1. Introduction
Samsung SW-232B
IDE CDR-W - Page 1
- Introduction
has
been another manufacturer that shipped many optical storage solutions in 2001.
Even Samsung never really lead the writing race, its models were very popular
among users due to their good features and the very low price. The Samsung SW-232B
has to compete other manufacturers (Ricoh, AOpen, CyberDrive, LiteOn) in the
32x writing platform.. We compare the Samsung SW-224B with Ricoh MP7320A, AOpen
CRW3248, CyberDrive CW-058D and LiteOn LTR-32123S.
- Features
The
drive supports 32x writing (Z-CLV) max speed among with "JustLink"
and "JustSpeed" technologies. As it seems Samsung changed chipsets
for the SW-224B model (OAK Technologies) to Ricoh's. The supported writing speeds
are 4x, 8x, 12x, 16x (CLV), 24x, 32x (Z-CLV) and re-writing speeds 4x and 10
(CLV). The drive also includes 8MB of buffer and supports all available writing
modes (TAO, SAO, DAO, Multisession and Packet Writing). There is no support
for Mt. Rainier format. Samsung said that this will adopted in the upcoming
SW-240B model.
In order to achieve the 32x writing speeds Samsung has chosen the Z-CLV writing
technology. When a recorder uses the Zone CLV recording method, the CD is divided
into 3 zones from the inner to the outer side of the CD, and within each these
zones the recording speed varies but it's always constant (CLV). The recording
process starts from the beginning of the disc in a constant speed in the first
zone. After a pre-defined time (when the next zone starts) the recording speed
automatically elevates to a higher speed. At the speed switching point, the
anti-buffer underrun technology (in our case JustLink) is used to assure the
transition with no data loss or corruption.
Samsung starts writing at 16x from the lead-in area for 2 minutes, shifts
up to 20x at 6mins, shifts up to 24x at 14mins, shifts up to 28x and continues
to write until the end of the disc at that speed. With all used media, we didn't
achieved to get a graph with the 32x writing speed upon. The drive's average
writing speed is 25.51X for 28x recording. Also the actual recording speeds,
showed a rather slow performance for the drive. Maybe with future updates, more
media will be supported to adopt 32x recording speed.
- The package
The
tested drive was the retail European package and included: the drive, a printed
manual in 4 languages, 1 piece (32x certified) of Samsung 74min 32x CD-R blank,
1 piece of Samsung 74min 4-10x High-Speed RW Blank, audio and IDE cables and
mounting screws. The attached software is Nero Burning ROM v5.5x OEM and Ahead
InCD v3.24 (for packet writing use).
The front of the drive includes the "Samsung", "High-Speed
RW" and the "RW32-10-40" logos, that shows up the drive's features.
You will also find only one small led, the eject button and the headphone input
jack/volume selector. Both the led and the eject button are back lighted with
a green color:
In the backside of the drive we will find the usual connectors (IDE interface,
power), the jumpers for making the drive Master/Slave, the SPDIF output connector
and the analog/digital output connectors:
- Installation
The Samsung SW-232B was installed as a Master in the secondary IDE BUS. The
drive worked in UDMA2 mode and after booting, identified itself as the "Samsung
CD-R/RW SW-232B". Under WinXP, DMA was activated automatically.
The drive was a April 2002 model with firmware revision vR3.00 installed.
We used the Nero (5.5.8.0), InCD (3.24.3) and CloneCD (3.3.4.1) for the recording
tests.
2. Data Tests
Samsung
SW-232B IDE CDR-W - Page
2
Data Tests
- SCSI Mechanic v3.0x results
The Samsung SW-232B is the slowest drive among the four tested recorders.
The drive has the lowest "Average Sequential" mark with 4567Kb/s and
performs very good at the "Average Random" test, due to low seek times.
- Pressed media: (click here
to see the CD Speed graph)
Using Nero CD Speed 0.85e, we confirmed the SCSI Mechanic results. The Samsung
SW-232B is the slowest drive with only 31.25X average reading speed. The problem
seems to be not the starting but ending reading speed . Aopen CRW3248 is the
fastest reader in this test with 37.31x average reading speed.
