detail information

Finally BenQ released the new firmware they originally told us would be ready in the end of June, unfortunately too late to make it into our full review, thus we have added this update to the end of our review.

BSKB Change log:

1. Improved writing quality for DVD+R & DVD-R media.
2. Added SolidBurn Technology.
3. Added Overspeed ability. (Enable via QSuite 2.0)

QSuite 2.0 Change log:

1. Supported SolidBurn Technology
2. Supported Overspeed ability

Note:
1. ONLY DW1640 with BSKB supported above functions.
2. Above functions ONLY supported DVD+R and DVD-R media.

SolidBurn:

This is how Philips describes the SolidBurn feature:

Philips introduces SolidBurn, a new self-learning feature that will ensure optimal writing conditions for any recordable DVD media. This advanced writer feature executes a series of tests on an 'unknown' DVD media to determine the optimal writing strategy. Without SolidBurn, new DVD media and media that are not in the media list of the drive, are written using a less optimal standard write strategy. This could result in lower recording speeds than specified or lower quality recordings jeopardizing disc playability or lifetime.

 The write strategy of a DVD drive is the way in which it writes to a blank DVD media.  Normally these write strategies are determined by extensive media tests at the drive manufacturer and listed in the firmware of the drive. But unfortunately these media lists are not complete. And with new DVD media regularly coming to market, consumers need to update their DVD writers with the latest firmware to ensure an up-to-date media list for best recording quality.

Nevertheless, statistics indicate that only a limited number of consumers update their DVD burners and most never upgrade the firmware at all. Now with SolidBurn the drive automatically determines the optimal writing strategy for specific DVD media and stores this information in the drive. So there is no need for the consumer to update the media list in their DVD drive or worry about in-complete media lists. SolidBurn enables the drive to keep itself up-to-date and ensures best writing quality on all recordable DVD media.

When a new disc is inserted into the drive, SolidBurn executes automatically a series of tests on the 'unknown' DVD media. Based on the DVD writer's measurements capabilities such as jitter and PiSum-8, the SolidBurn algorithm delivers a multiple of unique parameter settings that control the drive during the normal writing process. Measurements at Philips Standards & Format Verification Laboratories showed a dramatic improvement in write quality of the new discs written with SolidBurn. These recorded discs had an average lowest jitter, best PiSum-8 results and the least uncorrectable errors compared to the same discs written with a standard writing strategy of the drive. Moreover, on average the discs were recorded with the SolidBurn drive at higher recording speed than drives without the SolidBurn feature.

Basically it all sums together: If SolidBurn is enabled it will write a small area in the Power Calibration area at maximum speed, then measure the error level, if the error level is ok it will start writing the disc, if not it will write a new area at lower speed, measure the error level, and start to write if the error level is ok, if not it will continue to repeat this process until the measured error level is ok or that the lowest speed (2x/2.4x) is reached and write the disc at that speed.

When starting up Qsuite 2.0 and selecting the newly updated BenQ DW1640 we find two new tabs for the two new features.

The first is the SolidBurn tab:

The default setting will be Non-activated for supported media and activated for unknown media (as noted in QSuite as well).

In the lower half of the image you will see the media codes of the discs that you have written with SolidBurn enabled, this list may be emptied by pressing the clean button. You may choose to enable/disable SolidBurn temporarily (until next reboot) or permanent. As default will SolidBurn be disabled for supported media, and activated for unsupported media.

When the drive has learnt some media it will look like this:

As we could see our drive has now learned 6 pieces of media.

The second new feature is OverSpeed.

Enabling overspeed will basically allow any DVD+/-R media to be written at 16x - but that is only the theory.  By enabling OverSpeed writing you will automatically enable SolidBurn for all media, regardless of what setting you had previously chosen. Thus SolidBurn limits the writing speed, even if you choose 16x. When starting to write the disc SolidBurn limits the writing speed if needed (if the media is too low quality or has defects).

All in all some real useful additions, but head over to next page to see some overspeeding results…