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First look: NEC ND-3540A DVD Burner
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Posted by Wesley Novack
Posted on 14/06/05 06:53
Menu
 Conclusion
 Introduction
 Features
 Reading Performance
 Writing Performance
 Summary
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Summary
 

Positive:

  • Supports DVD+R/DVD-R writing at 16x
  • Supports DVD+R Double Layer writing at 8x
  • Supports DVD-R Dual Layer writing at 6x
  • Supports CD-R/RW writing at 48x/32x
  • Automatically sets a DVD-ROM Book Type for DVD+R DL discs
  • Supports disc quality scanning
  • Reads DVD+R and DVD-R at 16x
  • Reads DVD+RW and DVD-RW faster than 13x

Negative:

  • Reads Single Layer and Double Layer DVD Video discs at only 8x maximum
  • Audio CD reading locked at 40x maximum
  • No bitsetting for DVD+R or DVD+RW media
  • High Seek times

Conclusion:

To sum it all up, this is what we can say: 'An impressive and improved offering from NEC, but let us wait for the full review to draw any definitive conclusions".

By using our pricegrabber feature cdfreaks.pricegrabber we found one offer for $79.99. We also found another shop online listing it for $62.99.

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

Thanks to: 

 For providing the Verbatim media used in this review. Verbatim provides high quality media all over the world and strives to be the standard for DVD hardware reviewing.

 Advanced Media/Ritek-USA for providing some of the RiDATA media used in this review. RiDATA is an official Ritek brand and thus you are guaranteed to get quality Ritek manufactured discs when buying RiDATA media.

 For providing 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.

Writing Performance
Conclusion
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Reactions on this item
Posted by Kenshin on Tuesday 14 June 2005 15:13
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.
Posted by Liggy on Tuesday 14 June 2005 15:54
In many areas you can't buy the 3500 anymore and I guess the 3520 won't be available for that long either.
Posted by bluray on Tuesday 14 June 2005 21:47
Nice first look, Thanks Wes! :)
Posted by Juhuslik on Wednesday 15 June 2005 00:49
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]
Posted by Greatwolf on Wednesday 15 June 2005 09:40
how well does this nd-3540a do when it comes to reading scratched disc? Are there any improvements over the 3520?
Posted by kwkard on Wednesday 15 June 2005 11:10
Where did you get a fujifilm DVD+R9? Is is mkm 001 media code?
Posted by petspeed on Wednesday 15 June 2005 18:49
One page 1 is says the drive can write 4x DVD-R DL but the test indicates 6x ?
Posted by Ron the 2nd on Wednesday 15 June 2005 21:26
And according to the picture it was manufacturered in May, not March...
Posted by Ron the 2nd on Wednesday 15 June 2005 21:35
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...
Posted by Wesociety on Thursday 16 June 2005 04:28
@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]
Posted by winxx on Tuesday 21 June 2005 19:23
Why no advanced tests?'Sheep Test":o:o
Posted by grimmers on Sunday 26 June 2005 20:44
:*
Posted by doucheface321 on Monday 27 June 2005 02:02
wait for the full review
Posted by Electrox3d on Friday 08 July 2005 18:44
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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