In the "Seek Times" test; the Samsung SW-232B performed very good
with only 86ms in the random seek test.
- CDR Media: (click here
to see the CD Speed graph)
With CD-R media, the Samsung finished the reading test in a higher speed than
in the pressed CD test, and the average reading speed is slightly improved to
31.97x. The performance is not the best in the test and is almost similar to
Ricoh's MP7320A.
- HS-RW Media: (Click here
to see the CD Speed graph)
For the RW tests, we used Ricoh HS-RW media. The Samsung has the lowest average
reading speed, with 25.31X:
3. CloneCD Reading Tests
Samsung
SW-232B IDE CDR-W - Page
3
CloneCD Reading
Tests
- Procedure
We used CloneCD (v4.0.0.0 beta 30) and 5 original CDs - Euro 2000 (SafeDisc
1), No One Lives For Ever / Serious Sam (SafeDisc 2), Rally Masters (LaserLock
1), Desperados (LaserLock 2) and V-Rally 2 Expert (SecuROM 2) - in order to
test the reading time of the drive. We also tested the reading performance with
backups of the original CDs, since the reading speed varies between original
and backup media. The following picture shows the drive's reading/writing capabilities:
- PSX pressed media
For this test we used the PSX game 'NBA Jam Extreme' and we ripped the image
to HD with CloneCD. We measured the reading times and the Samsung SW-232B gets
the fourth position with 280secs:
- SafeDisc v.2 results
With SafeDisc v2.0 protected CDs, the Samsung SW-232B has a good
performance and finished the task in less than 10 minutes.
- LaserLock 1/2 results
In the LaserLock v.1 protected CDs test, the Samsung SW-232B gave a very low
performance with the original disc. The results are better with the backup disc,
and the drive finished the task in 8 minutes.
Samsung SW-232B was extremely slow in the LaserLock v.2 test and took 2 hours
to finish the original disc test.
- SecuROM Results
Samsung SW-232B can read SubChannel data from Data/Audio tracks fast. The
drive gets the second position behind the slightly faster LiteOn LTR-32123S.
4. DAE Tests
Samsung
SW-232B IDE CDR-W - Page
4
DAE Tests
- Test Method
We used CD DAE 99 v0.3 beta and EAC v0.9 beta 2 software in order to check
the DAE performance of the drive with various AudioCDs (both pressed and CDR).
The posted DAE results are the average of both applications. We made a full
CD Rip starting from the first to the last track of the CD. The Average DAE
reported speeds are displayed in the test graphs.
- DAE features
As the program reported, the drive does not "Caching" of data, supports
"Accurate Stream" and "C2 Error info".
- Pressed AudioCD results
The Samsung drive supports up to 32x DAE with both pressed and CDR media.
The actual average DAE ripping performance (23.5X) is much lower than what the
competition offers:
- CDR AudioCD Results
The drive has the same performance as with pressed CDs. The average reading
speed of 23.6X is considered low, since the competition shows increased ripping
speeds:
- EAC Secure Extract Ripping mode
After many viewer-requests we have added the EAC's secure extract ripping
mode results, which ensures maximum produced WAV quality. Notice that for each
drive we used the build-in detection function:
|
Tested Drives
|
Average DAE Speed (X)
|
|
Pressed
|
CDR
|
|
Samsung SW-232B
|
9.2
|
9.3
|
|
LiteOn LTR-32123S
|
4.4
|
5.0
|
|
AOpen CRW3248
|
20.1
|
20.3
|
|
CyberDrive CW-058D
|
11.2
|
11.3
|
|
Ricoh MP7320A
|
7.3
|
7.4
|
- Advanced DAE Quality
The Samsung SW-232B performed excellently at the Nero CD Speed Advanced DAE
quality test. The drive produced 0 data/sync errors and got a perfect score
(100). The drive can read "CD-Text" AudioCDs and SubChannel data info.
