detail information

Test machine:

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

Hardware:

⋅         Motherboard:Gigabyte GA-8KNXP version 2.1 Limited Edition i875P
⋅         Processor: Intel Pentium 4 2,8GHz 800MHz FSB with Hyper Threading support.
⋅         RAM: 1Gb PC3500 DDR
⋅         GFX: ATI Radeon 9800 pro
⋅         Sound: SB Audigy 2
⋅         Hard disks: 2 x Hitachi Deskstar 7k250 160Gb S-ATA in RAID 0 on the i875P S-ATA RAID controller.

System set-up:

The Pioneer DVR-A08XLA was connected as Secondary Master and identified itself as PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-108. DMA (Direct Memory Access) and autorun 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:

⋅         Ahead Nero Burning ROM version 6.3.1.25
⋅         Ahead Nero CD/DVD Speed v3.42
⋅         Ahead Nero InfoTool v2.27
⋅         DVD-Identifier 3.4
⋅         K-Probe v2.4.2

Installation and supported features:

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

Our drive came shipped with firmware 1.10, we updated the firmware version 1.14 for this review. The only drawbacks we could see are the inability to read CD+G discs as well as missing Mt Rainier support along with a bit small buffer. A larger buffer would at least smoothen up the data transfer to the drive a bit on stressed systems.

Quiet read tool:

The Pioneer DVR-A08XLA features the so called ' Quiet Drive " technology. Basically it means that it will read DVD-Video and audio discs at reduced speed to avoid noise.

For this review we are using the Performance mode to make sure that we get as good performance as possible.

Included software:

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

Sonic CinePlayer 2:

The drive includes Sonic CinePlayer 2 to play DVD and VCD movies. Does the job but our favourites are WinDVD or PowerDVD.

Sonic MyDVD 2:

Pioneer has included Sonic MyDVD 2, a very easy to use program to make your own home DVD-Movies.

Sonic RecordNow 7.2:

Sorry for the Norwegian text on that image, but it was installed in Norwegian as default. Sonic Record Now is a very easy to use program that most will find good enough for their needs. We do still prefer Nero Burning ROM 6 over it though.

Sonic DLA 4.90:

Sonic DLA (Drive Letter Access) installs, but is invisible until you right click on your writer, now you are able to see the format option.

Here you may select to do a full format or quick format as well as giving the disc a Volume label. Notice that Sonic DLA will not install if you have EasyCDCreator, DirectCD, Nero, InCD or some other similar programs installed. You have to uninstall all those programs (Which is very annoying for users using multiple writing programs) for Sonic DLA to install, this is due to the fact that Sonic DLA conflicts with all those programs! Beside this it's a good packet writing program as far as we could say.

Now that we have finished examining the drive and bundled programs - let us head on to the next page, which is reading performance test…