BenQ DW1640 DVD-Writer

By
OC-Freak
-

 


 

  

Review: BenQ DW1640 16x dual format writer
Reviewer: OC-Freak
Provided by: BenQ
Firmware: BSJB, BSKB, BSKC and BSLB
Manufactured: April 2005

This time BenQ sent us their latest and greatest DVD-Writer; the BenQ DW1640. Upon receiving the drive, BenQ promised us a newer firmware with extra functionality, but it was delayed so much that we decided to start the review with BSJB. By the time we were finalizing this review; firmware BSKB and later BSLB were released, and we have now included test results with BSKB, BSKC and BSLB on page 9 and 10 of this review.

Some BenQ history:

We took a quick look at the company information found at BenQ Europe's web pages:

The BenQ Group, formerly known as Acer Communications & Multimedia Group, is a global operation, employing over 14,760 people worldwide and with an annual turnover (2003) of US$ 3.6 billion. Its expertise encompasses: Communications, Imaging, Display technology, Digital media and Electro-optics products. As home, office, and entertainment merge with each other, BenQ will use these competencies to create networked digital lifestyle devices that will increasingly become part of our world.

BenQ is in a unique position to serve this newly emerging world. It owns more than 1,382 global patents. In addition to this, R&D is carried out in the Hsinchu Lab in Taiwan, the Suzhou Software Development Center in China, and the Wireless Technology Center in San Diego, USA. BenQ currently employs some 2,000 R&D specialists worldwide. It spends about 4% of its income on R&D.

For production, BenQ has facilities in Malaysia, Mexico, China, and Taiwan. BenQ Suzhou is the flagship facility covering 600,000 sq. meters and employing over 6,000 people. Today that centre boasts an annual output capacity of 4 million colour monitors, 8 million keyboards, and 4 million scanners.

As you could see it's a large company with long history. But it's time to look at the specifications of the drive.

Drive specifications:


These are the specifications of this drive, found at the BenQ Global webpage:

Model

DW1640

Performance

[DVD-R DL]
Data Transfer Rate /double layer write*: 44.32 Mbit/sec (4X)
*Now available thru f/w upgrade.  Click here to download the DVD-R DL supported firmware.

[DVD+R DL]
Data Transfer / double layer write: 88.64 Mbit (8x)

[DVD+R/+RW]
Data Transfer Rate /write: 177.28 Mbit/sec (16X)
Data Transfer Rate /rewrite: 88.64 Mbit/sec (8X)

[DVD-R/-RW]
Data Transfer Rate /write: 177.28 Mbit/sec (16X)
Data Transfer Rate /rewrite: 66.48 Mbit/sec (6X)

[DVD ROM]
Data Transfer Rate /read: 177.28 Mbit/sec (16X, Max.)
Access time: 120 ms

[CD]
Data Transfer Rate /write: 7200 KByte/sec (48X)
Data Transfer Rate /rewrite: 4800 KByte/sec (32X)
Data Transfer Rate /read: 7200 KByte/sec (48X, Max.)
Access time: 120 ms

Interface

E-IDE/ATAPI

Supported IDE Mode

PIO mode 0/1/2/3/4
DMA mode 0/1/2
UDMA mode 0/1/2

Buffer Size

2MB

Firmware Upgrade

Flash memory upgradable

Writing Mode

[DVD]
DVD Data and Video

[CD]
Track-at-Once, Disc-at-Once, Multisession, Packet Writing (fixed & variable packet), CD Digital Audio, Direct-Over-Write on CD-RW, Test Write

Disc Size

[DVD] 120 mm disc
[CD] 80 and 120 mm discs

Disc Formats

[DVD]
DVD+R DL 8.5GB, DVD+R 4.7GB, DVD+RW 4.7GB (Closed Session), DVD-R 4.7GB, DVD-RW 4.7GB (closed session), DVD-Video, DVD-5, DVD-9, DVD-10, DVD-18

[CD]
CD-DA, CD-ROM XA (m1, m2f1/m2f2), CD-R, CD-RW, Bootable CD, Photo CD (single & multi-session), Video CD, Super Video CD, CD-Extra, Mixed-mode CD, CD-Text

Power Requirement

+5V ± 5%, ripple: 100mVpp
+12V ± 10%, ripple: 200mVpp

Environment Conditions

Operating temperature: 5°C~50°C at humidity of 8~80% RH
Non-operating temperature: -40°C~60°C at humidity: 5%~95% RH

Reliability Characteristics

MTBF: 125,000 POH (20%)
Non-recoverable read error < 1 block in 1012 bits (CD and DVD)

Physical Characteristics

Dimension: 146 X 42 X 178 mm (W x H x D)
Weight: 820 g

OS Compatibility

Windows XP / 2000 / ME / 98SE
* QVideo and QSuite are supported by Windows XP and 2000 only.

Minimum System
Requirement

IBM PC compatible
Pentium III 550MHz CPU
128MB RAM
100MB free HDD space for CD/DVD recording related software installation
1GB free HDD space for CD image recording (10GB for DVD authoring) is recommended.

The specifications seem very good, and we don't have anything to put our finger at. Oh well, if we should be REALLY picky; there are drives that support 6x DVD-R DL writing, while the BenQ DW1640 only supports 4x.

What's inside the box?


The drive we received was a pre-release drive that came in a white box. The bundle is not complete either. But this is what we got:

Yes, we only got the installation CD and the drive. Plus one 6x DVD-RW and one 8x DVD+RW for use in the review.

Now it's time to take a look at the drive itself:

 

Nothing new under the sun here, it uses almost the same front as the DW1620.

 

Our sample was produced in Malaysia and has a production date of April 2005.

 

Still no changes on the back either; from the left: digital audio connector; analogue audio connector; pins and jumper to set the drive to cable select, slave or master; IDE connector and finally the power connector.

Now, let us connect the drive and check out the features and program bundle of this drive on the next page…

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