NEC ND-3500A

Review Pages

1. Introduction - Retail Package
2. Transfer Rate Reading Tests
3. CD Error Correction Tests
4. DVD Error Correction Tests
5. Protected Disc Tests
6. DAE Tests
7. Protected AudioCDs
8. CD Recording Tests
9. Writing Quality Tests - 3T Jitter Tests
10. Writing Quality Tests - C1 / C2 Error Measurements
11. DVD Recording Tests
12. Media Support list - +R/+RW/+R9 (DL) media
13. Media Support list - -R/-RW
14. Media Support list - CD-R/CD-RW
15. CDSpeed/PlexTools Scans - Page 1
16. CDSpeed/PlexTools Scans - Page 2
17. CDSpeed/PlexTools Scans - Page 3
18. CDSpeed/PlexTools Scans - Page 4
19. CDSpeed/PlexTools Scans - Page 5
20. CDSpeed/PlexTools Scans - Page 6
21. CDSpeed/PlexTools Scans - Page 7
22. DVD+R DL - Page 1
23. DVD+R DL - Page 2
24. BookType Setting
25. Conclusion
26. Firmware Versions
27. Firmware Hacks - Page 1
28. Firmware Hacks - Page 2
29. Firmware Hacks - Page 3

NEC ND-3500A Recorder - Page 1

NEC recently joined the 16X DVD recording race with the introduction of their latest drive, the ND-3500A. After the big success of the ND-25x0 series, which was indeed a very good quality writer, the new ND model aims to take its place in the market, offering the highest recording speed available for all media formats. The ND3500A delivers even higher write and re-write speed functions than its predecessor, the ND2510.

"High resolution writing strategies" are again incorporated into the ND-3500A, just as with ND-2510A model, which is in fact an improved version of Active Optimized Power Control (Active OPC). Active OPC constantly monitors the sensitivity of the media and adjusts the laser strength to achieve the best possible results. It does this by analyzing the reflection from the media's surface. Buffer underrun error prevention technology ensures that media will be recorded successfully, even if writing procedure is interrupted or paused. You will find here a simple diagram explaining the Active OPC technology.

- Features

This MultiRead drive can read at 16X max DVD-ROM discs and 48X max CD-ROM discs. The drive can burn a full 4.7GB +R/-R DVD disc in less than 6mins at 16X speed, and can burn +RW and -RW media at 4X. Double Layer media is supported, as expected, at 4X. Approximately 22~25mins are required for burning a full DVD+R9 disc at this recording speed.

As a CD recorder, it can record at 48X max when CD-R discs are used, and 24X max with CD-RW discs.

- Specifications

Drive	NEC ND-3500A
Media	DVD		CD
Transfer Rate Write	+R	16x CAV (9 - 22MBytes/sec)	-R	48x CAV (3000-200kBytes/sec)
		13x CAV (7.3 - 17.5MBytes/sec)		48xZCLV (3000-7200kBytes/sec)
		12x ZCLV (8.2 – 16.6MByte/sec)		40x CAV (2550-6000kBytes/sec)
		8x ZCLV (5.5 -11MBytes/sec)		40xZCLV (3000-6000kBytes/sec)
		6x ZCLV (5.5-8.2MBytes/sec)		32xPCAV (2550-4800kBytes/sec)
		4x CLV (5.5 MBytes/sec)		32x ZCLV (3000-4800kBytes/sec)
		2.4x CLV (3.3 MBytes/sec)		24x PCAV (2550-3600kBytes/sec)
	+R9	4x CLV (5.5 MBytes/sec)		24x ZCLV (3000-3600kBytes/sec)
		2.4x CLV (3.3 MByte/sec)		16x CLV (2400kBytes/sec)
	+RW	4x CLV (5.5 MBytes/sec)		8x CLV (1200kBytes/sec)
		2.4x CLV (3.3 MBytes/sec)	-RW	24x ZCLV (3000-3600kBytes/sec)
	-R	16x CAV( 9 - 22MBytes/sec)
		13x CAV (7.3 - 17.5MBytes/sec)
		12x ZCLV (8.2 – 16.6MByte/sec)		16x CLV (2400kBytes/sec)
		8x ZCLV (5.5 -11MBytes/sec)
		6x ZCLV (5.5-8.2MBytes/sec)
		4x CLV (5.5 MBytes/sec)		10xCLV (1500kBytes/sec)
		2x CLV (2.7 MBytes/sec)
	-RW	4x CLV (5.5 MBytes/sec)
		2x CLV (2.7 MBytes/sec)		4xCLV (600kBytes/sec)
		1x CLV (1.38 MBytes/sec)
Transfer Rate Read		DVD-R 16x CAV (max 22000 kb/s)	CD-R 48x CAV (max 4800 kb/s)
		DVD-RW 4x CLV (5520 kb/s)
		DVD+R 16x CAV (max 22000 kb/s)	CD-RW 16x CLV (max 2400 kb/s)
		DVD+RW 4x CLV (5520 kb/s)
		DVD+R9 4X CLV (5500 KByte/s)
Access Time		140ms	120ms
Mechanism	motorized Tray load mechanism for horizontal and vertical use
Interface	IDE / ATAPI
Burst Transfer Rate	PIO mode 4 / Ultra DMA 33
Cashe Memory	2MB
Audio	digital-out and line-out at the back (MPC compatible)
Modes supported	DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-Video, CD-ROM, CD-ROM XA, CD-Audio, CD Extra, CD Text, CD-IReady, CD-Bridge, Photo-CD, VideoCD, Hybrid CD
Writing methods	DAO(disc at once), SAO(session at once), TAO(track at once) with zero gap, variable or fixed packet, multisession
Compatibility	MPC Level 3, MultiRead, PC2001
Weight	1.01 kgr
Dimensions	148mm x 42mm x 190mm

