1. Introduction
Samsung SW-224B
IDE CDR-W - Page 1
- Introduction
has
been another manufacturer that shipped many optical storage solutions in 2001.
Even Samsung never really lead the writing race, its models were very popular
among users due to their good features and the very low price. The Samsung SW-224B
has to compete other manufacturers (Plextor, AOpen, TDK, LiteOn) in the 24x
writing platform, so the specific proposal must be in the same level as the
competition. We compare side to side the Samsung SW-224B with PleXWriter PX-W2410A,
Yamaha CRW3200E and TEAC CD-W524E.
- Features
The
drive supports 24x writing (Z-CLV) max speed among with "ExacLink"
for preventing buffer underrun errors. The supported writing speeds are 4x,
8x, 12x, 16x (CLV), 20x, 24x (Z-CLV) and re-writing speeds 4x and 10 (CLV).
The drive also includes 2MB of buffer and supports all available writing modes
(TAO, SAO, DAO, Multisession and Packet Writing).
In order to achieve the 20x/24x CD-R writing speeds Samsung has chosen the
Z-CLV writing technology. When a recorder uses the Zone CLV recording method,
the CD is divided into 3 zones from the inner to the outer side of the CD, and
within each these zones the recording speed varies but it's always constant
(CLV). The recording process starts from the beginning of the disc in a constant
speed in the first zone. After a pre-defined time (when the next zone starts)
the recording speed automatically elevates to a higher speed. At the speed switching
point, the anti-buffer underrun technology (in our case ExacLink) is used to
assure the transition with no data loss or corruption.
Samsung starts writing at 16x from the lead-in area for 2 minutes, shifts
up to 20x at 6mins, shifts up to 24x at 16mins and continues to write until
the end of the disc at that speed. The drive's average writing speed is 22.76X
making it equally fast as Plextor and LiteOn 24x drives. However real recording
tests show slightly different results...
- The package
The
tested drive was the retail European package. It included: the drive, a printed
manual in 4 languages, 1 piece (24x certified) of Samsung 74min 24x CD-R blank,
1 piece of Samsung 74min 4-10x High-Speed RW Blank, audio and IDE cables and
mounting screws. The attached software is Nero Burning ROM v5.5x OEM and Ahead
InCD v2.3x (for packet writing use).
The front of the drive doesn't contain the SamSung logo, even the retail box
showed the opposite. It does include though, the "High-Speed RW" and
the "RW24-10-40" logo, that shows up the drive's features. You will
also find only one small led, the eject button and the headphone input jack/volume
selector. Both the led and the eject button are back lighted with a green color:
In the backside of the drive we will find the usual connectors (IDE interface,
power), the jumpers for making the drive Master/Slave, the SPDIF output connector
and the analog/digital output connectors:
- Installation
The Samsung SW-224B was installed as a Master in the secondary IDE BUS.
The drive worked in PIO-Mode4 mode and after booting, identified itself as the
"Samsung CD-R/RW SW-224B". We unchecked the Auto Insert notification,
checked DMA and rebooted.
The drive was a November 2001 model with firmware revision vR2.00 installed.
Samsung in the meanwhile released a new firmware update (R201) which installed
and used mostly for the writing tests. We used the Nero (5.5.7.0), InCD (3.19),
CloneCD (3.3.4.1) and Padus DJ (3.50.826) for the recording tests.
2. Data Tests
Samsung
SW-224B IDE CDR-W - Page
2
Data Tests
Test Method
- SCSI Mechanic v3.0x: This was used to compare the drive's I/O
performance against other various CDR-W drives (see charts). We used a pressed
CD containing PlexTools v1.08 for all of the tests.
- Nero CD Speed v0.85b was also used to check the drive's performance
with pressed CDs. For that test, we also used the PlexTools v1.08 pressed CD.
- SCSI Mechanic v3.0x results
The Samsung SW-224B is the slowest drive among the four tested recorders.
The drive has the lowest "Average Sequential" mark with 4379Kb/s and
performs very good at the "Average Random" test, due to low seek times.
