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For our CD/DVD reading & writing tests, we installed the Memorex F16 DVD writer into the ADS Dual Link Drive Kit. We also installed the Mad Dog MD-16XDVD9 DVD writer for some other tests.

CD Read tests:

CD-ROM read test: ADS Dual Link Drive Kit connected via Firewire (IEEE 1394).

CD-ROM read test: ADS Dual Link Drive Kit connected via USB 2.0.

The ADS Dual Link Drive Kit gave us no problems when reading back a CD-ROM disc at close to 48X speed on both Firewire and USB 2.0 connections.

CD Write tests:

CD-R writing test: ADS Dual Link Drive Kit connected via Firewire (IEEE 1394).

CD-R writing test: ADS Dual Link Drive Kit connected via USB 2.0.

We had absolutely no problems writing a CD-R disc at 48x when connected via Firewire (IEEE 1394). We did however run into a problem when connected via USB 2.0. The CD-R writing speed topped out at about 40x. The USB 2.0 connection could not sustain the full 48x CD-R writing speed.

DVD Read tests:

For reference purposes, we will first display what a full speed DVD transfer rate test SHOULD look like. The following transfer rate test was performed with the MD-16XDVD9 drive installed internally on an ATA cable connection. The reading test disc is a Taiyo Yuden 8x DVD+R disc (YUDEN000T02) with 4.38GB of data.

DVD+R reading test: (ATA) drive installed internally in our test PC.

Notice that the reading curve is completely smooth on the graph above. The drive has no problems reading the disc up to the full 16x speed when connected internally on the ATA cable.

DVD+R reading test: ADS Dual Link Drive Kit connected via Firewire (IEEE 1394).

DVD+R reading test: ADS Dual Link Drive Kit connected via USB 2.0.

Ouch! When we installed the MD-16XDVD9 in the ADS Dual Link Enclosure, it could not read the DVD+R disc at full speed on a Firewire or a USB 2.0 connection. Firewire was limited to less than 10x DVD read speed and USB 2.0 was limited to less than 6x DVD read speed. We also attempted these tests on a second PC and achieved very similar results.

It appears that the ADS Dual Link Drive Kit cannot sustain a fast & consistent data transfer rate needed for full speed DVD reading.

For a second opinion, we also performed a test using our Memorex F16 drive installed in the ADS Dual Link Drive Kit. This time we attempted to read back a DVD-ROM Video disc at 16x.

DVD-ROM reading test: ADS Dual Link Drive Kit connected via Firewire.

Again we can see here that the ADS Dual Link Enclosure cannot handle the high speed 16x DVD reading. It is also interesting to compare the Burst rates for the different interfaces. Burst rate for Internal ATA connection shows up as 25 MB/s, Firewire shows as 12 MB/s and USB 2.0 shows as 8 MB/s.

DVD Write tests:

For the DVD Writing test we will be attempting to burn a Fujifilm 8x DVD+R disc (YUDEN000T02) at 16x on the Mad Dog MD-16XDVD9 drive. We used the create data disc function in CD-DVD Speed for this test. This drive has no problems burning this media at 16x when installed internally in our test PC. We performed the DVD write test connected on the Firewire interface and on the USB 2.0 interface.

First we will post a CD-DVD Speed 'create data disc" graph with the drive installed internally in our test PC. This illustrates what the graph is supposed to look like during a 16x DVD+R burn.

DVD+R write test: internal ATA in our test PC. Perfect 16x burn graph.

Next we will attempt a 16x burn inside the ADS Dual Link Drive Kit, connected to our test PC via Firewire. Then we shall perform another test connected via USB 2.0.

DVD+R write test: Firewire (IEEE 1394)

DVD+R write test: USB 2.0

The results are not very spectacular. When connected via Firewire, the drive was limited to less than 10x DVD writing for the span of the entire disc. To be safe, you should not burn above 8x DVD speed when connected via Firewire. When connected via USB 2.0, the drive was limited to a mere 4x DVD writing. We also attempted these tests on a second PC and achieved very similar results.

Head on over to the next page to view our hard drive tests in the ADS Dual Link Drive Kit…