- Writing Performance

The maximum supported speed is 16X CAV for both the DVD+R and DVD-R formats. For DVD+RW, the speed is 8X while for DVD-RW, 6X CLV.

By using Nero CD-DVD Speed with DVD-R and DVD+R media, we are able to see the writing strategy of the drive for both formats at 16X burning speed.

• 16X DVD+R Single Layer writing

The drive successfully completed DVD writing at 16X in 5:44mins. The test started at 6.72X, reached a maximum writing speed of just under 16X (despite CD-DVD Speed reporting 12.91X) with an average speed of 11.83X. Once more, as with the previous LG drive tested (the 5169D), the drive tends to fluctuate in speed near the end of the disc.

• 16X DVD-R Single Layer writing

The drive completed successful DVD writing of -R media at 16X speed in 5:51mins. The test started at 6.69X, reached a maximum writing speed of 15.67X and reported an average speed of 11.78X.

- Burning Tests

• DVD-R media

Overall, good writing times. Most of the media were burned at their certified speeds, except for three 16X media, which were burned lower speeds. With 8X media, things went pretty smoothly, while we even encountered overspeeding with Ricoh 8X -R media, which was burned at 16X. Best burn (speed wise) came with Datawrite/Ridisc media, burned in 5:32mins at 16X speed.

• DVD+R media

When using DVD+R media, things were even better, where we only encountered one media that was burned at lower than its certified speed (BenQ 8X burned at 4X with a reported time of 14:34mins).

- Comparison with other drives

Quite good times from the LG GSA2166D in comparison to the other two drives.

With rewritable media, the Samsung drive reported the best times, with the LG close behind.

- DVD Overburning Test

Unfortunately, the drive does not support DVD overburning for either of the -R or +R media formats.

- DVD-RAM

Now we will see how the drive performs when DVD-RAM media is inserted. According to the manufacturer's specs, the drive can read and write DVD-RAM media at the maximum speed of 5X.

According to Maxell: "DVD-RAM is an advanced recording media format that offers a range of digital data applications. Its phase-change recording material allows discs to be re-recordable and erasable, and a superior defect management system ensures accurate recording and playback. DVD-RAM allows instant, random access to any location on the disc for fast and easy data reading and writing. Because DVD-RAM supports fast formatting and no finalizing, it is an extremely easy-to-use media. And with DVD-RAM, changes can be made directly on the disc without the need to transfer data to a hard drive first, speeding up the editing tasks..."

- Burning Tests

Using NeroCDSpeed, we got the following graph:

The test started at 3.23X burning speed and was completed in 12:26 mins with a max speed of 5.13X and a reported average speed of 4.74X. Note here that in the create data disc test, the drive does not enable WOPC with DVD-RAM. If we were to write the same amount of data with Nero and a DVD-RAM disc, it would take 30mins, more or less, for a full burn.