1. Introduction - CyQve3248
32x
CD-RW Roundup Vol 4 - Page
1
Which one is
the faster?
- Introduction
The 32X recording looks appealing to new users, since there is no demand for
high-end CD-R media and the retail prices of the drives are lower. We test two
new drives from CyQve and LG that tend to compete with established performers.
What new features the two new drives give to its possible buyers? How the two
new drives look compared with other drives? Let's find out...
- CyQve 3248
The
drive supports 32x writing (Z-CLV), 12x re-writing, has a 8MB Buffer and supports
the "JustLink" and "JustSpeed" technologies.
The exact supported writing speeds are 4x, 8x, 12x, 16x (CLV), 20x, 24x, 28x
and 32x (16-32x) (Z-CLV). The re-writing speeds are 4x, 10x and 12x (CLV). The
maximum reading speed is 48x (CAV). Initially the drive will read your discs
at 40x. The key point for CQ3248 to reach 48x reading speed is to press the
eject button for 5 or more sec. Then you will see the green light flash twice
in the left side of the front panel and that means CQ3248 can read any data
at 48x. Notice that each time you reboot your PC, you will have to press the
eject button again.
However, we did not manage to make the drive a 48x reader, as you will see
in the reading test results. MET with the latest firmware revision
offers the 48x speed without the need of the above procedure, our attempts to
upgrade the drive failed, that's why all tests have accomplished in the 40X
speed.
The drive supports all the known writing modes (DAO, SAO, TAO and RAW), among
with packet write/overburning option. There is no support of the Mt. Rainier
format.
MET offers the "Perfect Write" recording software that can be used
only with CyQve 3248/4048 recorders to fine-tune the writing with unknown media.
The software tests various CD-R discs to figure out the writing parameters that
suit your drive such as optimal burning speed, laser power and so on. Then user
can save all the parameter settings for a future burning.
Usually, the supported media list is stored in the drive's firmware. If the
disc you use is not on the list, the CD-RW drive will burn it with the default
parameters. This may cause writing error or writing break. If you want your
drive to extend its supported media list, you must wait for new firmware upgrade.
"Perfect Write" allow you to burn enough media with your burner. However,
this function only can go with special designed hardware and firmware. Only
the CD-RW drives, which support "Perfect Write", can use this technology.
CyQve CQ 3248/4048 users can download this utility from this page..In
order to use the "Perfect Write" software, you need the latest firmware.
- 32x writing speed
CyQve 3248 supports 32x-writing speed using the Z-CLV writing technology. Below
is the Nero CD Speed writing graph, which illustrates the writing technology:
The 32x writing speed range is divided into five zones: The drive starts writing
at 16x from lead-in till the 4mins, then shifts up to 20x until 12mins, shifts
up again to 24x at 16mins, climbs to 28x at 28mins and lastly shifts to 32x
at 40mins and stays there until the end of the burning process. The theoretical
average recording speed is 27.24X with 80min discs.
- The package
The
package supplied contained: the drive, 1 piece of RICOH 80min 32x CD-R blank,
1 piece of CyQve 80min 4-12x HS-RW blank (unknown manufacturer 97m10s00f code),
audio cable and mounting screws. The software supplied with the drive was Nero
Burning ROM v5.5.7.2 and Ahead InCD v3.22 (for packet writing use).
The package also includes a demo version of CyberLink's PowerDirector v2.0
and a full version of InterVideo's WinRip (Mp3 Encoder/Player). You will also
find a printed manual for the drive and for Nero software. The retail package
costs around Euro80.
On the front of the drive there are the "CyQve", "32x12x48",
"JustLink" and "High-Speed RW" logos. There is one operation
led, the eject button and the headphone input jack/volume selector:
In the rear panel of the drive we will find the usual connectors (IDE interface,
power), the jumpers for making the drive Master/Slave, the SPDIF output connector,
the analog/digital output connectors and 3 jumpers which are used to setup the
drive's working mode (UDMA33 or PIO-4Mode):
- Installation
CyQve 3248 was installed as a Master in the secondary IDE BUS. The drive worked
in UDMA33 mode and after booting, identified itself as "CQ3248". We
used WinXP for the recording, reading tests and the DMA was automatically enabled.
TThe drive is a March 2002 model with firmware revision v1.13 installed. We
used the newer build of Nero (5.5.8.2), InCD (3.31), and CloneCD (4.0.1.6) for
our recording tests. The drive can support the 32x writing speed with all media
when you disable "JustSpeed". If you have this option enabled, the
drive will limit its maximum recording speed when uncertified media are inserted:
2. Introduction - LG GCE-8320B
32x
CD-RW Roundup Vol 3- Page
2
- LG GCE-8320B
The
drive supports 32x writing, 12x re-writing, 8MB Buffer and "SuperLink"
as the main buffer underrun technology. The maximum reading speed of the drive
is 40x (CAV).
