Test machine:

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

Hardware:

• Motherboard: ASUS P5W DH Deluxe WI-FI/AP
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz @3.40 GHz
• Memory: 2GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800 PC2-6400
• Video: ATI RADEON X850XT Platinum Edition
• Display: Dual 17” Dell 1704FPT (DVI)
• Sound: Realtek ALC882 High Definition (onboard)
• Hard disks: 160GB Seagate SATA-II, 300GB Seagate SATA-II, 300GB Maxtor SATA

System set-up:

The LG GBW-H10N was connected as Master and identified itself as HL-DT-ST BD-RE  GBW-H10N. DMA (Direct Memory Access) was enabled for all devices.

Software:

Windows XP Professional is installed on the computer along with Service Pack 2 for Windows XP. We will be using the following software in this review:

• Nero Burning ROM 7 Ultra Edition Enhanced
• Nero InfoTool 4.1.0.4
• Nero CD/DVD Speed
• DVD Identifier
• Slysoft CloneCD v5.2.9.1
• Exact Audio Copy v0.95 beta 3
• K-Probe v2.5.2

An Introduction to Blu-Ray:

Until recently, optical disc technologies such as DVD, DVD±R, DVD±RW, and DVD-RAM relied on a red laser to read and write data. The new technology Blu-Ray format uses a blue-violet laser, which explains the name Blu-ray.

Blu-ray drives can also be made backwards compatible with CDs and DVDs through the use of a BD/DVD/CD compatible optical pickup unit.

A blue-violet laser (405nm) has a shorter wavelength than a red laser (650nm); this makes it possible to focus the laser with even greater accuracy. This will allow data to be packed more tightly, so it's possible to squeeze more data on the disc even though it's the same size as a CD/DVD. This together with the change of numerical aperture to 0.85 enables Blu-ray discs to hold 25GB/50GB.

Now let’s take a look at the track pitch and compare them with that of DVD:

As we can see in the above screenshots, the storage density of Blu-Ray is much higher than DVD. The Blu-Ray laser beam spot is also much narrower than that of DVD.

Blu-Ray Error specification:

In the above table we present some of the specifications for reported errors on Blu-Ray media. At present we have no equipment or software available for measuring these errors.

Installation and supported features:

We installed the drive without any problem. The drive came shipped with firmware GL02. We noticed there is new firmware available and we successfully flashed the drive with firmware GL04.

Here is a screenshot from Nero InfoTool:

From the screenshot above, we can see the LG GBW-H10N uses 2MB buffer for DVD and 4MB for BD, and it is reported as AACS compliant.

And another shot from Nero Burning ROM:

Nero Burning ROM claims Overburn support which we will test this later in the review. We can also see it supports BD detect management.

Included Software:

Now it’s time to look at the included software disc. Notice that we may not use the included software in our performance testing part of the review.

LG BD Rewriter Solution CD:

The Software Disc includes CyberLink BD Solution:

• PowerDVD version 6.6 (BD)
• PowerProducer to author you discs
• InstantBurn
• Power2Go version 5.50.1826 (BD)
• PowerBackup
• Also includes LG firmware update software.

Cyberlink BD Solution supplied with the drive

CyberLink PowerDVD 6.6 BD main window

CyberLink PowerDVD 6.6 BD Main Control

Disc Writing Technology:

Now it’s time to take a closer look at the write technology used by the LG GBW-H10N Super Multi Blue.

CD-Recordable:

The LG GBW-H10N uses CLV, (Constant Linear Velocity), to write at its maximum speed of 8X  This gives an average speed of 8.01x and writing time of 10 minutes and 40 seconds.

For comparison we have made the following table: 

CD-Rewritable:

The LG GBW-H10N uses CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) to write CD-RW media at its maximum speed of 10x, with an average write speed of 9.98x and writing time of 8 minutes and 36 seconds.

For a better overview we present the following comparison table:

12X DVD+R Writing speed:

The LG GBW-H10N uses P-CAV (Partial - Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD+R at the maximum supported speed of 12x. This gives an average write speed of 10.90x and a writing time of 5 minutes and 59 seconds.

For comparison we have made the following table: 

12X DVD-R Writing speed:

The LG GBW-H10N uses P-CAV (Partial - Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD-R at the maximum supported speed of 12x. This gives an average write speed of 10.84x and a writing time of 5 minutes and 55 seconds.

Below, we made a comparison table:

8X DVD+RW writing speed:

The LG GBW-H10N uses Z-CLV (Zone - Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD+RW at the maximum supported speed of 8x. This gives an average write speed of 7.89x and a writing time of 7 minutes and 22 seconds.

Below, we made a comparison table:

6X DVD-RW writing speed:

The LG GBW-H10N uses CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD-RW at the maximum supported speed of 6x. This gives an average write speed of 6.01x and a writing time of 9 minutes and 55 seconds.

Below, we made a comparison table:

4X DVD+R DL writing speed:

The LG GBW-H10N uses CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD+R DL at the maximum supported speed of 4x. This gives an average write speed of 3.95x and a writing time of 27 minutes and 18 seconds.

Below, we made a comparison table:

4X DVD-R DL writing speed:

The LG GBW-H10N uses CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD-R DL at the maximum supported speed of 4x. This gives an average write speed of 3.94x and a writing time of 27 minutes and 32 seconds.

Below, we made a comparison table:

Mini DVD-R writing speed:

The LG GBW-H10N uses CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) to write Mini DVD-R at speed of 4x. This gives an average write speed of 3.98x and a writing time of 5 minutes and 6 seconds.

Mini DVD+RW writing speed:

The LG GBW-H10N uses CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) to write Mini DVD+RW at speed of 4x. This gives an average write speed of 4.00x and a writing time of 5 minutes and 4 seconds.

5x DVD-RAM writing speed:

According to the specifications the LG GBW-H10N should be able to write DVD-RAM media at 5x. For this test we used Nero CD-DVD Speed to create a test disc. To test the drives maximum write speed, we enabled “Streaming.”

The LG GBW-H10N uses P-CAV (Partial - Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD-RAM at its maximum speed of 5x. This resulted in an average write speed of 4.58x and a total write time of 12 minutes and 21 seconds.

Below, we made a comparison table:

4x BD-R (Single Layer) writing speed:

According to the specifications the LG GBW-H10N drive should be able to write BD-R 25GB Single Layer media at 4x. For this test we used Nero CD-DVD Speed to create a test disc. To test the drives maximum write speed, we enabled “Streaming.”

The LG GBW-H10N uses CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) to write BD-R at its maximum speed of 4x. This resulted in an average write speed of 4.01x and a total write time of 22 minutes and 36 seconds.

Below, we made a comparison table:

2x BD-RE (Single Layer) writing speed:

According to the specifications the LG GBW-H10N drive should be able to write BD-RE 25GB Single Layer media at 2x.

The LG GBW-H10N uses CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) to write BD-RE at its maximum speed of 2x. This resulted in an average write speed of 2.00x and a total write time of 45 minutes and 5 seconds.

Below, we made a comparison table:

Book type (bitsetting):

The LG GBW-H10N supports bit-setting, and is capable of writing DVD+R, DVD+RW and DVD+R DL media with DVD-ROM book type.

This feature can be changed within some software i.e. the Book Type settings in Nero Burning ROM under the Choose Recorder option:

Let’s take a look at the reading performance…

Introduction

Reading Performances