The Test
Our benchmarks include a few tests to show the performance of each of our test drives. We first use Nero CD-DVD Speed to create a data disc, which tests the write capabilities/performance of the drive. We then run a transfer rate test to benchmark the read capabilities as well as verify the data on the disc.Finally, we use our Plextor PX-712A drive to read the media for PI/PO errors. According to the ECMA standard...
A row of an ECC Block that has at least 1 byte in error constitutes a PI error. In any 8 consecutive ECC Blocks the total number of PI errors before correction shall not exceed 280.Now, some writers may create discs with more than 208 PI errors and they are not necessarily unreadable, but they are not the best quality discs around.
A row is 182 bytes long where the last 10 bytes contain PI (Parity Inner) information. An ECC block is 208 rows long where the last 16 rows contain the PO (Parity Outer) information. This gives us a maximum possible PI error amount of 208 errors per block and for 8 blocks after each other this sum is of course 8 times higher giving a maximum possible amount of 1664 PI errors.
If a row of an ECC Block contains more than 5 erroneous bytes, the row is said to be “PI-uncorrectable” or PIF (Parity Inner Failures).
In any ECC Block the number of PI-uncorrectable rows should not exceed 4.
Our test bed:
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ (2.2Ghz)
Giga-byte GA-K8NXP-SLI
NVIDIA 6600GT SLI Edition (single 128MB card)
1GB (512MBx2) Corsair XMS4400
Plextor PX-712A, Firmware v1.07
Microsoft Windows XP SP2
Nero CD-DVD Speed 4.00
PlexTools Professional XL 3.03
Again, we have taken all of your feedback into consideration and have decided to go back to focusing more on the write quality of each media instead of just the write speeds. Our results are displayed on the following pages. The screenshots are again available in a ZIP files corresponding to the type of media.
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Bozo Galora - Tuesday, August 2, 2005 - link
Yet another DVD review with no Taiyo Yuden DVD media.semo - Wednesday, August 3, 2005 - link
yeah that bothers me too. mcc media are a good high grade specimen but ty are a lot more consistent. infiniti branded mcc media does not perform as good as verbatim branded ones (just like memory, some chips are ultra fast and ultra expensive and some are slow and just expensive).ty on the other hand don't deviate much from excellent (even the value grade ones). i have some unbranded 8x rated tyg02 dvd-rs that burned @ 16x in my dw1620 surpass the 16x mcc 03rg20 infinitis (burned at any speed) in quality.
ty should be used more in reviews since it is very consistent. i'm half way through my tub of 100 and i never got a dvd with >500 pifs (usually less than 80). ty media is also very cheap in the us. in the uk it is more expensive but it is still half the price of even the cheapest junk sold in supermarkets or even cheaper and about the same price as mcc.
joex444 - Tuesday, August 2, 2005 - link
I'm liking that 716's SATA inteface, though. Time to replace my NEC 1300.larson0699 - Tuesday, August 2, 2005 - link
PERHAPS its low price tag (in relation to PX-716A) has *something* to do with the fact that it's back to the old interface.Sorry, but SATA is totally 0wn1ng. *pets his 716A*
WileCoyote - Tuesday, August 2, 2005 - link
Woah woah... time out. When did Plextor start rebadging drives? I always thought they were an OEM with top-notch quality. Now they're like everybody else? Sad.dmxlite - Tuesday, August 2, 2005 - link
Maybe because the BenQ drive is really good, and they needed something for the low end in their product lines.kmmatney - Tuesday, August 2, 2005 - link
So, are these only sold in 10 packs, or what?...Hacp - Tuesday, August 2, 2005 - link
I was hoping for something for Anandtech to review....... Cameras and Optical drives are just boring :(.yacoub - Tuesday, August 2, 2005 - link
hahah yeah, I almost fell asleep by the third page. Oh well it's still a very useful review for the review database here so when you're looking for a DL DVD burner drive in the future you can read it.DeeSlanger - Tuesday, August 2, 2005 - link
Instead of bitching about , Why dont you suggest or ask them if they can review some thing for Hacp...