DVD Error Correction Tests

In the following tests we examined the DVD reading capabilities of Asus with scratched / defective DVD media. For the tests we used CDVD Benchmark and Nero CDSpeed. The reference test media come from ALMEDIO.

- Single Layer media

ABEX TDR-821

This is a single sided, single layer DVD-ROM with a 4.7GB capacity, and its surface has an artificial scratch of dimensions varying from 0.4 to 3.0 mm. The following transfer rate picture comes from the CDVD Benchmark v1.21 transfer rate test.

The above screenshot shows that the Asus drive managed to finish the error correction test without problem. The process was fast and with CAV reading strategy the test finished without read errors.

ABEX TDR-825

This is also a single sided, single layer DVD-ROM with 4.7GB capacity. The data structure of the disc is exactly the same as that of the TDR-821, with the difference that there are no scratches on the surface and instead defective areas ranging in dimensions from 0.5 to 1.1 mm. There are also fingerprints with height between 65 and 75 micrometers.

Although this is test disc has more defects than the previous test media, the error correction test finished without read errors. Moreover, the drive didn't change reading speed while reading through the defective areas as the above screenshot shows.

- Dual Layer media

ABEX TDR-841

This is an 8.5GB dual layer, single sided DVD-ROM disc with artificial scratches of dimensions ranging from 0.4 to 3.0mm, on both layers.

 

The Dual layer media was not a problem for the Asus drive. Once again with CAV reading strategy and a high end speed, the error correction test completed without read errors.

ABEX TDR-845

This disc is a single sided, dual layer DVD-Rom disc with capacity of 8.5GB. The only difference between the TDR-845 and the TDR-841 is that the first includes both defective areas and fingerprints. The dimensions of the defective areas range from 0.5 to 1.1 mm and the fingerprints have height sized from 65 to 75 microns (micrometers).

 

The above screenshot comes from CDVD and shows the reading performance of the Asus DRW0804P during the reading process of the most difficult defective media. Once again the error correction performance of the Asus drive was excellent, since the drive finished the test without read errors and with a high end speed. As the screenshot shows, at some areas, the drive changed reading speed to overcome the defects but the overall performance wasn't effected.

ABEX TDV-541

The TDV-541 is a single sided, dual layer DVD-VIDEO disc, with a capacity of 8.5GB.The disc is based on the TDV-540 series which is designed for inspection and adjustment of DVD-VIDEO players. The disc checks the layer switch operation from layer 0 to layer 1 and also includes test pictures and test signals for DVD sound files. The current TDV-541 also checks the error correcting capabilities of the drive and includes scratches sized from 0.4 to 3.0 mm.

On this test, although the drive managed to read the first layer without problem, after the layer switch operation it changed the reading speed from 8X to 6X in order to read the defective areas. Although the average reading speed of the Asus wasn't as high as in the previous error correction tests, NeroCDSpeed reported no errors.

ABEX TDV-545

The TDV-545 disc is based on the TDV-540 series. It is a single sided, dual layer Video/S-2 disc with a capacity of 8.5GB. The TDV-545 includes artificial black dots on the disc's surface, sized from 0.4 to 1.0 mm. It also has 65 - 75 micrometers high fingerprints.

 

The last DVD error correction reading test, finished fast with a high end speed and no read errors.