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Posted by Wesley Novack
Posted on 14/06/05 06:53
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Introduction
 

 

Preview: NEC ND-3540A
Previewed by: Wesley Novack
Provided by: NEC USA
Firmware: 1.01
Manufactured: March 2005

The NEC ND-3540A DVD Writer is one of the most highly anticipated DVD burners of 2005. Here we take a first look at the features and performance of this drive so that you can know what to expect from the latest NEC Optical Disc Drive offering.

Company information:

From the NEC website:

NEC aims to provide optimal solutions to its customers. Innovation is the key to our ongoing success. After all, our company has been at the cutting edge of research and development in its field for over a century.
We are committed to serving the specific needs of our various customers. In order to remain the leading solutions provider for broadband networking and mobile Internet, we are focusing on two key domains'”IT-Network integrated solutions and semiconductor solutions. In the process, our customers are empowered to unleash creativity, seize new opportunities and achieve their goals.

Drive specifications:


The following specifications were taken from the nec.de website.

Product Specifications

ND-3540

Transfer Rate read and write

DVD +R: 16x max.

DVD-R: 16x max.

DVD +RW: 8x max.

DVD-RW: 6x max.

DVD +R9: 8x max.

DVD-R DL: 4x

CD-R: 48x max.

CD-RW: 32x max.

 

Access time

DVD 140ms, CD 120ms

 

Mechanism

motorized tray load mechanism for horizontal and vertical use

 

Interface

IDE / ATAPI

 

Burst transfer rate

PIO mode 4 / Ultra DMA 33

 

Cache

2 MB

 

Media supported

DVD-ROM, DVD-R (DL approx march 2005), DVD-RW, DVD+R,

DVD+RW,DVD+R9,CD-ROM, CD-R and CD-RW with 80mm and 120mm

diameter

 

Modes supported

DVD-ROM,DVD-Video,CD-DA, CD Extra,CD Text,CD-ROM,

CD-ROM XA,CD-I,CD-I Ready,CD-Bridge,PhotoCD, VideoCD

 

Writing methods

DAO, SAO,TAO with zero gap,variable or fixed packet, multisession

 

Compatibility

MPC Level 3, MultiRead, PC2001

 

Dimensions

148mm x 42mm x 190mm

 

Technical Specifications ND-3540

DVD-ROM CD-ROM
Transfer Rate Read 16x CAV (max. 22,000 kByte/s) 48x CAV (max. 7,200 kByte/s)
Transfer Rate Write -R 16x CAV (max. 11,000 kByte/s) 48x CAV (max. 7,200 kByte/s)
-RW 6x ZCLV (8,200 kByte/s) 32x ZCLV (max. 4,800 kByte/s)
-R DL 4x CLV (5,500 kByte/s)
+R 16x CAV (max. 22,000 kByte/s)
+RW 8x ZCLV (11,000 kByte/s)
+R DL 8x ZCLV (11,000 kByte/s)
Access Time 140 ms 120 ms
Mechanism Internal 12/8 cm CD-ROM- and DVD-ROM-drive (half height form factor), motorized tray load mechanism for horizontal and vertical use, emergency eject
Interface IDE/ATAPI
Burst Transfer Rate PIO mode 4/Ultra DMA 33 (max. 33 MByte/s transfer rate)
Cache Memory 2 MByte
Audio Digital-out and line-out at the back (MPC compatible)
Media/Modes Supported DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+R DL, DVD+RW, DVD-Video, CD-ROM, CD-ROM XA, CD-Audio, CD-Extra, CDText, CD-I Ready, CD-Bridge, Photo-CD, Video-CD, Hybrid-CD
Writing Methods DAO (disc at once), SAO (session at once), TAO (track at once) with zero gap, variable or fixed packet, multisession
Compatibility MPC Level 3, MultiRead, PC2001
Weight 1.02 kg
Dimensions H x W x D 42 x 148 x 190 mm
Special Feature Dust protected enclosure

 

What's inside the box?


Unfortunately, we were unable to acquire a full retail package for the new NEC ND-3540A. Instead, we received a bulk drive encased in an antistatic bag. This drive is available in beige and black colored versions. Let's take a closer look at the black colored drive's appearance below.


Front

This model uses the same bezel that previous NEC DVD Writers have used. A simple and clean design that includes a few logos, a single green colored LED, an emergency eject hole and an eject button. We would prefer different LED colors to distinguish between reading and writing operations. The logos located on the right side of the drive tray include a DVD Forum logo, a DVD Alliance DVD+R DL logo, and a CD-RW Ultraspeed logo.


Top


NEC Information sticker

On the top of the drive we found one sticker. The sticker shows that this drive was manufactured in Malaysia during May 2005.


Bottom

On the bottom of the drive we can see a pattern of holes, which is used for ventilation.


Rear

On the back of the drive starting from the left, we can see one undocumented connector; a digital audio connector; analog audio connector; pins and jumper to set the drive to cable select, slave or master; IDE connector and finally the power connector.

On the next page we will install the drive and examine the supported features…

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Reactions on this item
Though with only 8x limited read speeds for some DVD media, one of the best drives today. It seems early to buy ND-3540A yet because ND-3520A and ND-3500A sell for much less.
In many areas you can't buy the 3500 anymore and I guess the 3520 won't be available for that long either.
Nice first look, Thanks Wes! :)
Thanks Wes.
Now I just see how 8x RW and -R DL is burned. I still can't cet 8x RW media here in Estonia.
In past 5 weeks 3540 is actually working good for me...
[edited by Juhuslik on 15.06.2005 00:50]
how well does this nd-3540a do when it comes to reading scratched disc? Are there any improvements over the 3520?
Where did you get a fujifilm DVD+R9? Is is mkm 001 media code?
One page 1 is says the drive can write 4x DVD-R DL but the test indicates 6x ?
And according to the picture it was manufacturered in May, not March...
Why does the name of the drive (in the system) begins with a "_" ? Meaning that the name is: "_NEC DVD_RW ND-3540A"?
Why did the guys at NEC put this "_" at the beginning of the name?
(I myself have this drive, and also my drive has the _ in its name...)

I know that it's not important - but I'm curious...
@kwkard, the fujifilm DVD+R9 was a sample provided by Fujfilm USA. The MID is RICOHJPND00

@petspeed, I took those specifications off of the NEC website. It looks like NEC made a typo in the specs.

@Ron, thx for that. I'm not sure why they use an underscore in the drive ID string, but I shall ask NEC.

Please continue the discussion in [b][url=http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=139871]This Forum Thread[/url][/b].
I check the forum much more often than this reaction section. :)
[edited by Wesociety on 17.06.2005 23:38]
Why no advanced tests?'Sheep Test":o:o
:*
wait for the full review
I'd say its becuase the "_" character is listed before the "A" in the alphabet so if there's ever a list of names in alphabetic order NEC is on top. Or maybe its a visual que that we pick up the _NEC easier with our eyes than without.
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