detail information

Positive:

⋅         Retail package, includes Nero and PowerDVD.
⋅         Supports 52X CD-Writing speeds and 24X CD-Rewriting speeds.
⋅         Large 8Mb buffer
⋅         Supports DAO-RAW writing.
⋅         Supports reading and writing of CD-Text information.
⋅         Supports reading and writing of full SubChannel Data.
⋅         Can read and write 99 minutes discs.
⋅         Good and fast at backing up protected games, supports 'Correct EFM encoding of regular bit patterns".
⋅         Very good Mount Rainier performance.
⋅         Very good packet writing performance
⋅         Working recording quality checking function, which slows down writing speed if required.
⋅         Drive is very light and will be a good choice if you care about weight.
⋅         Supports Multi read that means it could read all types of CD/DVD discs.
⋅         Excellent Secure mode reading performance in EAC.

Negative:

⋅         Retail package does not include any empty media and printed manual.
⋅         CD-R and CD-RW disc reading locked to 40X. 
⋅         Slows down easy when reading CD-discs.
⋅         Over sensitive recording quality checking function, nearly no CD-R discs would be written at full speed without slowdowns.
⋅         Do not read cactus data shield protected audio discs.
⋅         Makes a whining sound when reading certain discs.
⋅         Drive gets worm to the touch under heavy use.
⋅         Do not live up to its specifications, as it did not reach its advertised speeds in most tests.

Conclusion:

 While this is not the best drive we have reviewed it do definitively have its strengths. It's a super drive when it comes to back up protected data discs as it able to back up many protections along with great reading speeds for most protections. It also deserves honour for being very fast at packet writing and Mount Rainer packet writing. Many uses will find the 8Mb buffer tempting as well, but keep in mind that it's only the retail version that have 8Mb buffer, the bulk/OEM version have only 2Mb. It's also a superb drive for use with Exact Audio Copy as it performs well in secure mode. Another positive thing is that it supports multi-read that allows it to read all types of CD/DVD discs, including DVD-RAM discs. Samsung have also implemented a working quality control while writing and reading which reduces the speed to keep the quality up. In our opinion this quality control is to sensitive and makes it unable to read and write most discs at top speed. It is also sad to see that it fails to reach its rated speeds in most tests and in practical use it's not any faster than the Lite-On LTC-48161H that we reviewed not long ago. It also failed at backing up some protected audio discs, which makes it lagging behind some of the competitors. We are also very disappointed that Samsung fails to provide CD-R media that works with their drives! All in all you have to look at your needs before getting this drive, as it definitively may be the right drive for some types of usage. To sum up the overall feeling of this drive we feel that the statement 'Mixed performance" fits best.

The retail drive is available for $ 55 USD (Price from pricewatch per 15.10.2003 ).

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