The exact supported writing speeds are 8x, 12, 16x (CLV), 24x and 32x (Z-CLV).
The re-writing speeds are 4x, 10x and 12x. The drive doesn't support the Mt.
Rainier format.
There are two versions of the same drive. One comes with a 8MB buffer and one
with a 2MB buffer. There has been lot of talk about this, and the bottom line
is that lower buffer means less cost for each manufacturer. The drive supports
RAW reading/writing with hardware EFM correction.
- 32x writing speed
LG GCE-8320B supports the 32x writing speed with the use of the Z-CLV writing
technology. Below it's the Nero CD Speed writing graph that illustrates the
use of this technology:
The 32x writing speed range is divided in 4 zones: The drive starts writing
at 16x from the lead-in area till 2mins, shifts up to 20x at 6mins, up to 24x
at 16mins and lastly shifts to 32x at 42mins and stays there until the end.
The theoretical average recording speed is 25.98X, which makes it slower
than other 32x recorders.
- The package
The package supplied was a bare drive among with Ez CD Creator CD-R software.
The drive has a 2-year warranty for the European territory and can be found
at the price of $ 63.
The front of the drive includes the "LG" / 'HS-RW' logos and the
drive's features - "32x/12x/40x". You will also find two leds (Read/Write),
the eject button and the headphone input jack/volume selector:
At the back of the drive we will find the usual connectors (IDE interface,
power), the jumpers for setting the drive as a Master/Slave, the SPDIF output
connector and the analog/digital output connectors:
- Installation
The LG GCE-8320B was installed as Master in the secondary IDE Bus, it worked
at PIO-Mode4 and under WinXP, DMA was activated automatically.
The drive is a March 2002 model with firmware revision v1.02 installed. A
newer firmware revision is already available (v1.04) and was installed for all
the recording/reading tests. The drive lowers its recording speed when low quality
media is detected. Recording software will allow users to write at any media
at max speed, however the final recording time will show that the writing speed
was internally reduced during process.
3. Data Reading Tests
32x
CD-RW Roundup Vol 4 - Page
3
Data Tests
- SCSI Mechanic v3.0x results
Both CyQve 3248 and LG GCE-8320B are slower than other readers due to the
40x maximum reading speed. The LG GCE-8320B is slightly faster than CyQve 3248.
The AOpen 3248 is the faster reader with 5514Kb/s. In the Average Random I/O
test, the LG GCE-8320B gets the highest score with 938Kb/s, while CyQve 3248
stays in the third best position with 870Kb/s.
- Pressed CD results: (Click to see the CyQve
and LG
CD Speed Graphs)
Nero CD Speed test showed that CyQve 3248 and LG GCE-8320B have the exact
same average reading speeds (31.22X).
In the same test, the CyQve and LG drives have the second and third best
scores respectively. The best performance comes from AOpen with 89ms.
- CDR Media: (Click to see the CyQve
and LG
CD Speed Graphs)
With CDR media, the LG GCE-8320B the performance is not changed. The faster
drive still comes from AOpen with 37.6X.
- HS-RW media: (Click to see the CyQve
and LG
CD Speed Graphs)
For the RW tests we used the Mitsubishi Chemical HS-RW written at 12x. The
CyQve 3248 would have a higher average reading speed if hadn't lower its reading
speed after 68mins. The LG GCE-8320B gets the last place with 24.98X:
4. CloneCD Reading Tests
32x
CD-RW Roundup Vol 4 - Page
4
CloneCD Reading
Tests
- Procedure
We used CloneCD (v4.0.1.6) and 4 original CDs - Serious Sam 2 (SafeDisc 2),
Desperados (LaserLock 2), V-Rally 2 Expert (SecuROM 2) and NBA Jam Extreme (PSX)
- in order to test the reading time of the drives. We also tested the reading
performance with backups of the original CDs, since the reading speed varies
between original and backup media. The following pictures show the drive(s)
reading/writing capabilities as CloneCD reports:
- PSX Pressed Media
The LG GCE-8320B has the lower reading speed with 55secs. The CyQve 3248
follows with 173sec, while the CyberDrive CW-058D stays behind with 499sec.
- SafeDisc 2 Results
Both the CyQve 3248 and LG GCE-8320B are very slow with SafeDisc 2 discs.
The AOpen CRW3248 performed better than the rest drives.