- Bad CDR Media results
Despite the fact that Nero CD Speed Advanced DAE test stretches drive's mechanism
to the max, we decided to do real life tests with a scratched disc. The disc
was dirty, and with some light scratches, enough in order cause problems to
most of the tested drives. We used CD DAE 99 software to rip the whole disc
(756539616 sectors) and the results were very interesting:
|
|
Average Speed (X)
|
Errors
|
Errors Of Total Disc (%)
|
|
Samsung SW-232B
|
8.4
|
67189
|
0.01
|
|
LiteOn LTR-32123S
|
14.4
|
906044
|
0.12
|
|
AOpen CRW3248
|
8.4
|
313
|
0
|
|
CyberDrive CW058D
|
27.2
|
17617
|
0
|
|
Ricoh MP7320A
|
13.3
|
50892
|
0.01
|
As the tests showed, Samsung SW-232B gave 67189 read errors while reading
our test disc. The amount of errors is the 0.01% of the total data and
the average ripping speed is 8.4x. The performance can be considered as good,
since only LiteOn LTR-32123S gave a worst result.
- CD-Check Audio Test
Digital Recordings
CD-CHECK is a compact disc which allows evaluation of the CD player's "error
correction headroom" (i.e. player's ability to correct data errors) and
"tracking" (i.e. player's ability to stay on track despite of disc
surface or other errors). CD-CHECK uses special digital signals in combination
with disc error patterns arranged over five tracks. The five tracks contain
a sequence of progressively difficult tests referred to as Check Level-1 to
Check Level-5. The higher the Check Level passed the more reliable the sound
reproduction of the CD player. A smooth, continuous tone of 20-seconds indicates
the player passes that Check Level. Any clicks, interruptions, skipping or looping
indicates failure of a Check Level.
|
CD-CHECK error sizes
|
|
Check Level-1
|
standard manufacturing errors
|
|
Check Level-2
|
0.375 mm
|
|
Check Level-3
|
0.750 mm
|
|
Check Level-4
|
1.125 mm
|
|
Check Level-5
|
1.500 mm
|
We tested the Samsung SW-232B with the following procedure: We used WinXP
Windows Media Player to playback the disc, and using headphones we listened
all tracks. A continuous tone of 20 seconds plays in each track. If the drive
playbacks without an audible pop or click occurring during playback of the tone
it passes the check level. The tests are repeated five times. A result of 5/5
indicates that no pops or clicks were heard in 5 out of 5 playbacks of a particular
track. A result of 0/5 means pops or clicks occurred during all 5 playbacks
of a particular track. Digital Recordings provides the following interpretation
of results:
· Level-1 Pass: Player meets minimum requirements
· Level-2 Pass: Average error correction
· Level-3 Pass: Good error correction
· Level-4 Pass: Very good error correction
· Level-5 Pass: Excellent error correction
- Test Results
|
Error Level
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
|
Samsung SW-232B
|
5/5
|
4/5
|
0/5
|
0/5
|
0/5
|
The drive did not manage to completely fulfill the 2nd level error correction
requirements, and failed to successfully playback (no audible pops or clicks)
the other level tones.
- Ripping 90 and 99min CDs
The drive can read up to 99min without any problems.
- Reading Protected AudioCDs
For the test procedure we used 3 protected AudioCDs, which we tested in both
recognition and ripping (with CD DAE) processes:
* Pressed AudioCD with Sony Key2Audio
* Pressed AudioCD with Cactus Data Shield 200 (Natalie Imbruglia - White Lilies
Island)
* CDR AudioCD protected with Cactus Data Shield (CDS100) - made with Clone Audio
Protector v1.1 (adding 30 secs lead-out)
|
|
Key2Audio
|
CDS200
|
CDS100
|
|
EAC
|
|
Samsung SW-232B
|
Cannot recognize disc contents
|
Reads all tracks as Data tracks - ripping
impossible
|
|
AOpen CRW3248
|
Cannot recognize disc contents
|
Rips entire disc without problems
|
|
CyberDrive CW058D
|
Rips entire disc without problems
|
Rips entire disc without problems
|
|
LiteOn LTR-32123S
|
Cannot recognize disc contents
|
Recognizes tracks, cannot rip
|
|
Ricoh MP7320A
|
Cannot recognize disc contents
|
Cannot recognize disc contents
|
As the test results showed, the Samsung SW-232B is not prepared to handle any
AudioCD protected disc.
