Plextor PX-712A Dual DVD±RW Recorder - Page 2

Transfer Rate Reading Tests

- CD Format

The PX-712A normally supports up to 40X reading speed. With the integraded "SpeedRead CD" function we "boosted" the drive reading speed up to 48X for use with our pressed CD and CD-R media and performed the tests.

The PX-712A is faster than its predecessor, the PX-708A, due to the increased reading maximum speed (48X). The average trasnfer rate was about 36.53X and 36.43X for pressed CD/CD-R media respectively.

With US-RW media the drive's maximum speed is 40X, resulting in a lower average speed of 31.4X.

- DVD Format

The PX-712A reads the pressed PTP Single Layer media up to ( 6~) 16X CAV! The average reading speed is 12.1X, making the drive really fast. Very good performance from PX-712A!

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, towards the outer area, for each layer. The average reading speed drops to 9.06X (due to 5~12X CAV).

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 of 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 is 9.03X (again 5~12X CAV).

As was expected, the PX-712A will read any DVD recordable/rewritable media at 5~12X (CAV). The average reading speed reaches 9.05X.

Normally, the Plextor PX-712A will read by default CSS DVD-Video discs at 2X CLV speed. For normal use this is very good since there are no vibrations and extensive noise. However when you need to quickly "rip" a movie to HDD this causes a major headache...ripping time!

Plextor has recognized this problem and offers two ways to "remove" the specific problem:

• By pressing the eject button for 3 seconds (no disc inserted)
• By using PlexTools intergraded "SpeedRead DVD" function

- Appendix

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