- Pressed media: (click here
to see the CD Speed graph)
Using Nero CD Speed 0.85b, we confirmed the SCSI Mechanic results. The Samsung SW-224B
is the slowest drive with only 30.19X average reading speed. The problem seems
to be not the speed in the end, but the start reading speed . Samsung engineers could
improve this. The PleXWriter PX-W2410A is still the fastest drive with 31.79X
while Yamaha CRW3200E follows with 30.56X. TEAC CD-W524E comes third with
30.42X.
In the "Seek Times" test; the Samsung SW-224B performed very good
with only 85ms. TEAC CD-W524E has the lowest seek times (77ms) and PleXWriter
the highest (148ms). .
- CDR Media: (click here
to see the CD Speed graph)
With CD-R media, AOpen CRW2440 manages to outperform all other drives and
take the lead from PleXWriter PX-W2410A with 0.01X! Both drives start at
18.69X but the CRW2440 is faster by the end.
- HS-RW Media: (Click here
to see the CD Speed graph)
For the RW tests, we used TDK's HS-RW media. The Samsung has the lowest average
reading speed, with 18.76X:
3. CloneCD reading Tests
Samsung
SW-224B IDE CDR-W - Page
3
CloneCD Reading
Tests
- Procedure
We used CloneCD (v3.3.4.1) and 5 original CDs - Euro 2000 (SafeDisc 1), No
One Lives For Ever (SafeDisc 2), Rally Masters (LaserLock 1), Desperados (LaserLock
2) and V-Rally 2 Expert (SecuROM 2) - in order to test the reading performance
of AOpen CRW2440. We also tested the reading performance with backups of the
original CDs, since the reading speed varies between original and backup media.
For comparison reasons we added the results of the already tested Yamaha CRW3200E,
PleXWriter PX-W2410A and TEAC CD-W524E. The following picture shows the drive's
reading/writing capabilities:
- PSX pressed media
For this test we used the PSX game 'NBA Jam Extreme' and we ripped the image
to HD with CloneCD. We measured the reading times and the Samsung SW-224B has
the second best reading performance with 152secs:
- SafeDisc 1/2 results
The Samsung SW-224B has a very good performance, mostly with the pressed
disc. The drive outperforms even PleXWriter with the original CD, but stays
back when the backup media are used.
With SafeDisc v2.0 protected CDs, the Samsung SW-224B has very
good performance with the pressed media, but again stays behind when backup
media are used.
- LaserLock 1/2 results
In the LaserLock protected CDs test, the Samsung SW-224B gave the best performance
with the original disc. The performance is good even when the backup media is used.
With LaserLock 2 LaserLock 2 protected CDs, the Samsung SW-224B has the lowest
reading time with the original CD but stays at the last place, when backup media
are used.
- SecuROM Results
The Samsung SW-224B can read SubChannel data from Data/Audio tracks very fast!
Of course cannot compete the Yamaha CRW3200E but it is faster than TEAC/Plextor
drives.
4. DAE Tests
Samsung
SW-224B IDE CDR-W - Page
4
DAE Tests
- Test Method
We used CD DAE 99 v0.21 beta and EAC v0.9 prebeta 11 software in order to
check the DAE performance of the drive with various AudioCDs (both pressed and
CDR). The posted DAE results are the average of both applications, but the CPU
usage was only taken from CD DAE 99, since EAC occupies the system a lot more.
As a last note, we used the "BURST" reading mode of EAC. We made a
full CD Rip starting from the first to the last track of the CD. The Average
DAE reported speed along with the CPU Usage is displayed in the test graphs.
- DAE features
As the program reported, the drive does "Caching" data, supports "Accurate
Stream" and "C2 Error info".