5. CDR Tests
Samsung
SW-232B IDE CDR-W - Page
5
CDR Tests
- 74min CDs
We created a "DataCD" with an amount of data slightly higher than
74mins (74:03:65). We burned the same data amount with all 4 CDR-W drives:
Samsung SW-232B gave the same writing time result with Ricoh MP7320A (316 sec).
This performance was measured with the "JustSpeed" option off.
At the 24x Z-CLV writing speed, the Samsung finished in 3:54. This is the
best result we got in the 24x writing test and comes with Taiyo Yuden 74min
24x media (JustSpeed Off).
At the maximum writing speed of 32x, the Samsung SW-232B finished writing
in 208secs. This result also came with Taiyo Yuden 74min 24x media (JustSpeed
Off). In the same test, CyberDrive is 5 seconds faster.
We were also surprised when we experienced a "coaster"
with at the maximum writing speed with the "JustSpeed" option disabled.
- 80min CDs
As with the previous test, we created a DataCD (80:01:47) and used the same
media for all burns:
Again the Samsung SW-232B has the highest recording time at the 16x CLV speed,
with 80min CDs. The drive needs 339secs, while the CyberDrive CW-058D needs
only 324secs.
At the 24x writing test, the Samsung SW-232B comes third with 248secs.
In the 32x writing speed, the Samsung SW-232B finished writing in 221 seconds,
close to the competition.
- Other features
|
Overburning Writing
|
Up to 99mins
|
|
CD-Text (Read/Write)
|
Yes/Yes
|
|
8cm CDs
|
Yes
|
- CloneCD Writing Tests
CloneCD
v4.0.0.0 beta 30 reports that the drive supports the DAO-RAW feature. We performed
our usual tests and we confirmed that both drives support the DAO-RAW writing
mode at the following CD protections: SafeDisc 1, LaserLock 1/2 and SecuROM
2 CD protections.
- SD2 Support
For the SD2 test we used the "Emperor: Battle for Dune", "Max
Payne", "Serious Sam - The Second Encounter" and "Medal
of Honour Allied Assault" game titles. We used the drive both as reader/writer
at the maximum reading/recording speed. The produced backups didn't worked with
various readers. Howver using "Amplify Weak Sectors" setting of latest
CloneCD v4.x series can overpass it...
6. Writing Quality Tests
Samsung SW-232B
IDE CDR-W - Page 6
Writing Quality Tests
We used many media and burned them at various recording speeds with Samsung
SW-232B. We used Nero 5.5.8.0 as the CDR software. The produced CDs were measured
by DigitalDrives
and the results are illustrated in the following tables:
- 32x writing speed
|
Brand
|
C1
|
Average Burning Time (mins)
|
|
Max
|
Average
|
|
Taiyo Yuden 74min 32x (JustSpeed On)
|
12
|
0.3
|
3:35
|
|
Taiyo Yuden 74min 32x (JustSpeed Off)
|
13
|
0.4
|
3:28
|
|
Mitsui 74min 24x (JustSpeed on)
|
3418
|
268.3
|
3:57
|
|
Mitsui 74min 24x (JustSpeed off)
|
4361
|
1381.7
|
3:52
|
|
Mitsui 74min 16x (JustSpeed on)
|
897
|
62.8
|
3:59
|
|
Taiyo Yuden 80min 32x (JustSpeed On)
|
95
|
9.1
|
3:45
|
|
Taiyo Yuden 80min 32x (JustSpeed Off)
|
172
|
11.5
|
3:41
|
|
Samsung 80min 32x( JustSpeed on)
|
24
|
1.9
|
3:55
|
|
Mitsui 80min 32x (JustSpeed on)
|
20
|
0.3
|
3:43
|
|
Mitsui 80min 32x (JustSpeed off)
|
25
|
0.5
|
3:35
|
|
Intenso 80min 32x (JustSpeed on)
|
24
|
1.8
|
3:43
|
|
Intenso 80min 32x (JustSpeed off)
|
25
|
1.9
|
3:35
|
|
Ricoh 80min 24x (JustSpeed
On)
|
22
|
0.8
|
4:17
|
|
Ricoh 80min 24x (JustSpeed
Off)
|
23
|
2.0
|
4:07
|
Samsung SW-232B showed a mixed behaviour with CD-R media, The drive worked
best with Mitsui 80min 32x and with Taiyo Yuden 74min 32x certified media. The
C1 error rate with that media is low but...with other media will produce high
error rate.
