DVD Error Correction Tests

In the following tests we examined the DVD reading capabilities of the BenQ 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 reading strategy of the BenQ according to the specifications, is CAV and that was confirmed by CDVD Benchmark. The defective disc was read, reaching an end speed of about 12x, a speed that is very acceptable. As shown in the above screenshot, the drive managed to read all the disc, including the defective area. The thickness of the yellow line indicates that the drive had many small deviations in speed during the read process, and especially at the beginning of the defective area where there is a vertical band where there was also a read error (red dot). Hence, we cannot consider the error correction performance of the drive for this test, as perfect.

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.

The reading performance of the BenQ in this test was similar to that with the previously tested disc. The drive read the disc under CAV with high end speed and with a large number of small speed fluctuations. Moreover a read error was reported by CDVD a little after the first marks in the defective area.

- 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 above screenshot shows that in this test, the error correction performance of the BenQ with the Dual Layer DVD-Rom was without error. The drive read both layers smoothly, under CAV and with high end speed. In contrast to the previous tests with single layer media, on this disc no read errors occurred.

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 (micrometres).

Just as with the previous test with dual layer DVD-Rom, the performance of the BenQ with the 845 test disc was without error, and the test finished with an end speed at around 9x.

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.

NeroCDSpeed here to confirms the very good error correction capabilities of the BenQ. The drive managed to read both layers smoothly and the test finished without errors. The reported average reading speed was 6.05x while the reported seek times are quite acceptable and could be considered among the fastest we have seen.

 

 

 

 

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 micrometres high fingerprints.

The reading and error correction process of the BenQ with the Abex TDV-545 was once again impressive. The NeroCDSpeed screenshot shows smooth reading under CAV strategy, acceptable average speed and fast seek times.