HP dvd640e DVD Writer with LightScribe Review


 

 

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Review: HP dvd640e DVD Writer
Reviewer: pchilson
Provided by: Hewlett Packard
Firmware:
E0U5
Manufactured: January 2005

HP was kind enough to send us their latest external 16x DVD± double-layer LightScribe drive, the HP dvd640e DVD Writer. This drive is one of the first drives to support the new LightScribe feature/technique. Further this drive supports 16x DVD+R writing, 8x DVD-R and 2.4x DVD+R9 DL writing technology, allowing double layer discs of 8.5Gb to be written. 

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Company information:

We are sure that most of you know HP already, but let us take a look at some of the company information found at www.hp.com.

HP is a company unlike any other. We serve everyone from consumers to small and mid-sized businesses to enterprises to public sector customers with an extensive portfolio of market-leading solutions specifically designed to meet the needs of each customer segment.

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Our annual R&D investment of nearly $4 billion (USD) fuels the invention of products, solutions and new technologies. We produce an average of 11 patents a day worldwide. HP Labs provides a central research function for the company which is focused on inventing new technologies to improve our customers' lives, change markets and create business opportunities.

Millions of people around the world use HP technology every day. HP is:

  • the largest consumer IT company
  • the world's largest SMB IT company
  • a leading enterprise IT company

Our strategy is to offer
products, services and solutions that are high tech, low cost and deliver the
best customer experience. Our team of 150,000 employees does business in more
than 170 countries. Revenues reached $79.9 billion for the fiscal year that
ended
October 31,
2004
.







HP has a significant
presence in all markets we serve



  • Consumer '” leadership in handhelds,
    notebooks, printers and digital cameras for rewarding experiences

  • Small and medium
    business
    '”
    market-leading products, solutions and services for simplified ownership

  • Enterprise '” a full portfolio of leading
    products and services for building an Adaptive Enterprise

  • Public sector, health &
    education
    '”
    experience and alliances for lower costs and increased efficiencies






Doing well by doing
good


HP is proud of our people,
our standards and values, and our deep commitment to global citizenship. Since
our first year in business in 1939, HP has given back to communities through
philanthropic donations of money, equipment and time.


Today, we employ new
models of engagement and new business and technology solutions to help more
people around the globe to participate in the world economy via information
technology.

 

Company rankings 

  • #1 globally in the inkjet, all-in-one and single-function printers, mono and color laser printers, large format printing, scanners, print servers and ink and laser supplies*
  • #1 globally in x86*, Windows®*, Linux®*, UNIX* and blade servers**
  • #1 in total disk and storage systems*
  • #2 globally in notebook PCs*
  • #1 globally in Pocket PCs*
  • #1 in customer support**
  • #1 position in customer loyalty for ProLiant servers***

* Refers to units, except storage referred in factory revenue. Source: IDC Q3 2004
** Source: Gartner, November 2004
*** Source: Technology Business Research, Inc., October 26, 2004

®Windows is a
U.S. registered trademark of Microsoft Corp.
Linux is a
U.S. registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

If you are interested in reading more company information, please visit www.hp.com

Drive specifications:


The listed specification of this drive was found in the Users Guide:

Write Speed and Data transfer rate

  • DVD+R write speed
    • 16x CAV - 22 MBytes/sec maximum
    • 8x CAV - 5.5 to 11  MBytes/sec maximum
    • 4x CLV - 5.5 MBytes/sec maximum
    • 2.4x CLV - 3.3 MBytes/sec maximum
  • DVD+R DL (double layer) write speed
    • 2.4x CLV - 3.3 MBytes/sec maximum
  • DVD+RW write speed
    • 4x CLV - 5.5 MBytes/sec maximum
    • 2.4x CLV - 3.3 MBytes/sec maximum
  • DVD-R write speed
    • 8x ZCLV - 5.5 to 11  MBytes/sec maximum
    • 4x CLV - 5.5 MBytes/sec maximum
    • 2.4x CLV '“ 2.7 MBytes/sec maximum
    • 1x CLV '“ 1.38 MBytes/sec maximum
  • DVD-RW write speed
    • 4x CLV - 5.5 MBytes/sec maximum
    • 2.4x CLV '“ 2.7 MBytes/sec maximum
    • 1x CLV '“ 1.38 MBytes/sec maximum  
  • CD-R write speed
    • 40x PCAV - 2700-6000 kBytes/sec maximum
    • 32x PCAV - 2700-4800 kBytes/sec maximum
    • 24x PCAV - 2700-3600 kBytes/sec maximum
    • 16x CLV - 2400 kBytes/sec maximum
    • 8x CLV - 1200 kBytes/sec maximum
  • CD-RW write speed
    • 24x ZCLV '“ 1500-3600 kBytes/sec maximum
    • 16x CLV '“ 2400 kBytes/sec maximum
    • 10x CLV '“ 1500 kBytes/sec maximum
    • 4x CLV - 600 kBytes/sec maximum