- Pressed AudioCD results
The AOpen supports up to 32x DAE with both pressed and CDR media. The DAE
ripping performance (23.6X) of Samsung is much lower than what the competition does offer:
- CDR AudioCD Results
The drive has the same performance as with pressed CDs. The average reading
speed of 23.7X is considered low, since the competition shows increased
reading speeds:
- EAC Secure Extract Ripping mode
After many viewer-requests we have added the EAC's secure extract ripping
mode results, which ensures maximum produced WAV quality. Notice that for each
drive we used the build-in detection function:
|
Tested Drives
|
Average DAE Speed (X)
|
|
Pressed
|
CDR
|
|
Yamaha CRW3200E
|
5.5
|
-
|
|
PleXWriter PX-W2410A
|
8.7
|
9.6
|
|
TEAC CD-W524E
|
5.6
|
4.5
|
|
Samsung SW-224B
|
5.7
|
5.6
|
- Advanced DAE Quality
The Samsung SW-224B performed excellently at the Nero CD Speed Advanced DAE
quality test. The drive produced 0 data/sync errors and got a perfect score
(100). The drive can read "CD-Text" enabled AudioCDs, SubChannel data
and from the lead-in area:
- Bad CDR Media results
Despite the fact that Nero CD Speed Advanced DAE test stretches drive's mechanism
to the max, we decided to do real life tests with a scratched disc. The disc
was dirty, and with some light scratches, enough in order cause problems to
most of the tested drives. We used CD DAE 99 software to rip the whole disc
(756539616 sectors) and the results were very interesting:
|
|
Average DAE Speed (X)
|
Errors
|
Errors Of Total Disc (%)
|
|
Yamaha CRW3200E
|
5.2
|
8840120
|
1.17
|
|
PleXWriter PX-W2410A
|
27.7
|
2946403
|
0.39
|
|
TEAC CD-W524E
|
26.5
|
1
|
0
|
|
Samsung SW-224B
|
8
|
0
|
0
|
As the tests showed, Samsung SW-224B performed very good and gave 0 errors
while reading our test disc. TEAC CD-W524E has the same performance but
reads the disc at almost full speed. Both Plextor and Yamaha 24x needs further
improvement...
- Ripping 90 and 99min CDs
The drive can read up to 98min without any problems.
- Reading Protected AudioCDs
For the test procedure we used 3 protected AudioCDs, which we tested in both
recognition and ripping (with CD DAE) processes:
* Pressed AudioCD with Sony KeyAudio
* Pressed AudioCD with Cactus Data Shield 200 (Natalie Imbruglia - White Lilies
Island)
* CDR AudioCD protected with Cactus Data Shield (CDS100) - made with Clone Audio
Protector v1.1 (adding 30 secs lead-out)
|
|
KeyAudio
|
CDS200
|
CDS100
|
|
Samsung SW-224B
|
Cannot recognize the disc contents
|
Recognizes the audio tracks, ripping/reading
impossible
|
Reads all tracks as Data tracks - ripping
impossible
|
As the test results showed, the Samsung SW-224B is not prepared to handle any
AudioCD protected disc.
5. CDR Tests
Samsung
SW-224B IDE CDR-W - Page
5
CDR Tests - Page 1
The Samsung SW-224B supports 20x and 20x Z-CLV writing speeds. We used Nero
CD Speed build-in writing test in order to test the drive's writing performance.
The drive's average writing speed with 80min CD is 22.76X as Nero CD Speed writing
test showed. Below is showed a table with the four tested drives and their average
writing speed:
|
CDR-W drives
|
Average Writing Speed (X) with 80min
CD
|
|
Yamaha CRW3200
|
23.61
|
|
PleXWriter PX-W2410A
|
22.77
|
|
TEAC CD-W524E
|
22.55
|
|
Samsung SW-224B
|
22.76
|
From the above graph we can see that both recorders have the exact same recording
speed shifts.
The Samsung SW-224B has the exact same rotation speeds as the PleXWriter PX-W2410A.
However Samsung lowers the rotation speeds slight lower than the PlexWriter,
which shows that the drive will not have the exact same recording speed as the
PleXWriter.
