detail information
| Posted by | Tor Magne |
| Posted on | 25/03/05 21:13 |
| Number of views | 33626 |
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Review: LG
GSA-5163D |
LG - South Korea was kind enough to send us their latest external DVD-writer; the LG GSA-5163D Super multi DVD Writer. This drive supports 16x DVD+R/-R writing, 8x DVD+RW, 6 DVD-RW, 5x DVD-RAM and 4x DVD+R9 DL writing technology - allowing dual layer discs of 8.5Gb to be written.
Company information:
Let us take a look at some of the company information found at the LG website.
The Foundation of LG
LG was established in 1947 as Korea's first chemical company, also becoming the nation's first electronics company with its expansion into home appliances in 1958. The new Corporate Identity was launched including the change of the group name from Lucky-Goldstar to LG in 1995.
Business Fields
The wide array of activities that LG conducts is coordinated within three highly focused business sectors: Chemicals & Energy, Electronics and Telecommunications & Services. Each sector has undergone systematic changes, with improved financial compositions, restructured business portfolios and realigned equity investment structures.
The split of two holding companies LG Corp. and GS Holdings Corp.
On March 2003, LG introduced the holding company structure and recently, the demerger of two holding companies - LG Corp. and GS Holdings Corp. took place on July 1 to separate the manufacturing and technology related businesses from the service and retail operations. The separation is meant to maximize profits of LG shareholders by boosting business specialization of key LG companies.
Increasing R&D investment in 2004
With the anticipations and expectations for the new structure, LG has set an ambitious management goal for this year. In 2003, LG's ordinary profit stood at KRW 3.1 trillion on sales of KRW 85 trillion. In 2004, LG plans to raise ordinary profit and sales by 42% and 12% year-on-year respectively. This year's ordinary profit target is KRW 4.4 trillion and the sales target is KRW 95 trillion. LG plans to increase the R&D investments by 31% from last year to KRW 9.4 trillion in 2004.
If you are interested in reading more company information, please visit www.lg.co.kr/english
Drive specifications:
These are the specifications of this drive, found at the LGE webpage:
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Compatible with all DVD formats. | |
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Store up to 4.7 GB on 1 DVD-RAM, DVD-R/RW and DVD±R/RW disc | |
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Bum and Read all major formats of DVD and CD media | |
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DVD video bumed can be read on most DVD players and DVD-ROM drives | |
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2 MB buffer memory with buffer underrun prevention technology | |
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Write Speed (DVD+R) : 2.4x, 4x CLV, 8x ZCLV, 12x, 16x PCAV |
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Write Speed (DVD+R DL) : 2.4x , 4x CLV |
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Write Speed (DVD-R) : 2x, 4x CLV, 8x ZCLV, 16x PCAV |
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Write Speed (DVD+RW) : 2.4x, 4x CLV, 8x ZCLV |
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Write Speed (DVD-RW) : 1x, 2x, 4x, 6x CLV |
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Write Speed (DVD-RAM) : 2x, 3x ZCLV (Ver.2.2), 3x-5x PCAV(Ver.2.2) |
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Write Speed (CD-R) : 4x, 8x, 16x CLV, 24x, 32x, 40x ZCLV |
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Write Speed (CD-RW) : 4x, 10x,16x CLV,24x ZCLV |
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(High Speed: 10x, Ultra Speed: 16x, 24x) |
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Read Speed (CD-ROM) : Max 40x |
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Read Speed (DVD-ROM) : Max 16x |
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Write Method(DVD-RAM) : Random write |
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Write Method(DVD-R/RW) : Disk-at-Once, Incremental Recording |
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Write Method(DVD-R/RW) : Restricted Overwrite (DVD-RW only) |
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Write Method(DVD+R) : Sequential Recording |
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Write Method(DVD+RW) : Random Write |
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Write Method(CD-R/RW) : Disk-at-Once, Track-at-Once |
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Write Method(CD-R/RW) : Session-at-Once, Packet Write |
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Data Transfer Rate(CD) : Max 6,000KB/s, DVD: Max 22.16 Mbytes/s |
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Access Time(CD) : 125 ms, DVD-ROM 145 ms, DVD-RAM 165 ms |
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Buffer Size : 2MB with buffer under run prevention technology |
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Loading Type : Motorized Tray |
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Interface Type : USB 2.0 / IEEE 1394 |
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Compatible Formats Write : DVD-RAM, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CD-R/RW |
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Compatible Formats Read : DVD-RAM, DVDR/RW, DVD+R/RW, DVD-ROM |
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Compatible Formats Read : CD-R/RW, CD-ROM Mode 1, 2 CD-DA, CD-IFMV |
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Compatible Formats Read : CD-ROM XA, Mixed CD, CD-Extra, CD-Text |
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Compatible Formats Read : CD-Plus, Photo-CD, Video CD |
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W x D x H : 163.2 x 244.7 x 54.0 mm |
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Weight : 1460g |
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OS : Windows 2000 Professional, XP Home Edition |
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The specifications are very good, the only drawbacks we could see is that it only supports 40x CD reading and writing. It should also write with P-CAV technology, which is promising for low recording times and high average recording speeds.
What's inside the box?
Let us start out pretty easy by taking a look at what we got and what the box contained.
The drive we received was a retail drive that came in a nice looking box, but to us the content of the box is more important:
Looks to be a pretty good bundle, but let us take a detailed look at what we got.
This is what the Retail bundle consists of:
- The drive itself
- Program installation CD (Nero 6 Express and Cyberlink Power DVD and Power Producer)
- Manual
- Software quick guide
- Power supply
- Power cable
- USB 2.0 cable
- Firewire cable
A very good bundle, but we would still like to see some empty discs included. At least a 5X DVD-RAM disc, as these are hard to find in many stores.
Now it's time to take a look at the drive itself:
The drive has a very nice look, in this image you can see the rubber stands of the external enclosure.
Our sample was produced in Korea and has a production date of December 2004.
On the back we have the IEE 1394 Firewire connectors as well as an USB 2.0 connector. In addition of course, is a power connector, and finally an on/off switch.
Now, let us connect the drive and check out the features and program bundle of this drive on the next page…
Conclusion
Great writer and a great review.
If LG make better firmware-support the LG-drives should be the absolute best
The GSA-5163D is also optimized for working in an external enclosure. Take an GSA-4163B and put in the same case - I doubt you will be able to reach 16x at USB at least. 16x on firewire may work.
This is because LG have optimized the GSA-5163D firmware to work at max with this enclosure. And to be honest - this is the first drive I've had that actually reach REAL 16x speed on USB2 - regardless of drive and enclosure (yeah I have lik 5-6 different enclosures).
All respect to LG for really testing that transfer rates could be reached like expected - unlike Samsung ang NU with their external writers which can only reach around 13-14x before slowing down. Very dissapointed that NU and Samsung is marketing 16x external drives that can't reach 16x.
So yes - in my eyes it's worth it - buying this drive brings you a drive that is fully tested at both USB and firewire - I did not have a single problem with USB or Firewire while testing.
Buying a drive x + enclosure x will in most cases lead to problems in a way or another.
Before I retun it to Samx Club, how did you get the firmware upgraded to A103? I only see firmware upgrades for the internal model on LG's US website, and this version can not recognize my external drive, thus, preventing any attempt at upgrading the firmware..
GSA-5163D fw A103.
Tried the drive on USB2?
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