- Writing Performance

The LG GSA-5160D supports DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW and DVD-RAM writing. The maximum supported speeds are 16X Z-CLV for DVD+R, 8X Z-CLV for DVD-R, 4X CLV for DVD±RW, 2.4X CLV for DVD+R9 and 5X Z-CLV for DVD-RAM media.

Nero Burning Rom reported speeds are shown below, after inserting a DVD+R 16X certified disc.

Using Nero CD-DVD Speed with DVD-R and DVD+R media, we are able to see the writing strategy in each of the cases.

• DVD+R media @ 16X

• DVD+R media @ 12X

• DVD+R media @ 8X

• DVD-R media @ 8X

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- Burning Tests

• DVD-R/-RW media

Best performance came with Maxell 8X media. It burned in only 7:48mins. In one case, that of the 3A 8X media, the maximal writing speed was 4X, indicating a lack of medialist, which would be solved in a future firmware upgrade. Burning DVD-RW media, all other inserted media but the Verbatim one, would be recognized as 2X maximum allowed burning speed. This is also a matter that sould be tend to by a future firmware upgrade.

• DVD+R media

Faster burn with the Verbatim 16X +R as seen in the burned medialist above. Note once again the short media burned, only two 16X burned, once more, due to a lack of the current firmwares medialist. On the other hand, there is a wider range of 8X media that can be burned at 12X.

- Comparison with other drives

With the +R media format, the LG GSA-5160D performed very well, reaching the first place. On the other hand, with the -R media format, the LG drive came last. Until now, this is the drives only "flaw".

With DVD re-writable media, the fastest burner is the LG, with only slight differences regarding the speed.

- DVD Overburning Tests

Using Nero CD-DVD Speed, we made a test to verify if the drive can overburn using DVD+R and DVD-R media. Unfortunately, the drive does not support overburning, giving the following error with all inserted media.

• DVD-R media

• DVD+R media

- DVD+MRW Tests

The drive doesn't support the Mount Rainier feature.