Test machine:
For this review we will be using a computer with the following configuration:
Hardware:
Motherboard: Intel 865
Processor: Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz with Hyper Threading support
Bus Speed: 800 MHz
Memory: 512 MB
Video: ATI RADEON 9600XT
Sound: SB Live!
Hard disks: 1X 160GB Seagate Barracuda; 1X 120GB Western Digital
System set-up:
The Sony DRU-810A was connected as Secondary Slave and identified itself as SONY DVD RW DRU-810A. DMA (Direct Memory Access) was enabled for all devices.
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 version 6.6.0.16
- Nero CD/DVD Speed V4.07
- Nero Info Tool v3.02
- Slysoft CloneCD v5.2.6.1
- Exact Audio Copy v0.95 beta 3
- K-Probe v2.4.2
Installation and supported features:
We installed the drive without any problems and here is a screenshot from Nero InfoTool:
From the screenshot above, we notice a 2MB buffer size; missing Mount Rainier and C2 Errors support. The installed firmware version is 1.0a.
And another shot from Nero Burning ROM:
Nero Burning ROM claims Overburn support. We will test this later in the review.
Included Software:
Now it's time to look at the included software. Notice that we may not use the included software in our performance testing part of the review.
Sony® Software Disc Rev. 6.30W Installation CD:
The Software Disc includes:
-
Nero 6 Sony Edition
Nero StartSmart serves as the command center to quickly start all the software of the Nero suite;
Nero Burning ROM 6 SE and Nero Express® 6 CD/DVD mastering software for data, audio and CD/DVD writing and copying;
Nero VisionExpress 3 VCD/SVCD and DVD authoring software for advanced video capturing, authoring, full video editing and photo slideshow creation. Users can crop, clean up, add special effects to photos and then add transitions and a soundtrack, as well as cut, edit, dub, and turn videos into Hollywood-style masterpieces;
Nero InCD® 4 packet writing software for formatting rewritable discs so they can be used like large floppy disks with drag-and-drop capability;
Nero ShowTimeTM DVD-Video playing software for viewing DVD movies and personal video projects, along with MPEG-4 compatibility;
Nero PhotoSnap/PhotoSnapViewer captures digital photos right from a digital camera or scanner and provides basic image editing as well as a viewer utility;
Nero MediaHome streaming media server allows sharing of media files over a home network;
Nero Recode2 DVD-Video converter makes backup copies of unprotected DVDs, ideal for making copies of home movie DVDs to share with friends and family. Can also compile multiple DVD discs into a single DVD;
Nero BackItUp backup software for complete PC backup, with an easy-to-use wizard interface for multiple backup modes, automatically scheduled backups, and backups spanning several CDs or DVDs;
Nero MediaPlayer / Wave Editor management/jukebox software and audio editing software for audio file creation with various filters and effects;
Nero Cover Designer disc label creation software for creating individual CD/DVD covers and labels; and
Nero Toolkit drive tool software for critical media and drive analysis used by drive manufacturers worldwide.
-
User's Guide
-
User Support Web Page (links to Sony global user support web sites and Nero AG website)
When you first insert the disk (with Autorun enabled) you will get the Languange Selection screen.
The Menu Selection screen shows three options: Application Install (Nero install), Manual (electronic version of User's Guide) and User Support Web Page (links to Sony and Nero AG). Next we select the Manual button.
We would like to note that the electronic version of User Guide is less comprehensive than the printed version of Operating Instruction. Now let's continue with Nero installation.
Nero StartSmart shows a list of Nero applications that are installed. Nero Burning ROM version that came with the disc was 6.6.0.12 and we upgraded to version 6.6.0.16 without any problem. We also upgraded NeroVision Express 3 from version 3.1.0.7 to 3.1.0.16 and Nero Media Player version 1.4.0.29 to 1.4.0.35.
The software identifies as Nero 6 Sony Edition.
Turbo Boost Function:
The default CD-R and CD-ROM read/write speed of the Sony DRU-810A is 40x speed. With a single touch, you can activate the Turbo Boost function, to raise the read/write speed to 48x speed:
⋅ Insert a CD-R/CD-ROM disc into the drive
⋅ Press and hold the Eject button for five seconds.
The busy indicator blinks twice and the read/write speed switches to 48x. (The Turbo Boost function is active.)
Note: When you open the disc tray, the Turbo Boost function will be deactivated.
Write Technology:
Now it's time to take a closer look at the write technology used by the Sony DRU-810A:
CD-Recordable:
The Sony DRU-810A uses CAV, (Constant Angular Velocity), to write at its maximum speed of 48X (Turbo Boost function activated). This gives an average speed of 34.77x. Two drives for comparison are found below.
The Samsung TS-E552U uses P-CAV (Partial-Constant Angular Velocity) to write at its rated speed of 40x. This gives an average speed of 34.39x.
The LG GSA-5160D uses Z-CLV, (Zone-Constant Linear Velocity), to write at its maximum speed of 40X in four zones. The drive wrote the last zone at 40.41X and this gives an average speed of 31.70x.