- LaserLock 2 Results
With LaserLock v.2 protected CDs, ASUS CRW3212A performed very well and gets
the first place. TDK Cyclone gets the second position in the original CD test,
but did not keep the good performance in the backup CD test.
- SecuROM Results
All tested drives can read SubChannel data from Data/Audio tracks. The CyQve
and LG drives share the first two positions.
5. DAE Tests
32x
CD-RW Roundup Vol 4 - Page
5
DAE Tests
- DAE features
We
used EAC to examine each drive features. Both the CyQve 3248 and LG GCE-8320B
support: "Caching" of data, "Accurate Stream" and includes
"C2" error info.
- Pressed AudioCD results
The faster drive comes from AOpen. The drive has a 35.3X average reading
speed. The LG GCE-8320B gets the third place with 29.1X while the CyQve 3248
comes last with 27.4X:
- CDR AudioCD results
The LG GCE-8320B improved its reading performance with CD-R media and now
gets the second place with 30.3X. The CyQve 3248 still gets the last position
- EAC Secure Extract Ripping mode
For each drive we used the build-in detection function:
|
Tested Drives
|
Average DAE Speed (X)
|
|
Pressed
|
CDR
|
|
CyQve 3248
|
10.9
|
11.0
|
|
AOpen CRW3248
|
20.1
|
20.3
|
|
CyberDrive CW-058D
|
11.2
|
11.3
|
|
LG GCE-8320
|
9.9
|
9.8
|
- Advanced DAE Quality
All tested drives got a 100 score (best) in the Nero CD Speed Advanced DAE
test. The faster drive comes from AOpen with 35.32X.
- CyQve 3248
The drive's average reading speed was 29.49x and no data/sync errors were
produced. As the following picture shows, the drive can read SubChannel Data
and CD-Text:
- LG GCE-8320B
The drive's average reading speed was 29.66x and no errors were produced.
The drive can read CD-Text/SubChannel Data and from the lead-in area:
- CD-Check Audio Test Disc
|
Error Level
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
|
CyQve 3248
|
5/5
|
5/5
|
5/5
|
0/5
|
0/5
|
|
LG GCE-8400B
|
5/5
|
5/5
|
5/5
|
5/5
|
0/5
|
The LG drive reached the 4th level without producing any playback clicks.
The CyQve drive passes the third level of error correction.
- Bad CDR Media results
The disc has fingerprints and includes 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 are posted in the following
table:
|
|
Average Speed (X)
|
Errors
|
Errors Of Total Disc (%)
|
|
CyQve 3248
|
Stops reading at 83%
|
|
AOpen CRW3248
|
8.4
|
313
|
0
|
|
CyberDrive CW058D
|
27.2
|
17617
|
0
|
|
LG GCE-8320B
|
Stops reading at 40%
|
The best reader for this test is AOpen. The drive lowered its reading speed
down to 8x and managed to produce the lower reading errors at this roundup.
Both the LG GCE-8320B and CyQve 3248 failed to complete the test since they
stopped during the reading process.
- Ripping 90 and 99mins AudioCDs
Both drives can read up to 99mins without problems.
- Reading/Ripping Protected AudioCDs
For the test procedure we used 3 protected AudioCDs, which we
tested in both recognition and ripping (with CD DAE v0.3b/EAC v0.9 beta2) processes:
* Pressed AudioCD with Sony Key2Audio (Celine Dion - New Day Has
Come)
* Pressed AudioCD with Cactus Data Shield 200 (Natalie Imbruglia - White Lilies
Island)
|
|
Key2Audio
|
CDS200
|
|
CDDAE
|
EAC
|
CDDAE
|
EAC
|
|
AOpen CRW3248
|
Cannot recognize disc contents
|
Rips up to 91%
|
Rips entire disc without problems
|
|
CyberDrive CW058D
|
Rips entire disc without problems
|
Rips entire disc without problems
|
Problems recognize 1st track
|
Rips entire disc without problems
|
|
CyQve 3248
|
Cannot recognize disc contents
|
Rips entire disc without problems
|
Rips entire disc without problems
|
|
LG GCE-8320B
|
Recognizes disc contents cannot rip
|
Recognizes disc contents cannot rip
|
Recognizes disc contents cannot rip
|
Recognizes disc contents cannot rip
|
The CyQve 3248 can only rip CDS200 protected discs and failed to recognize
the contents of Key2Audio disc. The LG GCE-8320B failed to recognize both CDS200/Key2Audio
discs.
