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Posted by Wendy Collins
Posted on 28/09/05 15:26
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Conclusion
 

 

Preview: NEC ND-4550A (Silver)
Previewed by: Dee-27
Provided by: CD Freaks
Firmware: 1.06
Manufactured: September 2005

We at CDFreaks would like to present a 1st look at the latest drive from NEC the ND-4550A. This is NEC's first SUPER MULTI DRIVE; implementing DVD-RAM read and write for the first time in a NEC PC drive.

The NEC ND-4550A supports 16x DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 8x DVD+R DL, and 6X DVD-R DL writing technology, allowing Double/Dual Layer discs of 8.5Gb to be written. DVD-RAM at present is supported at up to 5X.

Drive specifications:

Below is the NEC ND-4550A specifications found on NEC (D) website


Data transmission rate

DVD +R: 16x max.
DVD R: 16x max.
DVD +RW: 8x max.
DVD RW: 6x max.
DVD +R9: 8x max.
DVD R DL: 6x max.
DVD RAM: 5x max.
CD-R: 48x max.
CD-RW: 32x max.

Access time

160 ms DVD, 140 ms CD

Interface

IDE/ATAPI

Burst transfer rate

PIO mode 4/Ultra DMA (direct memory access) 33

Cache memory

2 MByte

Mechanism

motorized Tray mechanism for horizontal and vertical mounting, emergency eject hole

Write methods

DAO, SAO, TAO without gap, variable or firm package length, multi-session

supported data formats

DVD ROM, DVD R, DVD RW, DVD+R, DVD+R9, DVD+RW, DVD video, CD ROM, CD Rom XA, CD audio, CD extra, CD text, CD-i ready, CD Bridge, photo CD, VideoCD, hybrid CD

Characteristics

Mounting horizontal/vertically, special dust shield, PC2001, multi-READ, ACTOPC, Buffer Underrun Prevention

Dimension

148mm x 42mm x 190

What's inside the box?


Since the drive is a bulk drive, there is neither a retail box nor any software. Below you will see the contents of the bulk bundle:

  • The internal ND-4550 drive itself with silver bezel

Now it's time to take a look at the drive itself:


Front

The bezel is NEC's usual plain but not unattractive style. The front sports a single (green) LED for read/write, an emergency eject hole and the eject/close button.


Top

On top of the drive we found one label, and we can see the drive was manufactured in Malaysia, during September 2005.


Bottom

On the back of the drive there are from the left: Digital Audio connector; analogue audio connector; pins and jumper to set the drive to cable select, slave or master; IDE connector, power connector.

Now, let us install the drive and check out the features on the next page…

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Reactions on this item
Looks good, but I´m disappointed with quality of DVD-R DL
I don't know a single reason for using DVD-R DL discs. I never burned one and I don't think I ever wll, although my drive is compatible
Looks like a great drive.

I don't see it on pricewatch for purchase though. I think over here in the USA will have to wait a month.. I can´t wait to get one..
:) today i´vo got it. (munich/germany 55 EURO)
i´m totaly satisfied, exactly what i wanted.
> Does not support bitsetting on DVD+R/+RW

WHY!? will it be available in the future via fw update?!
I don't see any reason to buy this over the ND-3540 unless you need the dvd-ram support.
I just hope 4551 will be just as good!
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