BenQ DW1620: An Elegant, Robust DVDR Surprise
by Kristopher Kubicki on September 29, 2004 10:32 AM EST- Posted in
- Storage
Burn Tests CDR Media
We use the following configuration to test our burners:Albatron 865PE Pro II
Intel Pentium 4 2.4GHz 800FSB 512KB L2
2 x 512 DDR OCZ PC3200 EL
Maxtor 80GB 7200RPM 8MB PATA
Windows XP SP1
We are going to run this benchmark in the same manner in which we ran our Sony DRU-540A benchmarks. We first burn the media with the BenQ DW1620 and then use Plextools v2.12 to test C1/C2/CU averages in a Plextor PX-712A. Good burns have low C1/C2 averages and are considered the most readable. We used Ahead Nero's CD-DVD Speed 3.12 for burn and read tests. We will also provide images of the Pioneer DVR-108D for reference, copied verbatim from the analysis several weeks ago - just mouse over the image to see the Pioneer DVR-108D images, or move the mouse off the image to see the BenQ DW1620 image. This is not a comparative analysis of the drives yet; as mentioned before, we have a roundup scheduled in two weeks to answer that question.
Imation CDR
Click to enlarge the BenQ DW1620 image.
Hold your mouse over for the Pioneer DVR-108D image.
Click to enlarge the BenQ DW1620 image.
Hold your mouse over for the Pioneer DVR-108D image.
The Imation burn graph has us extremely nervous, but the write quality actually turns out OK. Below you can see how the discs read back in a Plextor PX-712A.
Click to enlarge the BenQ DW1620 image.
Hold your mouse over for the Pioneer DVR-108D image.
Hold your mouse over for the Pioneer DVR-108D image.
The BenQ does not have much competition for CDR burning with the DVR-108D, but we will get into more details concerning that in the roundup. The BenQ does better on its own, but we would like to see better write quality.
Memorex CDR
Click to enlarge the BenQ DW1620 image.
Hold your mouse over for the Pioneer DVR-108D image.
Click to enlarge the BenQ DW1620 image.
Hold your mouse over for the Pioneer DVR-108D image.
Click to enlarge the BenQ DW1620 image.
Hold your mouse over for the Pioneer DVR-108D image.
Hold your mouse over for the Pioneer DVR-108D image.
This set off the red flags for us. Although this disc is still readable, it's very close to becoming a coaster. We are not very pleased with the way that the BenQ drive performed on the CDR media.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
17 Comments
View All Comments
amdfanboy - Monday, October 4, 2004 - link
*Test*chucky2 - Friday, October 1, 2004 - link
As a follow-up to reviewing the LG GSA-4160BI drive, it'd be nice if you do review the drive that you use the lastest revision of the firmware, which I belive is available here (http://us.lgservice.com/b2c/jsp/SubSys.jsp?SYS=SWL... by choosing DVD-Writer.In fact, I think the latest revision of firmware for each drive should be used so as to be fair to all drivers involved.
Thanks either way for doing the review, even if you don't include the LG!
Chuck
deathwalker - Thursday, September 30, 2004 - link
A final thought on my original post...the Pioneer 108 is $79 at newegg and this BenQ is $77...for a $2 difference give me the pioneer any day of the week. I'll pay $2 more for a company that has been doing it right for a long time vs. a company that is still tring to figure out how to do it right.deathwalker - Thursday, September 30, 2004 - link
Well..just call me a stick in the mud..but..if the chipset in use on this burner is a version of the one that was in the NU-082, then they can keep it. I have a NU-082 and it is quite possibly the worst optical device i have ever put in a computer..and just to think I bought it due to the praise it recieved from AnandTech. Having gotten that off my chest..keep up the good work guys I know you do your best to bring us quality reviews with objective analysis.WooDaddy - Thursday, September 30, 2004 - link
A couple of questions:- What is Mount Rainier?
- Will the overview include a table of features per drive? In particular I'd like to see things like HD-Burn and DVD-RAM read capablities, etc.
- Bitsetting disks .... why not just burn all discs in DVD-ROM format anyway? Is there a benefit to burning in the other? DVD-ROM is supposedly more compatible anyway. (This is a question, not a statement.)
And last but not least,
- Why won't Ian STFU!? Geez... Quit acting like a hater... If Anandtech doesn't have something you like, do you own damn website. oh wait.. YOU DO! So go do it! (Kris, I know you wanted to say that.)
For the record, IAN YOU HAVEN'T EVEN DONE A REVIEW ON THE DVR-108 YET! NOR HAVE YOU DONE A REVIEW ON ANY DRIVE WITH 16X -R MEDIA...
Gawd...
You do have a nice website and whole helluva comprehensive reviews. But because you're such a d|ck, I'll wait for Anandtech to come out with their review.
assemblage - Thursday, September 30, 2004 - link
I don't like the mouseover images you all are using.KristopherKubicki - Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - link
Ian: Got any 16X -R media for us to test it with?Kristopher
Ian@CDRlabs - Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - link
It says Pioneer DVR-108 above the specs.Why no 16x -R writing tests?
chucky2 - Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - link
I'd really like to see how the LG GSA-4160BI drive stacks up in the roundup...with a current price of $86 + $4 shipping, it'd be interesting to see how it compares to the larger names like Sony, Pioneer, etc.KristopherKubicki - Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - link
lennylim: Fixed.Kristopher