- CD Format

In the first two comparison graphs, we can see that the PX 716 is the fastest in reading both Pressed and CDR media, due to its higher 48X maximum speed support, while the other drives have a max speed of 40X. With USRW media, the Plextor drive was the fastest reader, again due to its higher supported speed of 40X while the ASUS and LG drives support a maximum reading speed of the 32X.

- DVD Format

As we can see from the above graph, with SL media, all drives gave similar reading speeds due to the fact that all drives have the same reading strategy and reading speed.

The two layers of a PTP DVD-ROM disc are read sequentially with the drive starting the reading process from the inner part of the disc, which is the beginning of each layer, progressing towards the outer range for each layer. Since the release of the previous ASUS drive, the 1604P, things have improved here and the 1608P manages to not only start at the fastest speed, but has the fastest end speed as well.

The first layer of an OTP dual layer DVD-ROM is read exactly the same way as the first layer of the PTP disc we tested previously. The difference here is the reading strategy of the second layer on the disc. The beginning of the second layer is located in the outer part of the disc, so the drive starts reading from the outer tracks progressing toward the inner part of the disc. Excellent performance from the ASUS drive in this case too.

Very fast reading from the ASUS drive with DVD±R media and second fastest with the DVD±RW discs. The most consistent performer here is the Plextor PX-716A.

In the DVD Ripping test, the drive did not do that well, with less than half the rate of the Plextor drive.

-Appendix

Nero CD-DVD Speed Graphs

• CD Pressed / CD-R / US-RW
• DVD Pressed SL / DVD Pressed DL / DVD-R / DVD-RW / DVD+R / DVD+RW