detail information

Test machine:

For this review we will be using a computer with the following configuration:

Hardware:

System set-up:

The HP dvd640e DVD Writer was connected to a USB 2.0 interface and identified itself as HP DVD Writer 640v USB Device. DMA (Direct Memory Access) and autorun was enabled for all devices.

Software:

Windows XP Professional is installed on the computer along with Service Pack 1 for Windows XP. We will be using the following software in this review:

⋅         Nero Burning ROM version 6.6.0.8 with LightScribe

⋅         Nero CD/DVD Speed v3.80

⋅         Nero Info Tool v3.00

⋅         Slysoft CloneCD v5.1.0.0

⋅         DVD-Identifier 3.6.2

⋅         Exact Audio Copy v0.95 pre-beta 5

⋅         K-Probe v2.4.2

⋅         SureThing CD/DVD Labeler SE LightScribe Edition v4.3.0192

Now it's time to take a closer look at the write technology used by the HP dvd640e DVD Writer:

CD-Recordable:

The HP dvd640e DVD Writer uses CAV, (Constant Angular Velocity), to write at its maximum speed of 40X. This gives an average speed of 29.06x. Two drives for comparison are found below.

The Samsung TS-E552U uses P-CAV (Partial-Constant Angular Velocity) to write at its rated speed of 40x. This gives an average speed of 34.39x.

The LG GSA-5160D uses Z-CLV, (Zone-Constant Linear Velocity), to write at its maximum speed of 40X. The drive wrote the last zone at 40.41X and this gives an average speed of 31.70x.

 For comparison we have made the following table: 

As we can read from the table, the HP dvd640e DVD Writer is one of the slowest drives, writing CD-R's.

CD-Rewritable:

The HP dvd640e DVD Writer uses P-CAV (Partial-Constant Angular Velocity) writing technology to write at 24X for CD-RW discs, the average speed is 23.10x. Below are some other drives for comparison:

The LG GSA-5160D uses Z-CLV, (Zone-Constant Linear Velocity), to write at its rated speed of 24x, this gives an average speed of 23.31x.

The LaCie d2 DVD±RW Double Layer uses CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) writing technology to write at 16X for CD-RW discs, the average speed is 16x. For a better overview we present the following comparison table:

As we can see from the table, the HP dvd640e DVD Writer is a fast CD-RW writer.

16X DVD+R / 8x DVD-R Writing speed:

The HP dvd640e DVD Writer uses CAV, (Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD+R at 16x but fails to attain full 16x write speed due to the limitation of a non optimized USB bridge. Therefore the average speed ends up at 10.05x and total writing time is 6 minutes and 32 seconds because of these limitations.

The HP dvd640e DVD Writer uses P-CAV, (Partial-Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD-R at 8x. The average speed is 7.35x and total writing time is 8 minutes and 58 seconds. Below are some other drives for comparison:

The LG GSA-5160D uses Z-CLV, (Zone-Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD+R at 16x. The average speed is 11.60x and total writing time is 6 minutes and 12 seconds.

The LG GSA-4163B uses P-CAV, (Partial-Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD-R at 16x. The average speed is 12.90x and total writing time is 5 minutes and 20 seconds.

The Samsung TS-H552B uses CAV, (Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD+R at 16x. The average speed is 12.03x and total writing time is 5 minutes and 58 seconds. Below, we made a comparison table:

*Actual writing speed was 12X in these areas for the Pioneer A08.

** Actual writing speed was max 14x due to USB-Bridge limitations.

From the table above, we see that the HP dvd640e DVD Writer performed below average on DVD+R at 16x due to not reaching actual 16x writing speed.

Features and techniques:

Book type (bitsetting):

The HP dvd640e DVD Writer supports bitsetting, and will as default write DVD+R, DVD+RW and DVD+R9 DL media with DVD-ROM book type.

Here is how you could check if your discs are really written with DVD-ROM book type:

Start Nero CD-DVD Speed and click the Disc info button and you should get something like this: 

DVD+R with book type DVD-ROM

 
DVD+RW with book type DVD-ROM 

DVD+R9 DL with book type DVD-ROM.

Another quick test is to start Nero CD-Speed, change the option under 'User Interface" to show 'Book Type' and then look at the disc information:

This should say DVD-ROM.

Change Book type (bitsetting):

You may be able to use BenQ's Book Type Management to change the BookType settings.

Or the Bitsetting option in Nero CD/DVD Speed.

LightScribe:

The HP dvd640e DVD Writer supports the LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling technology. Please see its own dedicated pages in this review to learn more about it.

Quality Scans:

The HP dvd640e DVD Writer can be used to measure/scan burned discs for their quality. This can be handy to check and get an impression of which state/condition the burned discs are in. However, the reporting of PIF is not active - and the scanning speed is limited to around 1x. It is unknown if HP will release a firmware update to add full support for disc scanning.

 Included software:

Now it's time to look at the included software and to comment if needed. Notice that we may not use the included software in our performance testing part of the review.

HP DVD Writer Installation Disc:

Complete with a powerful software package, suitable for beginners as well as for advanced/experienced users.

SureThing SE Plus CD/DVD Labeler LightScribe Edition:

For LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling.

Now that we have finished examining the drive and its writing strategies, it's time to head on to next page, which is reading performance test…