Memorex DVD±RW True-8x - Page 1

Memorex is a well-known supplier of storage and multimedia solutions. The True 8X Dual Format DVD is the company's latest DVD writer and supports both +R and -R formats at the maximum speed of 8x.

- Features

Buffer Memory: Equipped with 2MB buffer memory, virtually eliminating buffer underruns and preventing loss of time and media.

Smart-Burn Buffer Underrun Protection: Comprehensive Buffer Underrun Management system which monitors and adapts Recording Technology for burnings.

Precision Recording Technology: claimed to offer good overwrite performance, significantly supporting more advanced technology.

Defect Management: This drive features the DRT-DM (Distributed Real Time Defect Management) system, offering the higher reliability for recorded discs.

Vibration Absorber System (VAS): Imbalanced discs can cause vibrations that affect performance during high-speed recording and playback. VAS is designed to the resonance frequency of the drive rotating speed. The vibration will be inducted into the absorber to get the minimum vibration.

Smart-X Function: technology adjusts CD-DA/VCD data extraction to the fastest allowable speed according to both data request rates from host and disc quality.

The drive uses a 2MB buffer memory. The RAW DAO 96 writing (CD) is supported while Mount Rainier is not. Memorex uses the RPC II region control, allowing a user to change the drive's region at most 5 times. For our tests, we set the region code to 2 (Europe).

- Retail package

All software and hardware parts, except from the writer are bundled in a smaller box inside the retail package. That box contains a Memorex blank DVD+R disc, an IDE cable, an audio cable, mounting screws, a quick setup map and a very detailed installation manual among with an extended Nero Vision Express guide.

On the software part includes Nero Express Software Suite

• Nero Express 6
• NeroVision Express 2
• InCD
• Nero BackItUp
• Nero ShowTime
• Nero Cover Designer
• Nero Recode 2
• Nero Media Player

- The drive

The drive's front panel is colored black while the loading tray is gray. On the tray you can see the CD-RW, DVD+R/R, DVD-R/RW and Memorex logos, from right to left. Below the tray door, on the right is the eject button and next to it two ventilation holes.Next to them is the busy led indicator and finally the emergency eject hole is placed on the left side.

On the rear panel there are the analogue audio outputs, the IDE connector and the power input.

Removing the screws and opening the drive's cover voids the drive's warranty. For reference reasons, we post the following pictures. The comparison with the Pioneer DVR-10D is unavoidable.

- Installation

The Memorex drive was connected to our test PC and was identified as "Memorex DVD+/-RW True-8x" under WinXP. All tests were done with firmware v1.06.

The following pages include the test results of the Memorex drive in comparison to two other dual DVD burners, the Pioneer-107D and the Nec-2500A