detail information

Test machine:

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

Hardware:

⋅         Motherboard: Abit IC-7 MAX3 i875P
⋅         Processor: Intel Pentium 4 3,2GHz 800MHz FSB Prescott with Hyper Threading support.
⋅         RAM: 1Gb PC4300 DDR
⋅         GFX: Asus GeForce 6800
⋅         Sound: SB Audigy 2
⋅         Hard disks: 400Gb Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 S-ATA connected to the Intel i875P S-ATA controller.

System set-up:

The Pioneer DVR-109 was connected as Primary Master and identified itself as PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-109. DMA (Direct Memory Access) and autorun was enabled for all devices where it was possible.

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:

⋅         Ahead Nero Burning ROM version 6.6.0.12
⋅         Ahead Nero CD/DVD Speed v3.80
⋅         Ahead Nero InfoTool v3.01
⋅         DVD-Identifier 3.6.5
⋅         K-Probe v2.4.3

Installation and supported features:

We quickly installed the drive without any problems and here is a screenshot from Nero InfoTool:

Our drive came shipped with firmware 1.08, we updated the firmware to version 1.40 for this review. The only drawbacks we could see are the inability to write DVD-RAM discs as well as missing Mt. Rainier support along with a bit small buffer. A larger buffer would at least smooth the data transfer to the drive a bit on stressed systems. According to these reported abilities, it also lacks support for reporting C2 errors.

And since the drive we got is the bare drive without any software - let us head on to the next page, which is reading performance test…