detail information

Test machine:

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

Hardware:

• Motherboard: Asus A8V Deluxe
• Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ (Toledo)
• RAM: 1 GB Corsair Kit PC3200 DDR
• GFX: MSI GeForce 6600 GT
• Sound: Onboard Realtek AC'97
• Hard disk: Maxtor 6V300F0 300 GB (S-ATA)

System set-up:

The Samsung SH-S182D was connected as Secondary Master and identified itself as TSSTcorp CD/DVDW SH-S182D. DMA (Direct Memory Access) and autorun was enabled for all devices.

Firmware Update:

The Samsung SH-S182D firmware can be updated using the supplied 'live update" software; all that is required is an Internet connection. The drive was shipped with firmware SB01 and was during the course of this review updated to version SB02. See the screenshots below on the firmware update process.

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
• Nero CD/DVD Speed
• Nero Info Tool
• Slysoft CloneCD
• Exact Audio Copy v0.95 beta 4
• K-Probe

Features and techniques:

The Drive also features 'Double Optimum Power Calibration Technology". The Double OPC constantly monitors the sensitivity of the media and adjusts the laser strength to achieve the best possible results. It does this by analyzing the reflection from the media's surface.

Disc Quality Scanning:

With a small edit to the Windows system registry, the Samsung SH-S182D can be used along with Nero CD-Speed for 'Disc Quality Scanning".

Scanned at 4x

Scanned at 8x

Scanned at 12x

BookType (bitsetting):

The Samsung SH-S182D 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 with the i.e. the Book Type settings in Nero Burning ROM under the Choose Recorder option:

Here is how you could check if your discs are really written with DVD-ROM book type:

Start Nero CD-DVD Speed and click the Disc info button and you should get something like this:

DVD+R DL with book type DVD-ROM

DVD+RW with book type DVD-ROM

DVD+R with book type DVD-ROM

Another quick test is to start Nero CD-Speed and look at the disc information:

This should say DVD-ROM.

Now it's time to take a closer look at the write technology used by the Samsung SH-S182D:

CD-Recordable:

The Samsung SH-S182D uses CAV, (Constant Angular Velocity), to write at its maximum speed of 48X. This gives an average speed of 37.16x and a total writing time of 2 minutes and 52 seconds.

For comparison we have made the following table: 

As we can see from the table, the Samsung SH-S182D is one of the fastest drives when it comes to writing CD-R's.

CD-Rewritable:

The Samsung SH-S182D uses Z-CLV, (Zone-Constant Linear Velocity) writing technology to write at 32X for CD-RW discs, the average speed is 28.30x and the total time 3 minutes and 30 seconds.

For a better overview we present the following comparison table:

As we can see from the table, the Samsung SH-S182D performed average on writing CD-RWs.

18X DVD+R/-R Writing speed:

The Samsung SH-S182D uses CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD+R at the maximum supported speed of 18x. This gives an average write speed of 13.21x and a writing time of 5 minutes and 34 seconds.

The Samsung SH-S182D uses CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD-R at its maximum speed of 18x. This gives an average write speed of 13.42x and a writing time of 5 minutes and 16 second.

8X DVD+R DL writing speed:

The Samsung SH-S182D supports 8x writing speed on DVD+R DL media.

The Samsung SH-S182D uses Z-CLV, (Zone-Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD+R DL at 8x. The average speed is 6.34x and total writing time is 19:13 minutes.

8X DVD-R DL writing speed:

The Samsung SH-S182D supports 8x writing speed on DVD-R DL media.

The Samsung SH-S182D uses Z-CLV, (Zone-Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD-R DL at 8x. The average speed is 6.38x and total writing time is 18:59 minutes.

8X DVD+RW writing speed:

The Samsung SH-S182D uses Z-CLV, (Zone-Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD+RW at 8x. The average speed is 6.98x and total writing time is 8:41 minutes.

6X DVD-RW writing speed:

The Samsung SH-S182D uses Z-CLV, (Zone-Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD-RW at 6x. The average speed is 5.64x and total writing time is 10:41 minutes.

Included software:

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

Nero OEM suite:

Now that we have finished examining the drive and its writing strategies, it's time to head on to next page, which is reading performance test…