With some media, (Taiyo Yuden 80min 32x) there seems to be a problem within
the 25-35minutes, where the drive produces high C1 error rate. This was noticed
either with JustSpeed On/Off.
7. RW Writing Tests
Samsung
SW-232B IDE CDR-W - Page
7
RW Writing Tests
We used Nero 5.5.8.0 for writing CDs in maximum RW writing speed for all the
tested drives in 10x HS-RW media. All drives support fully the HS-RW writing
standard. The Samsung SW-232B performance was low with 486secs. It is interesting
that the drive had a low erase time (28secs):
- Packet Writing Tests
We used Ahead InCD v3.24.3 for the packet writing tests with Ricoh HS-RW
media. The formatted disc had 534mbs of free space. We copied a 403 MB file
(403.147 kbs) from a Hard Disk (on the same PC as the writers) to the formatted
RW media using Windows Explorer (we dragged and dropped) and we completed the
test twice to eliminate any possible time measurement faults and user errors:
The Samsung SW-224B didn't perform very well in the packet writing tests.
The drive had 6.9X when writing and 16.5X when reading.
8. Conclusion
Samsung
SW-232B IDE CDR-W - Page
8
Conclusion
|
Positive (+)
|
Negative (-)
|
|
- Supports 32x writing speed
- 8MB buffer
-"JustLink" anti-buffer underrun technology
-"JustSpeed" technology
- Low seek times
- Supports DAO-RAW
- Supports reading/writing of SubChannel Data
- Supports CD-Text (reading/writing)
- Supports Overburning (up to 99mins)
- Supports 90/99min CDs
- Retail package includes Nero 5.5x
|
- Reading/writing performance in lower
than what competition offers
- Low writing quality with specific media
- Lower HS-RW reading speed than competition
- Lower DAE speed than competition
- Poor error correction capabilities
- Cannot read/rip protected AudioCDs
- Low CloneCD reading performance
- Cannot backup SD2 protected CDs
- Price ($127)
|
Samsung SW-232B supports 32x CD-R writing, 10x rewriting and 40x reading speeds.
The drive is equipped with a 8MB buffer and features the "JustLink"
and "JustSpeed" technologies. The CD-R reading performance of the
drive is not low but the competition is high and sets the limits. However, in
the same test we saw that the seek times of the drive are low. The HS-RW reading
test showed that Samsung SW-232B couldn't read faster than 26x. CloneCD users
would not be pleased with the Samsung drive, since the drive is slow and cannot
handle the SD v.2 protected CDs.
Overburning up to 99min is allowed and 90/99min CDs can be read/written. CD
text option for audio CDs is also available. The weakness of the drive is the
limited DAE speed and the poor error correction capabilities. Samsung SW-232B
did not pass more than the first two levels in the CD-CHECK quality extraction
test. This result was also confirmed in the "bad media" rip test.
Last, the audio protected CDs cannot be handled by the Samsung drive.
During the CD-R writing tests, we saw that the "JustSpeed" feature
does not allow writing at maximum speed even with 32x certified media. Also
the recording times were higher than the competition and sometimes even higher
with specific media. The produced writing quality was generally high, except
from two cases where the drive produced higher C1 error rates. This occurred
when we burned Mitsui 74min 24x (JustSpeed On/Off) and Taiyo Yuden 80min 32x
(JustSpeed Off).
Samsung SW-232B is not the fastest drive you can find in the category and the
available prices are around $130 - not the cheaper you can find around. Future
firmware upgrades are expected to improve the overall performance.