For comparison we have made the following table:
CD-R |
Supported |
Write |
Start |
End |
Average |
Write |
Philips |
48x |
CAV |
18.98x |
42.88x |
32.47x |
3m:01s |
AOpen |
48x |
CAV |
22.07x |
49.66x |
37.69x |
2m:44s |
LG |
40x |
Z-CLV |
16.01x |
40.48x |
31.76x |
3m:15s |
Plextor |
48x |
CAV |
21.33x |
48.29x |
36.54x |
2m:42s |
Lite-On |
48x |
CAV |
21.90x |
49.55x |
37.49x |
2m:38s |
LG |
40x |
Z-CLV |
15.98x |
40.41x |
31.70 |
3m:18s |
Asus |
32x |
Z-CLV |
16.03x |
32.66x |
24.92x |
3m:58s |
Samsung |
40x |
P-CAV |
21.12x |
39.59x |
34.39x |
2m:53s |
Philips |
40x |
CAV |
17.80x |
40.01x |
29.51x |
3m:24s |
NU |
40x |
CAV |
18.60x |
41.28x |
31.23x |
3m:09s |
NEC |
48x |
CAV |
21.44x |
48.17x |
36.43x |
3m:00s |
BenQ |
48x |
CAV |
18.31x |
47.99x |
35.20x |
2m:57s |
Pioneer |
40x |
CAV |
17.77x |
40.28x |
30.05x |
3m:19s |
Sony |
48x |
CAV |
18.00x |
48.05x |
34.77x |
2m:59s |
As we can see from the table, the Sony DRU-810A is among the fastest drives where it comes to writing CD-R's.
CD-Rewritable:
The Sony DRU-810A uses P-CAV (Partial-Constant Angular Velocity) to write CD-RW media at its maximum speed of 32x, with an average write speed of 30.03x. Below are some other drives for comparison.
The Pioneer DVDR-110D uses Z-CLV (Zone Constant Linear Velocity) to write CD-RW media at its maximum speed of 32x, with an average write speed of 24.88x.
The NEC ND-3540A uses Z-CLV, (Zone-Constant Linear Velocity writing technology to write at 32X for CD-RW discs, the average speed is 29.75x.
For a better overview we present the following comparison table:
CD-RW |
Supported |
Write |
Start |
End |
Average |
Write |
AOpen |
24x |
Z-CLV |
16.01x |
24.03x |
22.06x |
4m:17s |
LG |
24x |
Z-CLV |
16.01x |
23.80x |
23.35x |
3m:54s |
Lite-On |
24x |
Z-CLV |
15.98x |
23.97x |
22.57x |
4m:19s |
LG |
24x |
Z-CLV |
15.99x |
23.99x |
23.31x |
3m:55s |
ASUS |
24x |
Z-CLV |
15.96x |
24.00x |
22.46x |
4m:07s |
Samsung |
32x |
P-CAV |
21.07x |
31.87x |
30.26x |
3m:05s |
Philips |
24x |
P-CAV |
17.77x |
24.01x |
23.15x |
3m:58s |
NU |
24x |
P-CAV |
15.39x |
23.93x |
23.16x |
3m:49s |
NEC |
32x |
Z-CLV |
20.11x |
32.03x |
29.75x |
3m:32s |
BenQ |
32x |
P-CAV |
21.26x |
31.96x |
30.33x |
3m:10s |
Pioneer |
32x |
Z-CLV |
15.87x |
32.01x |
24.88x |
3m:47s |
Sony |
32x |
P-CAV |
21.34x |
32.63x |
30.03x |
3m:05s |
As we can see from the table, the Sony DRU-810A speed wise, is once again very fast when writing CD-RW's.
16X DVD+R/-R Writing speed:
The Sony DRU-810A uses CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD+R at the maximum supported speed of 16x. This gives an average write speed of 11.55x and a writing time of 5 minutes 43 seconds.
The Sony DRU-810A uses CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD-R at its maximum speed of 16x. This gives an average write speed of 11.38x and a writing time of 6 minutes and 9 second.
Below are some write graphs from some other drives for comparison.
The Pioneer DVR-110D uses CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD+R at the maximum supported speed of 16x. This gives an average write speed of 11.58x and a writing time of 6 minutes 9 seconds.
The NEC 3540A uses CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD+R at 16x. This gives an average writing speed of 11.81x and a writing time of 5 minutes and 58 seconds.
The Philips DVDR16LS uses CAV, (Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD+R at 16x. The average speed is 11.33x and total writing time is 6 minutes and 8 seconds. The average speed is lower and the writing time is higher than it could have been due to the Walking OPC generation 2 using some time to constantly adjust the writing quality. We could see this as constant dips in the speed curve.
The LG GSA-5160D uses Z-CLV, (Zone-Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD+R at 16x. The average speed is 11.60x and total writing time is 6 minutes and 12 seconds.
The Pioneer DVR-110D uses CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD-R at its maximum speed of 16x. This gives an average write speed of 11.59x and a writing time of 6 minutes and 1 second.
