Asus DRW-1814BLT detail information

Reading performance

We will using Nero CD/DVD-Speed to read various CD and DVD Discs; both burned and pressed for the Reading Performance section of the review. 

Pressed discs

We used an original pressed CD-ROM disc containing 72.39.55 minutes of data.

The ASUS DRW-1814BLT reached 45.99X.  So how does that compare with other newer drives, let’s take a look below:

The ASUS DRW-1814BLT read on average with the other drives.  Seek times were comparable with the DVR-212D. 

CD-Recordable Discs

For this test we used a Data CD-R that we created with Nero CD-DVD Speed in “create data disc” mode.  The disc was a Maxell 48X certified disc manufactured by Ritek.  (Thanks to Maxell for sending us this media.)

The ASUS DRW-1814BLT reached the speed of 40.97X when reading a full CD-R disc. Let’s take a look on how that compares with other drives.

The ASUS was the slowest at reading this disc. 

CD-Rewritable discs

For the CD-Rewritable tests we created a Data CD using Nero CD-DVD Speeds’ “create data disc”.  We used a Memorex Ultra Speed 24X CD-RW manufactured by Infodisc Technology Co.  (We thank Memorex for sending us this media)

The ASUS DRW-1814BLT reaches a read speed of 40.93X at the end of the disc. Let’s compare this with other drives below:

The drive performed about on average at reading this CD-RW disc; the seek times were the best of all drives tested.

Audio – Digital Audio Extraction

To test digital audio extraction performance with the ASUS DRW-1814BLT we used Nero CD-DVD Speed to measure the transfer rate; the audio disc we used is 74:00:00 in length.

The ASUS DRW-1814BLT reached 39.75X while reading the Audio-CD; let’s compare the results with our other drives:

The ASUS DRW-1814BLT was the slowest at reading this disc, however, it’s seek times were very good, on par with the Plextor.

Advanced audio – DAE quality test

For the Advanced Audio DAE test we used the “Advanced DAE Quality Test” feature of Nero CD-DVD Speed.  The CD-R media used is a 40X certified Memorex Music CD-R manufactured by Ritek. (Thanks to Memorex USA for sending us this media.)

The ASUS DRW-1814BLT will permit “On-The-Fly” copying at all tested speeds through 16X; the drive does not support reading data form the Lead-in or Lead-Out.

DVD reading performance

We utilized Nero CD-DVD Speed to measure the reading performance.  We will to the reading performance testing on various types of DVD discs.  This drive should be able to read pressed single layer DVD-Video discs at 12X and pressed double layer discs at 8X.

DVD-Video Single Layer

DVD-Video Double Layer

The ASUS DRW-1814BLT reads Single Layered pressed video discs at just over 12X and supports reading of Double Layered discs at 8.16X.

Here is how the ASUS DRW-1814BLT compared with some of our other drives:

DVD:  DVD+R (W)

For testing the read speed of DVD+R and DVD+RW discs we used Verbatim 16X DVD+R and 8X DVD+RW.  Both Discs were written with 4.38GB of data using Nero CD-DVD Speed.  (Thanks to Verbatim USA for sending us this media.) See the results below:

DVD+R

DVD+RW

The ASUS DRW-1814BLT performed on average with all the drives tested with smooth read back curves on both discs.

DVD:  DVD-R/RW

For testing the DVD-R and DVD-RW reading performance we used Verbatim discs we used Verbatim 16X DVD-R and 6X DVD-RW.  (Thanks to Verbatim USA for sending us this media.) Below you will find our test results.

DVD-R

DVD-RW

Once again the ASUS DRW-1814BLT reads DVD–R and DVD–RW discs on average with the rested of the drives tested.  Here again, we find very smooth read curves.

DVD:  DVD±R DL

For this test we used a Verbatim 8X DVD+R DL disc and a Verbatim 4X DVD–R DL disc filled with 7.96GB of data.  (Thanks to Verbatim USA for sending us this media.)

DVD+R DL

DVD-R DL

The ASUS DRW-1814BLT read both media at 8X which is the advertised capability with smooth read curves.

DVD-RAM

For this part of our test we are using a Maxell 12x DVD-RAM filled with 4.27GB of data. Our test results are found below:

The ASUS DRW-1814BLT will write DVD-RAM at 14X, however, its reading speed is set for 12X.   The drive read this disc in 5 minutes and 36 seconds.

Features

CD-R/RW Writing Performances