ASUS DRW-1814BLT Super Multi DVD-Writer Review

Asus DRW-1814BLT detail information

Posted by	Kip R.
Posted on	31/05/07 06:59
Number of views	53002
Manufacturer	Asus
Product	Asus DRW-1814BLT
Description	18x DVD burner

CD-R/RW Writing Performances

DVD+R/RW writing performance

DVD-R/RW Writing performances

DVD+R DL/-R DL Writing performance and compatibility

DVD-RAM Performance

Advanced tests

Text Size Text Size

DVD+R DL/ R DL Writing performance and compatibility

DVD+R Double Layer writing speed and quality

The ASUS DRW-1814BLT supports the DVD+R DL standard for writing Double Layer discs with a size around 8.5 GB at a writing speed of 8x.

Testing procedure

We created an ISO Image from a pre-authored DVD-Video compliant file set, with a total on-disc size of nearly 8.5GB. We then wrote this image file using Nero Burning ROM 7. Below are the results:

DVD+R Dual Layer writing speed and quality

Verbatim 8X DVD+R DL

A very good burn as far as 8X DVD+R DL media goes, with a smooth TRT curve. The movie plays fine in our standalone players.

Verbatim 2.4X DVD+R DL

The DRW-1814BLT burned this disc at 8X with good results. Read curve is smooth and the movie plays fine in our standalones.

DVD-R Dual Layer writing speed and quality

The ASUS DRW-1814BLT supports the DVD-R DL standard for writing Dual Layer discs with a size around 8.5 GB at a writing speed of 8X. Unfortunately we do not have any 8X DL discs to test with at this time.

Testing procedure: We created an ISO Image from a pre-authored DVD-Video compliant file set, with a total on-disc-size of nearly 8.5 GB. We then wrote this image file using Nero CD-DVD Speed. Below are the results of our tests:

The DRW-1814BLT accomplished a nice burn with this 4X Verbatim DL media. The read back curve is smooth.

This is a usable disc but it has very high PIE levels, with high spikes in the PIF in the second layer. The TRT read curve is mostly smooth, with a slowdown in the middle but the quality scan doesn’t show any issues in the corresponding location.

Standalone DVD-Player compatibility

We have 2 standalone DVD Players available to test the DVD+media on; the Panasonic DVD-S29S and the Insignia TV/DVD Combination Player:

Compatibility results:

All of DVD+R DL play nicely in both players. However, both of the DVD-R DL froze at the layer break in Insignia Combination Player. We would like to mention, that the compatibility issue with standalone DVD Players and the DVD-R DL media format is also caused by incompatibilities with the standalone devices used in this review, as we know the DVD-R DL format has inferior compatibility compared to DVD+R DL especially with older standalone player.

Summary

The DRW-1814BLT seems to prefer the DVD+R DL over the DVD–R DL discs as shown by the above quality scans coupled with the ability to over-speed the 2.4X Verbatim media to 8X.

DVD-R/RW Writing performances

DVD-RAM Performance

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Reactions on this item

Posted by puki ajam on Sunday 03 June 2007 09:57

looks good, can it overburn??

Posted by zebadee on Sunday 24 June 2007 19:22

I have tried this drive & found it sadly lacking. It was noisey + slow (when compared to my other drives).
However I have to add that the drive failed after just 8 days. So may not be a fair reflection.
The dealer who supplied me this drive though claimed it gave him a headache & has now stopped supplying this drive.

Posted by puki ajam on Monday 25 June 2007 17:12

not that good then

Posted by meowth (guest) on Tuesday 26 June 2007 16:55

I have got one. Has two major drawbacks:
- Flashing new firmware needs to be done using a Windows program. Impossible to flash when running Linux

- Upon flashing on a Windows system, the program reported "Failed" without any further info. Drive was completely screwed, so I had to replace it. Did not dare to flash the new one yet...

Posted by T3R on Tuesday 26 June 2007 20:49

I have compared this drive with Pioneer DVR-112 on few 16x +- Verbatim media, altought completely different in design both drives are fairly similar in operation speed-vise, but ASUS is fairly more silent. Most interesting, I am very surprised it gives two times less PIE/PIF errors on the same recording speed than Pio. Seems ASUS made good thing switching to MediaTek after all.

