats | DVD+R (DAO, incremental, seq) DVD+RW (random) DVD-R (DAO, incremental, seq) DVD-RW (restricted overwrite) CD-R, CD-RW, CD-ROM, CD-DA, Mixed Mode, CD Extra Photo CD, CD Text, Bootable CD, UDF |
| Access Time | CD: 120ms DVD: 120ms |
| Buffer | 2MB |
Our first test burns with the DW1620 made us a bit nervous. The drive seemed to jump quite a bit during the writing process and we didn't hesitate to contact BenQ about it. They, in turn, informed us of their "Write right technologies" and reassured us that this behavior was normal for the drive. Their "Write right technologies" are a combination of features including Walking Optimal Power Control II (WOPC II), which adjusts the power of the laser during the burning process to ensure a quality burn.
One cause of "errored" burns is a warped area on the surface of the disc. For a drive to optimally write to media, the laser must be at a 90 degree angle to the surface of the media, which is where BenQ's tilt control feature comes into play. By scanning the physical surface of the warped media and tilting the laser, the drive can both read and write to warped media where other drives would produce errors. The Block Error Rate Optimal Writing Control (BLER OPC) helps the burner perform better at the end of the disc, since that is where the most errors can occur due to warped media surfaces.
Another feature that is said to help the DW1620 read and write to media much more efficiently than other drives is its sliding cone, which helps support the media when clamped in the drive and provides for quicker and more efficient auto-centering of the media on the drive's turntable. Features like these are not advertised on most all of the other drives but they are still successful at reading and writing. We will see if these technologies actually help the DW1620 when we perform our benchmarks.
Click to enlarge.
The DW1620 is based on the Philips Nexperia PNX7860E chipset, which works in conjunction with the TZA1047 analog processor to facilitate 16X DVD-/+R writing speeds as well as DVD+R DL writing capabilities.
A scan of the DW1620's label:
Click to enlarge.
Feel free to download the performance graphs for the DW1620 here.
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Sabresiberian - Monday, November 1, 2004 - link
#15 DL is important to me because I know the price of media will drop and I want the drive I buy to be as useful as possible for the longest time possible. I might be buying it today but I will be using it tomorrow :) Overall you make some good points :)I think this is a difficult time to do this kind of article, because other improved versions will be available before the end of the year. For example, the Plextor 716A will be released with SATA capabilities.
I think its wierd that you couldn't get the Plextor drive in time, as I know this product has been reviewed by others.
southernpac - Monday, November 1, 2004 - link
A recent (17 August) article in PC World advised extreme caution when buying an OEM (versus retail) DVD burner. It said that OEM units "carry no manufacturer's warranty, lack burning software and are ineligible for firmware upgrades" (therefore costing more in the long run). Many examples were given. I would appreciate advise as to whether this is percieved to be a real concern. If so, NEC has no retail outlet - how would you buy a non-OEM unit?southernpac - Monday, November 1, 2004 - link
A recent (August 17th) PC World article advised extreme caution when buying OEM vs. retail DVD burners. It claimed that OEM versions carry no manufacturer's warranty, lack software and are ineligible for firmware upgrades (therefore actually costing more in the long run). Many examples were given. I would appreciate some advise as to whether this is percieved to be a real risk. If so, NEC has no retail outlet - how would you buy a non-OEM unit? BillGatak - Monday, November 1, 2004 - link
How about overburn tests? I have many times wanted to burn 50-100MB more than a standard single-layer disk but failed because my drive or software won't do it.Codyman - Monday, November 1, 2004 - link
I'm kinda wondering if a PX716A couldn't get crammed into this test somehow. Been waiting for this review in hopes that it would've been in this test and I haven't been waiting the extra couple months for nothing.danidentity - Monday, November 1, 2004 - link
I'd like to see a list of recommended media for different speed grades (4x, 8x, etc.) for different burners.techfuzz - Monday, November 1, 2004 - link
Why weren't the firmware on all the drives tested brought up to at the very least the most recent officially released version? For example, NEC's current official firmware is v2.17 where the v2.16 used in this roundup is the original firmware as-shipped from the factory?!Bozo Galora - Monday, November 1, 2004 - link
firmwares are on www.cdrinfo.comecouser - Monday, November 1, 2004 - link
Doesn’t Samsung make a Dual Layer DVD burner? If so why isn’t it in this roundup?MIDIman - Monday, November 1, 2004 - link
Yay! I'm a winner! I was waiting for this article, but couldn't wait long enough, and picked up the NEC two weeks ago. Couldn't be happier.Here's hoping for better Ritek 8x/16x support...