detail information

Positive

Quiet operation

• Fast pressed CD-ROM as well as Audio-CD Extraction
• Burns DVD+R DL 2.4X discs (Verbatim) at 8X
• Writes DVD-RAM at 14X
• Reads DVD-RAM at 12X
• Exceptional CD-R writer with overall very good results
• Supports Bitsetting (booktype DVD-ROM) for DVD+R, DVD+RW and DVD+R DL media
• Writes to LightScribe Discs
• SATA connection
• Nero OEM Suite 7

Negative

• Reads DL pressed DVD-Video at only 8X
• DVD+R writing at 20X (with a drop in speed at the end) is currently limited to only a few select media
• Slow CD-R reading

Let us summarize the most important positive and negative points below:

The main positive points: Following our tests we found that this drive is a good LightScribe DVD burner. The ASUS DRW-2014L1T is a Multi DVD Burner since it supports recording on all available media formats including CD-R/RW, DVD±R/±RW, DVD±R Double/Dual Layer, and DVD-RAM.  It is packed with a comprehensive software suite from Nero Burning ROM 7 which is worth the extra retail price.

The 16x DVD+R writing on our media produced very good quality burns.  DVD-RAM writing at 14X is a positive feature for those who use this format of media.  The ability to read DVD-RAM at 12X must be recognized as a positive feature.

The drives operation is very quiet; this is a big plus for us or anyone who appreciates a quite computer.

The sleek SATA cables are so much more amenable to twists and turns while taking up less space in the chassis; and the days of setting jumpers with these SATA drives are over.

The main negative points: There are few issues that we would like to mention with hopes of them being improved.  The inabilities to over-speed all but a select few 16X DVD±R media; as mentioned in the body of this review, we hope this will be corrected with future firmware updates.

The ASUS DRW-2014L1T reads DVD-R DL video discs at 8X while other competitors can read them at faster times.

So to sum it all up, this is what we would say:

If you are building a new system, with most new motherboards having SATA by default and usually only one IDE port in most cases, the ASUS DRW-2014L1T should fit the bill.

Here in the US we have found the drive listed at www.newegg.com for $30.99; November 2007.

You may discuss/comment this review below or in this thread.

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Introduction