- CD Format

With both Pressed and CDR media and using the Nero CD-DVD Speed utility, we got the following readings regarding the LG GSA 4167B's reading transfer rates.

With Pressed CD media, the 4167B performed well. In our tests, it didn't quite reach the manufacturer's specifications of 48X reading speed, stopping short at 46.95X with an average speed of 35.22X.

Using CDR media, the LG drive performed better than with Pressed CD media, having an average speed of 36.37X and an end speed of 48.47X.

This time using USRW media, the LG drive was the fastest among the comparison drives. Generally good performance with CD media.

- DVD Format

We repeated the procedure, this time using Pressed Single and Dual layer DVD media, as well as DVD±R-RW media. The results are shown in the following graphs.

In this test, all drives performed equally well, with the LG drive being the fastest SL DVD-ROM reader even if the difference is marginal.

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, progressing towards the outer range for each layer. Again speed differences are negligible, with the Pioneer drive achieving the fastest reading speed this time.

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 towards the inner part of the disc. Here too, the Pioneer drive was fastest, even if only slightly, with the LG close behind.

Highest speeds were reported by the NEC drive, followed by the Pioneer 110D. The LG drive was the slowest among the three drives with both write once and RW media.

One would think that without a Plextor drive in the comparison, the LG would take first place as the fastest DVD ripper. But with the riplock out of commission on the Pioneer DVR-110, the outcome differs. At 9155 Kb/s, the LG proved to be a good ripper.

- DVD-RAM

DVD-RAM reading has always been a standard feature with LG drives and the 4167B is no exception. The LG drive can read up to 5X DVD-RAM (v2.2) at 3~5 P-CAV, as the following Nero CD Speed graph shows.

-Appendix Nero CD-DVD Speed Graphs

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