6. CDR Tests
32x
CD-RW Roundup Vol 4 - Page
6
CDR Tests
- Procedure
We tested the two drives with latest version of Nero/CloneCD. We used various
media for our tests: Mitsubishi Chemicals 80min 40x certified, Mitsui 80min
32x/40x certified, Taiyo Yuden 80min 32x/40x certified and Mitsubishi Chemicals/LiteOn
HS-RW media. We burned CDs at almost all recording speeds from 16x up to 32x
using the SAME amount of data for all drives. The posted recording times
are the best we had from our test results. Using other media can increase the
final burning time. Check the writing quality tests for details upon each drive's
compatibility
- Comparison
Before starting the recording tests, let's see how the drives are compared
in the writing/rotation speeds:
Both drives start writing at 16x speed. The CyQve 3248 needs 4 shifts to reach
the 32x speed, while the LG needs only 3 shifts. As you can see the LG drive
lowers the recording speed more in the speed shifting points, resulting to a
lower average recording speed.
Both drives start rotating at 8.000rpm gradually reduce the rotating speed.
The CyQve keeps its rotation high in order to achieve faster recording. Both
drives have a more quiet operation than other 32x recorders.
- Recording Tests
For all the recording tests, we used slightly more than 80min data (80:01:47).
The CyQve 3248 has the second best recording time for the 16x writing speed.
The LG GCE-8320B has the highest time with 336secs:
At the 32x writing speed, the faster drive comes from CyQve with 214secs.
The LG GCE-8320B stays at the third place with 230secs.
Below are the Nero screenshots for the CyQve 3248 and LG GCE-8320B
- Overburning Tests
|
Tested Drives
|
Writing up to
|
|
LG GCE-8400B
|
99mins
|
|
CyQve 3248
|
99mins
|
- CD-Text Results
All tested drives can read/write CD-Text without any problems.
- CloneCD Writing Tests
CloneCD
v4.0.1.6 reports that all drives support the DAO-RAW feature. For the EFM correction
(SD2 test) we used 'Serious Sam - The Second Encounter" game titles. We
performed both software/hardware EFM corrections test. The only drive that supports
hardware EFM correction is the LG GCE-8320B. However, you can backup all protected
discs with the "Amplify Weak Sectors" setting enabled:
|
Tested Drives
|
DAO-RAW writing speed
|
Software EFM Correction
|
Hardware EFM Correction
|
|
CyQve 3248
|
32x
|
Yes ( v2.50.021+)
with Amplify Weak Sectors
|
No
|
|
LG GCE-8320B
|
16x
|
Yes ( v2.50.021+)
|
7. Writing Quality of CyQve 3248
32x
CD-RW Roundup Vol 4 - Page
7
Writing Quality Tests
of CyQve 3248
We used many media and burned them at various recording speeds with CyQve
3248A. The produced CDs, were measured from DigitalDrives
and results are illustrated in the following tables.
- 32x writing speed (firmware v1.13)
|
Brand
|
C1
|
Average Burning Time (mins)
|
|
Max
|
Average
|
|
Prodisc 80min (32x)
(JustSpeed On)
|
22
|
2.2
|
3:34
|
|
Maxell 80min (32x)
(JustSpeed On)
|
25
|
3.7
|
3:35
|
|
MitsuBishi Chemicals 80min (40x)
(JustSpeed On)
|
23
|
1.0
|
3:36
|
|
MitsuBishi Chemicals 80min (40x)
(JustSpeed Off)
|
57
|
2.0
|
3:35
|
|
SKC 80min (24x)
(JustSpeed Off)
|
29
|
0.9
|
3:36
|
|
Taiyo Yuden 80min (40x)
(JustSpeed Off)
|
971
|
58.6
|
3:36
|
|
Philips 80min (40x)
(JustSpeed Off)
|
18
|
1.1
|
3:40
|
|
Mitsui 80min (40x)
(JustSpeed Off)
|
34
|
0.9
|
3:36
|
The CyQve performed better with JustSpeed On than with JustSpeed Off. The best
recording result comes from Prodisc 80min 32x. The drive seems to have problems
with Taiyo Yuden 80min 40x media since it produces a high C1 error rate:
8. Writing Quality of LG GCE-8320B
32x
CD-RW Roundup Vol 4 - Page
8
Writing Quality Tests
for LG GCE-8320B
We used many media and burned them at various recording speeds with LG GCE-8320B.