Read Speed and Data transfer rate

  • DVD-ROM read speed
    • Single Layer '“ 5x-12x CAV '“ 6.9 to 16.6 Mbytes/sec maximum
    • Dual Layer '“ 3.5-8x CAV - 4.7 to 11 Mbytes/sec maximum
  • DVD+R/DVD+RW/DVD-R/DVD-RW data tracks read speed
    • 3.5-8x CAV 4.7-11 MBytes/sec maximum
  • DVD-Video with CSS protection read speed
    • 2.5-6x CAV 2.7-6.9 MBytes/sec maximum
  • CD-ROM/CD-R Mode 1 and Mode 2 Form 1 (2048 Bytes) read speed
    • 16-40x CAV 2400-6000 kBytes/sec maximum
  • CD-RW Mode 1 and Mode 2 Form 1 (2048 Bytes) read speed
    • 13-32x CAV 1950-4800 kBytes/sec maximum
  • DAE read speed
    • 13-32x CAV 1950-4800 kBytes/sec maximum
  • Mode 2 and Mode 2 Form 2 read speed
    • 12x CLV 1200 kBytes/sec maximum

Discs Supported

         120 mm DVD+R media 16x/8x/4x/2.4x

         120mm DVD+R DL (double layer) media 2.4x

         120 mm DVD+RW media 4x/2.4x

         120 mm DVD-R media 16x/8x/4x/2x

         120 mm DVD-RW media 4x/2x/1x

         120 mm CD-R media (74 and 80 minute length) 40x/32x/24x/16x/8x

         80 mm CD-R media

         120 mm CD-RW (Re-Writable) media 24x/16x/10x/4x

Buffer

  • 2 MB

Interface

         External USB 2.0/IEEE 1394 FireWire

Loading Mechanism

         Tray

Logical recording format (depending on application used)

  • ISO 9660CD : 125ms (Random)
  • UDF (version depends on application used)
  • CD-DA
  • DVD-Video
  • VCD

Supported OS

  • Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional SP3 or XP Home or Professional


What's inside the box?


On this page we will take a look at what the retail bundle includes and take a look at the drive and its technology.

First some shots of the retail packaging.


Front


Back


Top


 

 Left Side   

Right Side                  

Below you will see the contents of the retail box:

  • External DVD±R/±RW drive
  • 1 blank CD-R LightScribe media
  • USB 2.0 cable/IEEE 1394 cable
  • Power Supply
  • Quick-start placemat
  • Software CD including electronic user's guide
  • Getting help guide
  • Software:
    • ArcSoft ShowBiz™ (for video capture and editing, DVD video creation, photo/video slideshows and LightScribe labeling)
    • Sonic™ RecordNow™ (for creating music and data discs and LightScribe labeling)
    • Cyberlink® PowerDVD™ (for  DVD playback)
    • MicroVision SureThing SE Plus CD/DVD Labeler (for LightScribe Labeling)

A solid retail bundle!

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

We found the external drive to have a slim and sleek styling. The case felt solid and sturdy. Nice!

On the front bezel we see a plain styling emblazoned with the HP, LightScribe, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R DL, and Ultra Speed CD-RW logos. The positions of the eject button, LED and emergency eject hole are typical of a BenQ design.

Top View

Front View

Rear View

On the rear center of the drive there are two IEEE 1394 FireWire connectors and a USB 2.0 connector. On the right side, top to bottom, the power switch and the power connector. We give a big plus to HP for building their external model with a dual interface!

On the bottom of the drive we found a sticker showing our drive was Made in China.

We installed the drive without any problems and here is a screenshot from Nero info tool:

 

From the screenshot above, we notice a 2MB buffer size and the installed firmware version E0U5.

And another shot from Nero Burning ROM:

 

Nothing alarming here, but a larger buffer would have been nice.

But let's continue this review and see how it really performs.

On the next page we will take a look at the test machine, the software, the drive features and the included software…………


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