The drive cannot read DVD-RAM media, it does not support Mount Rainier and it uses the well known RPC II region control, allowing a user to change the drive's region at most 5 times. Below are the drive's main specs as given by NeroInfoTool, VSO Inspector and DVDInfoPro:

- The drive / Retail Package

The retail version of the ND-3500A comes with "electronic manuals" in six languages (English, German, French, Spanish, Italian and Dutch) on the software CD-ROM, all parts necessary to assemble the drive (screws, IDE and audio cable) and a full featured software solution from Ahead (Nero Express 6, Nero InCD 4, Nero Vision Express 2, Nero Back IT Up, Nero StartSmart, Nero Recode 2 and Nero Showtime).

On the drive's front panel, you can see the eject button, the activity led and the eject hole. There are no volume control or headphone jack. The drive is also available in black, and coming soon, in silver as well.

On the rear panel you will find the analogue and digital audio outputs (SPDIF), the IDE selection pins, the IDE connector and the power input.

Opening the device's case will void the warranty, so we advise against it. Instead, use the photos in this review for a closer look under the hood. Clicking on the image below will reveal a high resolution image.

The main chipsets come from NEC, with part numbers NEC D63635GM and NEC C333500. The same chipsets are used in the TDK 1616N, the Pioneer DVR-108 and ASUS DRW-1604P.

Model name	C3335
Process	Bi-CMOS 0.35
Voltage	5V
Package	120-pin TQFP (14x14mm)
Power consumption	0.66W (8x DVD playback)
	0.74W 8x DVD recording)
Speeds	DVD playback	16x CAV
	DVD-RAM playback	4x
	DVD recording	16x
	CD playback	48x
	CD recording	48x

Model name	D63635
Process	CMOS 0.15
Voltage	1.5V core, 3.3V I/O
Package	216-pin LQFP (24x24mm)
Power consumption	0.35W (8x DVD playback)
	0.95W (8x DVD recording, LVDS)
Interface	Host	ATA/ATAPI5
	Buffer	16Mbit SDRAM
Speeds	DVD playback	16x CAV
	DVD-RAM playback	4x
	DVD recording	16x
	CD playback	48x
	CD recording	48x

The following picture shows the laser lens assembly of the NEC ND-3500A. By clicking on the picture, you can see a higher resolution image.

Compared to the TDK 1616N laser lens, you can see that these two laser lenses are identical.

- Installation

The device was connected to our test PC and was identified as "NEC DVD_RW ND-3500AG " under WinXP. You can see that the book type option is supported, just as with the NEC ND-2510A. This option was missing in the TDK 1616N drive.

The drive arrived with v2.16 firmware revision, meanwhile NEC had contacted us to inform us that a new version was available. We flashed the drive successfully with their latest firmware version, v2.07. Writing strategies and the support media list with this firmware will be discussed later on this review.

In this review, we will be comparing the drive to a wide range of DVD recorders with similar specifications, the Pioneer DVR-108, the Memorex D²(F16) and the BenQ DW1620A.

- Testing software

In order to perform our tests we used:

Nero CD-DVD Speed v3.21
CDVD Benchmark v1.21
ExactAudioCopy v0.9 beta5
Nero Info Tool v2.27
KProbe v2.4.2 (Reader: LiteOn LDW-811S firmware vHS0Q, LiteOn SOHD-167T firmware 9S13, LiteOn XJ-HD165H firmware CH11, and LiteOn LTD-163 firmware GH5S, Reading speed 8X CAV)
PlexTools v2.16 (Reader: Plextor PX-712A firmware v1.05, Reading speed 8X CLV for CD-R)
DVDInfoPro v3.16
Nero Burning Rom v6.3.1.20
DVD Decrypter 3.5.1.0
CopyToDVD 3.0.29.48