LaCie d2 DL DVD±RW Recorder - Page 2

Transfer Rate Reading Tests

- CD Format

The LaCie d2 DL DVD±RW recorder supports up to 40X reading speed. Below are the transfer rate graphs, along with a comparison with the SONY DRU-700A:

The LaCie d2 DL DVD±RW and SONY DRU-700A recorders reported similar results with CD format discs. The NEC ND-2510A also had similar values as LaCie's drive, as would be expected.

- DVD Format

When pressed single layer DVD media was used, the SONY DRU-700A drive was faster than the LaCie d2 DL. LaCie 's drive again had speed values similar to the NEC ND-2510A, as well as the Plextor PX-708A.

The two layers of a PTP DVD-ROM disc are read sequentially with the drive starting reading from the inner part of the disc, which is the beginning of each layer, advancing towards the outer range for each layer. The LaCie d2 DL drive was again slower than the Sony drive, and this time the speed differences were greater than before.

The graph shown above indicates the reading performance of the LaCie d2 DL DVD±RW recorder with OTP dual layer media. 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 toward the inner part of the disc. The average reading speed was 5.40X (ND-2510A had 5.41X) with a minimum value of 2.98X (2.87X for ND-2510A) and a maximum value of 7.20X (7.21X for ND-2510A).

As shown above, the LaCie d2 DL drive continued to be slower, even if only slightly so, than the SONY DRU-700A drive with DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW as well.

NEC's official firmware for the ND drive series incorporates rip lock. Since the same firmware is used for the LaCie d2 drive, while the drive is capable of higher speeds, the firmware prevents it from ripping at speeds higher than the imposed upper limit of 5.2~5.5X. This explaines the difference in ripping speed shown above. Although the ripping speed has been increased in the 2.15 firmware version, rip lock is still active. There is no official firmware up to now to disable this speed restriction.

• Pressed CD - Seek Times, CDR Media - Seek Times,
• Pressed Single Layer DVD-ROM - Seek Times, Pressed PTP Dual Layer DVD-ROM - Seek Times

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