detail information

Writing Data CD-R discs:

For our data writing tests, we simply set up a new compilation of 700Mb using Nero Burning ROM software. Writing method used is DAO (Disc At Once), and the disc is set up as a non-multisession disc with 'finalize disc" enabled. The screenshot below shows how long it takes to write a disc at the highest speed. (48x):

The drive used 2 minutes and 59 seconds to write the disc at 48x. Let us see how this compares to other drives:

• Samsung SH-W162L used 2 minutes and 53 seconds at 48x
• Philips DVDR1660 used 2 minutes and 49 seconds at 48x
• NEC ND-4551A used 2 minutes and 51 seconds at 48x
• NEC ND-4550A used 3 minutes and 5 seconds at 48x
• Philips DVDR1648 used 2 minutes and 50 seconds at 48x

Write Quality:

We will test CD-R discs from different CD-R manufacturers. To really measure the write speed, we used the 'create data CD" function in Nero CD-Speed. The discs were written at the maximum speed that the drive supports. For the quality test, we used KProbe 2 which is a tool developed by a Lite-On employee. It runs under Windows and works with drives made by Lite-On. Also note that different drives and different reading speeds may affect the results obtained when scanning the discs. We used a Lite-On SOHR-5238S drive with firmware 4S09 and scanned the discs at 48X speed.

A written CD-R disc will always have some C1 errors; C1 errors are easily corrected by the drive's error correction capabilities. The next level of errors is C2, while C2 errors could also be corrected by most drive's error correction capabilities; they are not wanted on a good quality disc. A good disc should not contain any C2 errors, and preferably have an average C1 error amount of below 2.0 for the best discs, or at least below 10.0 averages for good quality discs. After C2 errors, there are only un-correctable errors that will make a disc unusable.

Below are the obtained results:

BenQ media with average C1 errors of 0.41 - it goes into the group 'best quality discs" category.

RICOH media - manufactured by Moser Baer India Limited and with its average of 0.72 it goes in the 'best quality" category.

This media goes into the category 'best quality discs" for its C1 average with 0.86.

Media made by Taiyo Yuden have always had a good reputation and with the average C1 errors of 0.24 it goes into the group 'best quality discs" category.

This 52x certified media was only burned at 32x, however the quality is very good and with the average C1 errors of 0.99 it goes into the group 'best quality discs" category.

Verbatim - a well-known brand showed us a C1 average of 0.34 - it goes into the category 'Best Discs".

Writing Quality with Re-Writable discs:

We will also test CD-RW discs from different CD-RW manufacturers. Settings and testing procedures is the same as used earlier in this review, so you may want to go back and read them if you are unsure. All discs used for these tests have been written to before, but none have been written to more than 5 times.

CD-ReWritable media:

The C1 errors are quite high, but at least there were no C2 errors.

Summary:
The CD-R writing quality is excellent, and the CD-RW quality could be improved.

So let us head on to next page and read about DVD-Writing performance…