detail information

Positive:

• Supports 16x DVD+R
• Supports Lightscribe
• Many features in QSuite.
• Supports disc quality checking
• Supports bitsetting for DVD+R/RW/R9 DL
• Excellent CD-Writing quality
• Very good DVD+/-R Writing quality.
• Supports writing/reading 99 minutes CD-R media
• Drive has no riplock.
• Stable reader that rarely slows down when hitting scratches.

Negative:

• Specifications are not on par with the fastest drives nowadays (only 2.4x DVD+R DL, 8x DVD-R and 40x CD-R).
• Low reading speed for DVD+/-R/RW media.
• Huge problems with writing DVD+R double layer media
• Over sensitive OPC function prevented some 16x media to be recorded at 16x.
• Poor CD-RW writing quality
• Poor DVD+/-RW writing quality
• DVD-RW discs written by the BenQ DW1625 has compatibility issues with other drives.
• Poorly programmed tools and firmware updates - doesn't work on some systems with extra PCI IDE controllers.
• Does not support Mt. Rainier.

Conclusion:

How does this BenQ drive perform? We were pretty pleased with the BenQ DW1620 some time ago - but this drive failed to impress us as it has some really noticeable problems. But let us try to summarize it.

The main positive points: As with the DW1620; The writing quality with DVD+/-R and CD-R is very good. And it also supports the LightScribe technology. Beside that it offers lots of possibilities with QSuite; bitsetting, disable/enable WOPC and QScan as the most interesting features. But it also offers disc quality checking with Nero CD/DVD speed.

The main negative points: The worst thing is that it fails badly in our double layer writing tests; BenQ should really focus on fixing this issue. At the same time, they should look at improving the CD-RW and DVD+/-RW writing quality and compatibility. In addition, their software team should look into all their programs to find the bug that prevents all their programs, including the firmware updater, to work on some systems with extra PCI IDE controllers. The OPC function seems to be a bit over sensitive as well - and the specifications of this drive are not the hottest.

To sum it all up, this is the best we could say: 'Very good in many areas and has lots of features, but problems in some areas like double layer writing causes this drive to be less attractive than the Philips DVDR16LS" BenQ needs to iron out the issues pointed out here before this drive will be a good choice.

You may discuss/comment this review below or in this forum thread. This forum thread may also be used to ask questions around this drive or request additional tests.

Thanks to:

 Conrexx for providing the Traxdata media used in this review. Conrexx technology is the supplier of Traxdata media as well as other Ritek media brands for whole Europe, Africa and Middle East.

 For providing some of the That's Write media used in this review. That's Write focus on providing quality media at reduced prices in Europe.

 For providing some of the Memorex media used in this review. Memorex is one of the largest providers of all types of media for larger parts of the world.

 For providing us with Miflop Extreme and Lite media. Miflop media aims at providing both chea and expensive (Taiyo Yuden) quality media.

For providing the RiData media used in this review. RiData is a Ritek brand and thus you are sure to get Ritek manufactured discs when buying RiData media.

 For providing the Daxon and BenQ media used in this review. Daxon manufacture high quality media for many large OEM customers lke BenQ and Sony.

 For providing the Verbatim DVD+R9 double layer media used in this review. Verbatim provides high quality media almost over the whole world.

 For providing the Infiniti media used in this review. Medea is a long time player in the optical disc market.

 E-Net Distribution - United Kingdom for providing the DVD+R 8x and DVD-R 8x media used in this review. E-Net Distribution is currently Europe's largest supplier of CD and DVD media.

Looking for CD and DVD-Media in Norway? Visit www.norwaydisc.no the Norwegian specialist on CD and DVD Media!