Test machine:

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

Hardware:

• Motherboard: ASUSTeK P5W DH Deluxe (Intel Glendale DG I975x chipset)
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600
• RAM: 2 GB OCZ Platinum dual channel kit DDR2 800
• GFX: BFG nVidia 8800GTS (640 Megabytes GDDR3)
• Sound: Onboard Realtek ALC882 HD audio controller
• Hard disk: 2X 250GB Seagate Barracuda (SATA 2)

System set-up:

The Samsung SH-S183A was connected to one of the SATA controllers on the motherboard of our review PC.

And another screenshot from Nero InfoTool below:

From the screenshot from Nero InfoTool above, we can see the Samsung SH-S183A supports Mount Rainier. The installed firmware was SB02. We checked Samsung’s website, but no later firmware versions were available.

Installed Software:

Windows Vista Home Premium (64 bit) was installed on our review PC. We will be using the following software in this preview:

• Nero CD/DVD Speed
• Nero InfoTool  
• KProbe v2.5.2

Features and techniques:

BookType (Bitsetting):

The Samsung SH-S183A supports automatic Bitsetting, and will as default write DVD+R DL media with DVD-ROM BookType. The Bitsetting can be changed in i.e. Nero Burning ROM

Here is how you can check if your discs are really written with the DVD-ROM BookType:

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

DVD+R media with DVD-ROM BookType

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

This should say DVD-ROM

Quality Scans:

The Samsung SH-S183A can be used to measure/scan burned discs for their quality via Nero CD-DVD Speed or KProbe. This can be handy to check and get an impression of which state/condition the burned discs are in.

Quality Scan at 8x

Writing Technology:

48x CD-R writing speed:

The Samsung SH-S183A uses CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) to write CD-R at 48x. The average speed is 37.27x and total writing time was 2 minutes and 51 seconds.

32x CD-RW writing speed:

The Samsung SH-S183A uses Z-CLV (Zoned Constant Linear Velocity) to write CD-RW at 32x. The average speed is 28.31x and the total writing time was 3 minutes and 31 seconds.

18x DVD±R writing speed:

The Samsung SH-S183A uses CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD+R at 18x. The average speed is 13.40x and total writing time was 5 minutes and 23 seconds.

The Samsung SH-S183A uses CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD-R at 18x. The average speed is 13.39x and total writing time was 5 minutes and 19 seconds.

8x DVD+RW writing speed:

The Samsung SH-S183A uses Z-CLV (Zoned Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD+RW at 8x. The average speed is 6.98x and the total writing time was 9 minutes and 7 seconds.

6x DVD-RW writing speed:

The Samsung SH-S183A uses Z-CLV (Zoned Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD-RW at 6x. The average speed is 5.65x and the total writing time was 10 minutes and 47 seconds.

8x DVD+R DL writing speed:

The Samsung SH-S183A uses Z-CLV (Zoned Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD+R DL at 8x. The average speed is 6.34x and the total writing time was 19 minutes and 10 seconds.

8x DVD-R DL writing speed:

The Samsung SH-S183A uses Z-CLV (Zoned Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD+R DL at 8x. The average speed is 6.36x and the total writing time was 18 minutes and 46 seconds.

12x DVD-RAM:

The Samsung SH-S183A uses P-CAV (Partial-Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD-RAM media at its maximum speed of 12x (verify off). This resulted in an average write speed of 9.93x and a total write time of 5 minutes and 53 seconds.

On the next page: Reading performance…

Introduction

Reading performance