The LG GSA-4163B uses P-CAV, (Partial-Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD-R at 16x. The average speed is 12.90x and total writing time is 5 minutes and 20 seconds.
The Samsung TS-H552B uses CAV, (Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD+R at 16x. The average speed is 12.03x and total writing time is 5 minutes and 58 seconds. Below, we made a comparison table:
16x |
Supported |
Write |
Start |
End |
Average |
Write |
Philips |
16x +R |
CAV |
6.69x |
16.00x |
11.98x |
5m:52s |
Aopen |
16x +R |
CAV |
6.69x |
15.90x |
11.90x |
6m:51s |
LG |
16x +R |
P-CAV |
7.30x |
16.01x |
12.87x |
5m:34s |
Lite-On |
16x +R |
CAV |
6.66x |
16.02x |
11.97x |
6m:01s |
LG |
16x +R |
Z-CLV |
6.00x |
15.88x |
11.60x |
6m:12s |
ASUS |
16x +R |
Z-CLV |
6.01x |
16.04x |
10.29x |
6m:48s |
Philips |
16x +R |
CAV |
5.80x |
12.18x |
11.33x |
6m:08s |
NEC |
16x +R |
CAV |
6.70x |
16.06x |
11.81x |
5m:58s |
BenQ |
16x +R |
CAV |
5.70x |
15.95x |
11.53x |
5m:44s |
Pioneer |
16x +R |
CAV |
6.27x |
15.87x |
11.58x |
6m:09s |
Sony |
16x +R |
CAV |
5.68x |
16.05x |
11.55x |
5m:43s |
From the table above, we can see that the Sony DRU-810A is among the fastest drives in writing DVD+R and DVD-R.
8X DVD+R DL writing speed:
The Sony DRU-810A supports 8x writing speed on DVD+R DL media.
The Sony DRU-810A uses P-CAV (Partial-Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD+R DL at 8x. The average speed is 7.18x and total writing time is 15:52 minutes. Very fast!
4X DVD-R DL writing speed:
The Sony DRU-810A supports 4x writing speed on DVD-R DL media.
The Sony DRU-810A uses P-CAV (Partial-Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD-R DL at 4x. The average speed is 3.76x and total writing time is 29:47 minutes. Pretty slow in this area considering other new drives can write DVD-R DL up to 8x speed (ie. Pioneer DVR-110D).
8X DVD+RW writing speed:
The Sony DRU-810A uses Z-CLV (Zone-Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD+RW at 8x. The average speed is 7.64x and total writing time is 7:40 minutes.
6X DVD-RW writing speed:
The Sony DRU-810A uses CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD-RW at 6x. The average speed is 5.92x and total writing time is 10:19 minutes.
Book type (bitsetting):
The Sony DRU-810A supports bitsetting, and as default will write DVD+R, DVD+RW and DVD+R DL media with DVD-ROM book type.
With Nero CD-DVD Speed, we can see in the "Book Type" column in Drive Settings area that all disc types are currently bitset to DVD-ROM. When a disc is inserted in the drive, the Disc Settings area will show the Book Type. Screenshot above shows that there is a DVD+R DL disc in the drive tray and it shows that "Current book type" is set to DVD-ROM.
When you insert a DVD+RW disc, the "Set" button is available and we can change the Book Type without having to re-burn the disc.
Another way you could check if your discs are really written with DVD-ROM Book Type is by observing the Disc Info tab. You should see something similar to the following:
DVD+R DL with book type DVD-ROM
Summary '� Write Technology:
Let us look at the summary of the Sony DRU-810A write technology and speed in the table below:
Disc |
Spec. |
Write |
Start |
End |
Average |
Write |
Overall |
CD-R |
48x |
CAV |
18.00x |
48.05x |
34.77x |
2m:59s |
Fast |
CD-RW |
32x |
P-CAV |
21.34x |
32.63x |
30.03x |
3m:05s |
Fast |
DVD+R |
16x |
CAV |
5.68x |
16.05x |
11.55x |
5m:43s |
Fast |
DVD-R |
16x |
CAV |
4.99x |
15.94x |
11.38x |
6m:09s |
Fast |
DVD+R DL |
8x |
P-CAV |
5.13x |
6.09x |
7.18x |
15m:52s |
Fast |
DVD-R DL |
4x |
P-CAV |
3.22x |
4.02x |
3.76x |
29m:47s |
Slow |
DVD+RW |
8x |
Z-CLV |
5.98x |
7.97x |
7.64x |
7m:40s |
Fast |
DVD-RW |
6x |
CLV |
6.00x |
6.06x |
5.92x |
10m:19s |
Fast |
The Sony DRU-810A is among the fastest drives in writing various kind of CD and DVD media compared to other drives. Our tests shows that the drive is able to reach the specification write speed easily. The only downside is the support of DVD-R DL at 4x write speed where we can find other new drives that supports this type at 8x speed (ie. Pioneer DVR-110D).
Let's continue to the next page where we will examine the reading performance...