The produced CDs, were measured from DigitalDrives
and results are illustrated in the following tables:
- 32x writing speed
|
Brand
|
C1
|
Average Burning Time (mins)
|
|
Max
|
Average
|
|
Taiyo Yuden 80min (40x)
|
16
|
0.4
|
4:15
|
|
SKC 80min (24x)
|
20
|
1.0
|
3:50
|
|
SmartBuy 80min (32x)
|
42
|
3.6
|
5:36
|
|
Mitsui 80min (40x)
|
49
|
9.1
|
4:18
|
|
Imation 80min (32x)
|
65
|
8.1
|
5:34
|
The drive did not manage to give very high quality results. The best quality
was produced with Taiyo Yuden 80min (40x) media, but the recording time was
longer than with other media. Using SKC 80min (24x) media we had fast recordings
and an adequate quality result, compared to the results with the other media.
9. RW-Packet Writing Tests
32x
CD-RW Roundup Vol 4 - Page
9
RW Writing Tests
We used Nero 5.5.8.2 for writing CDs at the maximum RW speed for all the
tested drives. The CyberDrive, CyQve and AOpen drives support the 12x re-writing
speed. The best result came from CyberDrive with 394secs. The CyQve comes third
with 410secs and LG forth with 482secs (10x re-writing speed).
- Packet Writing Tests
We used Ahead InCD v3.31 for the packet writing tests with the LiteOn 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 best performance comes from the CyberDrive. The CyQve follows with 8.45X,
while the LG GCE-8320B gets the last place with 6.89X. At the reading process,
the faster reader comes from AOpen with 23.17X and the slowest from Philips
with 6.2X.
10. Conclusion
32x
CD-RW Roundup Vol 4 - Page
10
Conclusion
|
CyQve
3248
|
|
Positive (+)
|
Negative (-)
|
|
- Faster 32x recorder using Zone-CLV recording
technology
- Supports JustLink and JustSpeed technologies
- 8MB Buffer
- Can"handle" some protected AudioCDs
- Supports DAO-RAW
- Supports reading/writing of SubChannel Data
- Supports CD-Text (reading/writing?)
- Supports Overburning (reading/writing up to 99mins)
- Supports Ultra-DMA 33 connection interface
- Complete retail package contains Nero/80min HS-RW media
- Perfect Write Software can support new un-recognized media into the
hardware
|
- Recording stability needs improvement
- Low DAE reading performance
- Doesn't support 'Mt. Rainier' format
- Low CloneCD reading performance
- Doesn't support hardware EFM correction
- Didn't managed to finish the BAD DAE test
- Competition offers 2 years of warranty
|
|
LG
GCE-8320B
|
|
Positive (+)
|
Negative (-)
|
|
- Drive is quiter than other Z-CLV recorders
- 8MB Buffer
- Supports "SuperLink" anti-buffer underrun technology
- Mt. Rainier may supported with a firmware upgrade
- Supports HS-RW standard
- Supports DAO-RAW
- Supports reading/writing of SubChannel Data
- Supports hardware EFM correction (SD2 v2.51.x)
- Supports CD-Text (reading/writing)
- Supports Overburning (reading/writing up to 99mins)
- Offers two years of warranty
|
- Is one of the slowest 32x Zone-CLV recorders
- Drive's maximum reading speed is only 40X, making is slower than competition
- Retail package doesn't include CD-R/HS-RW media!
- Very LOW CloneCD reading performance
- Didn't managed to finish the BAD DAE test
- Cannot "handle" protected AudioCDs
- Supports only PIO-Mode4 connection
|
Many users have in their minds the last achievements in the recording speeds
that now reach the 48x (CAV). Despite that, there are many users who wish a
slower drive with a wider media support and of course a lower price. Both the
CyQve 3248 and LG GCE-8320B come to fulfil those needs. Lets see each drive
separately.
The CyQve CQ3248 gave the faster recording results for the 32x Zone-CLV category,
with several media. The 8MB Buffer and JustLink will protect from buffer underruns,
while the JustSpeed will auto-detect the best possible writing speed for the
drive. In addition, CyQve offers the "Perfect Write" technology that
can recognize new un-supported media and offer improved writing quality. On
the dark side, we can list the lower DAE reading speed than competitor drives,
the bad DAE test failure and the lack of hardware EFM correction. Lastly it
doesn't offer 2 years of warranty like other competitors, at least for the European
territory.
The LG GCE-8320B is another successful recorder from LG. The main power features
aren't the fastest reading/writing speeds, but the quite operation, its wide
CD-R media list and the hardware EFM correction. Many users will find this drive
as an alternative solution for LiteOn and ASUS 32x drives. Of course there are
several negatives that didn't make us happy. If you are thinking of buying the
LG GCE-8320B, it would be a good idea either to spend some extra cash and buy
the LG GCE-8400B drive that is faster and better tuned drive ;-)