- Procedure
We tested the AOpen CRW2440 with Nero v5.5.4.9, CloneCD v3.0.9.1 and Padus
DJ v3.50.799 software. For the CDR tests we used: Verbatim 74min (16x) &
80min (16x), Taiyo Yuden 74 & 80min (24x), Mitsubishi Chemicals 74/80min
24x, Mitsui 74min (24 & 16x) and Ricoh/Verbatim/TDK 74min HS-RW media. The
drive when using very low rated media (such as 4x/8x) will reduce maximum speed
down to 16x:
- CD-R Tests
We created a "DataCD" with an amount of data slightly higher than
74mins (74:03:65). We burned the same data amount with all 4 CDR-W drives:
The Samsung SW-224B has the highest recording time at 16x writing speed
with 314secs. However the time difference is very low (up to 4secs).
At the 20x Z-CLV writing speed, the SamSung has the second best writing time.
The drive needs 265sec to end the task, while the PleXWriter PX-W2410A is the
faster with 259secs.
At the maximum writing speed of 24x, the Samsung SW-224B has the highest recording
time with 240secs. The Yamaha CRW3200E is the faster 24x recorder with 225secs,
while PleXWriter PX-W2410A follows with 230secs. The TEAC CD-W524E follows with
236secs.
- 80min CDs
As with the previous test, we created a DataCD (80:01:47) and used the same
media for all burns:
Again the Samsung SW-224B has the highest recording time at the 16x CLV speed,
with 80min CDs. The drive needs 338secs, while the Yamaha CRW3200E needs only
333secs.
At the 20x writing speed, the Samsung SW-224B comes second with 282secs ,same
with LiteOn LTR-24102B, and AOpen CRW2440 comes last with 285secs.
With 80min CDs, at the 24x writing speed, the Samsung SW-224B gets the first
place with 253sec. The Yamaha CRW3200E comes first with 240sec, while TEAC CD-W524E
second (247sec) and PleXWriter PX-W2410A third (259sec).
6. Writing Quality Tests
Samsung SW-224B
IDE CDR-W - Page 6
CDR Tests - Page 2
- Writing Quality tests
We used many media ,mostly 24x certified, and burned them at various recording
speeds with LiteOn LTR-32123S. We used Nero 5.5.7.0 as the CDR software. The
produced CDs, were measured from DigitalDrives
and results are illustrated in the following tables:
- 20x writing speed
|
Brand
|
C1
|
Average Burning Time (mins)
|
|
Max
|
Average
|
|
Taiyo Yuden 74min (24x)
|
22
|
0.2
|
4:18
|
|
Mitsui 74min (24x)
|
18
|
0.9
|
4:18
|
|
Mitsubishi Chemicals 74min (24x)
|
16
|
1.6
|
4:18
|
|
Mitsui 74min (16x)
|
30
|
0.9
|
4:18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mitsubishi Chemicals 80min (24x)
|
20
|
3.9
|
4:34
|
|
Ricoh 80min (24x)
|
18
|
1.9
|
4:38
|
|
SKC 80min (16x)
|
24
|
0.9
|
4:37
|
|
Taiyo Yuden 80min (24x)
|
11
|
0.1
|
4:36
|
The Samsung SW-224B produces low C1 error rate at the 20x writing speed. For
writing a fully 74min CD needs around 4:18mins and for a 80min 4:35mins.
- 24x writing speed
|
Brand
|
C1
|
Average Burning Time (mins)
|
|
Max
|
Average
|
|
Taiyo Yuden 74min (24x)
|
22
|
0.2
|
4:00
|
|
Mitsui 74min (24x)
|
18
|
1.0
|
4:01
|
|
Mitsubishi Chemicals 74min (24x)
|
11
|
1.5
|
4:00
|
|
Creation 74min (16x)
|
19
|
0.7
|
4:02
|
|
Sanyo Digital 74min (16x)
|
25
|
0.6
|
4:02
|
|
Mitsui 74min (16x)
|
14
|
0.3
|
4:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mitsubishi Chemicals 80min (24x)
|
16
|
3.3
|
4:14
|
|
Ritek 80min (24x)
|
39
|
1.2
|
4:15
|
|
Ricoh 80min (24x)
|
17
|
1.8
|
4:14
|
|
Taiyo Yuden 80min (24x)
|
12
|
0.1
|
4:14
|
|
Creation 80min (16x)
|
22
|
3.6
|
4:14
|
|
SKC 80min (16x)
|
39
|
0.8
|
4:15
|
The drive continues to produce low C1 error rate at the 24x writing speed.