Higly recommended.

Posted by Babykung (guest) on Saturday 30 June 2007 21:07

I'm Thai. I have just bought this SATA ASUS DVD-Writer, but i can't install "Nero7 Essential ASUS D070 V.7.5.13.1" because I have no SERIAL No. of this program.

In my DVD box bought :
1. DVD-Writer
2. Manual "Optical Internal Drive Installation"
3. CD "Nero D070"
4. Bochoure"ASUS Make your mark..."

I'm not sure that the saler kept other thing except this four things or not.

However, I would like to hurry up to test the subscribe. Please help me the SERIAL No by sending E-mail to me "studentthai@hotmail.com".

For other thing is not in the box if there is, i will ask the saler for the thing lost from the box.

Comment : I have just used the DVD-Writer. I feel that this drive make the computer slow in sometimes including sometimes reading from this drive. & Usually my case has the mask in front of the DVD/CD drive, but this DVD writer can't be used with this mask. However, I think that there is no problem in long time for this ASUS DVD writer because I had ever used the ASUS CD when a few years ago with good work. This makes me confident to use this ASUS.

Posted by zwelf on Sunday 16 September 2007 16:39

Please guys, I need your help. I have just recently bought asus drw1814blt, and for a while everything was great. But, a few days after I've installed winXP x64, the computer stopped showing it in my computer and in total commander. So now I cannot use it at all. I've tried reinstalling the driver manually and using device manager without any response. When I try to refresh the driver, the error message says that the missing data in the registry is preventing it from installing the driver.

Posted by freddie (guest) on Friday 05 October 2007 00:30

my father has purchased a new computer with a asus 1814bl dvd writer installed,the problem i am having is that the writer keeps spitting the dvd out that i want to copy after 25% saying read error ,but when i try it on a different computer it copies all the way through it had nero 7 in the box which the shop installed. i have updated the firmware on the asus site and nero 7, but it still won't work is there anything else i can try

Posted by Esteban M (guest) on Tuesday 13 November 2007 00:10

Hey, I am in need of some serious help here. I recently bought the the Nero 7 software for my computer, installed it and everything, only now it won't play any DVD's. It says something about needing to update a 'code' reader or something? I'm a college student and money is SUPER tight right now. I called Best Buy (it's where I purchased from) and they said they can install a diferent program, VLC, but don't know what to do about my problem.... I've downladed VLC to my usb card and onto my computer and THAT plays them but I'm realy hoping to get my money's worth out of the NERO. If anyone knows how i could update whatever it is that needs updating could you please let me know? Thanks.

Posted by Ted (guest) on Tuesday 20 November 2007 00:14

It's *NOT* a 3-Sheep-Burner

Posted by Terry (guest) on Wednesday 28 November 2007 00:03

Although my drive is still working, the lightscribe portion had stopped after making 5 lightscribed discs. If you do a bit of searching on the web you'll find this is a major issue with this drive.

I'd steer clear.

Posted by acman on Wednesday 02 January 2008 05:52

The sheep3 file is the wrong size 402mb
it should be 460mb
not a 3 sheep burner for me also

Posted by hcobra on Tuesday 08 January 2008 13:14

just woundering if some one could help me, my drive is from region 2 but i put dvd from region 1 now my drive wouldnt change it back to region 2, can i format the computer or do i have to buy another drive??? help apreciated thanks

Posted by luki (guest) on Monday 11 February 2008 20:47

I wrote sheep3.dat on a TDK DVD-RW and copy to hard disk without any problems. firmware of my ASUS-DRW 1814BLT is 1.13.

Posted by baptist (guest) on Wednesday 13 February 2008 06:14

I HANVE JUST PURCHASED A ASY-DRW 1814BLT I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESION THAT IT COULD BYE INSTALLED ON ANY OPERATING SYSTEM I EVEN MENTIONED TO THE SUPPLIER THAT I HAVE A WINDOWS ME, HE MADE NO COMMENTS NOW I CANNOT INSTALL THE DRIVE PLEASE
HELP

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