For writing a full 74min CD needs around 4:00mins and for an 80min CD 4:15mins.
- Overburning Tests
The Samsung SW-224B supports overburning up to 99minutes!
- CD-Text Results
We created several AudioCDs with CD-Text enabled. The SamSung can write/read
CD-Text Audio CDs.
- CloneCD Tests
The
CloneCD v3.3.4.1 reports that the drive supports the DAO-RAW writing feature.
The drive also support "Buffer Underrun Protecion" From our tests
results DAO-RAW writing works without any problem for the SafeDisc 1/2, LaserLock
1/2 and SecuROM 2 protections.
- SD2 Support:
For the SD2 tests we used the "No One Lives For Ever", "Emperor
Battle for Dune" and "Max Payne" CD titles. We used the Samsung
SW-224B both as reader/writer. The produced backups did worked in several readers
we tested with, therefore the drive can produce SD2 working backups.
7. RW-Packet Writing Tests
Samsung
SW-224B IDE CDR-W - Page
7
RW Writing Tests
We used Nero 5.5.7.0 for writing CDs in maximum RW writing speed for all the
tested drives in 10x HS-RW media. All drives support fully the HS-RW writing
standard. The Samsung SW-224B performance was good and gets the third place
with 485secs. It is interesting that the drive had a very low erase time (31secs).:
- Packet Writing Tests
We used Ahead InCD v3.19/DirectCD v5.1 for the packet writing tests with
a Mitsubishi Chemicals HS-RW media. The formatted disc had 534mbs of free space.
We copied a 403 MB file (403.147 kbs) from a Hard Disk (on the same PC as the
writers) to the formatted RW media using Windows Explorer (we dragged and dropped)
and we completed the test twice to eliminate any possible time measurement faults
and user errors:
The Samsung SW-224B didn't performed very well in the packet writing tests.
The drive's reading/writing performance are lower than the top. The drive had
6.84X when writing and 9.96X when reading.
8. Conclusion
Samsung
SW-224B IDE CDR-W - Page
8
Conclusion
|
Positive (+)
|
Negative (-)
|
|
- Supports 24x writing speeds
- "ExacLink" anti-buffer underrun technology
- Can write most media at 24x writing speed
- Low C1 errors with almost all media
- Good PSX reading time
- Very good DAE quality with scratched CDs
- Supports DAO-RAW
- Good CloneCD reading performance
- Can backup SD2 protected CDs
- Supports reading/writing of SubChannel Data
- Supports CD-Text (reading/writing)
- Supports Overburning (up to 99mins)
- Supports Ultra-DMA 33 connection interface
- Retail package includes Nero 5.5x
- Low Price ($80-90)
- Very low hoise while operating
|
- Reading/writing performance in lower
than what competition offers
- Low packet writing performance
- Cannot read/rip protected AudioCDs
|
Samsung is one of the last few manufacturers that ships 24x writing CD-RW
drive. The overall performance is not the best you can find in this category
but it's not the worst either. The drive supports 24x writing, 10x re-writing
and 40x reading. In addition includes "ExacLink", overburing up to
99minutes and backups accurately SD2 protected CDs.
Getting into details, the drive will not limit the maximum writing speed,
and will burn them at 24x speed with low C1/C2 errors. The CloneCD reading performance
is quite good and can read/write SubChannel data. We must also note the drive's
overall noise-less operation.
On the dark side, the drive's overall reading/writing performance wasn't near
the top and in most tests, the Samsung SW-224B got the last place. Of course
the performance gap is not that big but users who wish the absolute reading/writing
performance might look for an alternative solution.
The price of the drive is something that will please users. The price/performance
mark of the drive is high enough to gain our "Safe Buy" award.
