FREECOM Fx-50 DVD+/-RW -
Page 1
With
the FX-50, Freecom increases the speed of its DVD-burners to 8x. The new Freecom
FX-50
offers the ultimate solution for all applications: DVD±RW, CD-burner
and DVD/CD-ROM drive, all in a single unit. With the Freecom Dual
DVD drive you can copy DVD's and CDs or create back-ups on DVD, while with
the comprehensive software supplied, you can professionally process and edit
video, photo and music files. Both when writing and re-writing DVD's or CDs,
the built-in buffer underrun prevention technology guarantees absolute reliability
at all times.
- Features
The new Freecom FX-50 DVD+/-WR supports 8x maximum writing speed
with the DVD+R format while with the
-R format
it is
restricted
to 4x. The 8x maximum writing speed of a single layer DVD+R disc means that
the user is able to record a full 4.7Gb in approximately 8:30 minutes and
that time, is currently the fastest time we have seen, even from IDE recorders.
Besides
the maximum available speed for writable media, the new Freecom FX-50 DVD+/-WR
supports the current maximum available speed of 4x for the rewritable media
with the plus format. With the CD formats, Freecom is fast enough, supporting
40x writing and 24x rewritable speeds.
- Specifications
DVD Family |
Writing |
DVD-R |
1x, 2x, 4x max. |
DVD+R |
1x, 2x, 6x, 8x max. |
| Rewriting |
DVD-RW |
2x ( 2700KB/sec ) CLV |
DVD+RW |
4x (5400KB/sec) CLV |
|
Reading Speed |
|
12x (16200KB/sec) maximum CAV |
DVD+R/-R, DVD-RW/+RW
|
max. 8x |
| Access Time |
140 ms |
| Writing Formats |
DVD-ROM, DVD-Video |
Writing Modes |
DVD RW: Random Access Write, Sequential Write
DVD R: Sequential Write |
Supported Media |
DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW. DVD-RW |
CD Family |
Writing Speed CD-R |
16x, 24x, 32x, 40x max. |
| ReWriting speed CD-RW |
4x, 10x, 16x, 24x max. |
| Reading |
CD-R/-ROM max. 40x, CD-RW max. 32x |
| Access Time |
120 ms |
Writing Modes |
Disc at once, Session At Once, Track at once, Multi-Session, Packet Write |
| Writing Formats |
CD-DA, CD-ROM, CD-ROM XA, CD Extra, MP3 CD's, Mixed ModeCD, VideoCD, CD TEXT , Bootable CD |
| Buffer Size |
2MB |
Interface |
USB 2.0,( USB 2.0 and USB 1.1) and IEEE 1394 (FireWire /i.Link) |
| Dimensions |
25.4x18.1x5.3 cm(L x W x H) |
| Supported Media |
CD-R, CD-RW (CD) CD-DA, CD-ROM, CD-ROM XA, CD-Extra, CD-I, Mixed-Mode CD, Video CD, Photo CD, CD-TEXT, Bootable CD, CD-R, CD-RW, Multi-Session |
The drive uses a 2MB buffer memory store and supports RAW DAO 96 writing
(CD). The drive does not support Mount Rainier,
nor does it read or write DVD-RAM media.
The drive 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).
- The drive
The
freecom retail package was much larger than we had expected.
This is not only because of the size of the drive (see specifications above),
but
also
because of all the stuff the package includes. The drive is packaged
well and stable while all the accessories are contained in a second colored box.
Inside are the AC connector, one USB and two IEEE 1394
cables, the Freecom Warranty with a preprinted envelope for mailing it, and
finally a brochure
with other Freecom products. The included software comes on two
CD-ROM's, one for Windows PC and the other for Macs. Each cd contains
manuals, drivers and the respective Roxio CD recording software, Easy
CD Creator DVD Edition for PC and Toast for Mac. Also in the package
is a floppy
with updates for Easy CD Creator.
Last but not least, the package also contains a CD-R and a DVD+R also from
Freecom.
The drive's case is well designed with the Freecom logo on the top,
and is housed in a plastic, outer casing.The
tray door has the RW DVD+ReWritable, DVD R/RW, and Compact Disc ReWritable
logos
located
left to right respectively. Under the RW logo are the headphones jack, volume
control and power/activity led, while on the bottom right is the eject button.
The emergency eject
hole is located just above the volume control. The activity LED lights up green
when busy and red when reading/writing is in progress.
On the rear panel there are two IEEE 1394 and one USB socket, while the
AC connector jack is on the right. Note that there
is no
on/off power button.
The following picture shows the Freecom's top side.
As you can see in the following picture, from the inside label on the drive,
the FX-50 is a based on the LiteOn LDW-811S.
- Installation
Freecom has two available output connections. In order to get the most stable
and accurate results, mainly for the CD and DVD reading and writing tests,
we connected the Freecom writer via Firewire instead of USB after an open discussion
on
the forum, although most believed that there would be no conceivable difference
among the two connections. Freecom was identified as "FREECOM_DVD+/-RW8J" under
WinXP Sp1 Professional. All tests were done with firmware revision v.HSR1.
The following pages include the test results for the Freecom drive
in comparison with the LiteOn 811s and the Mitsumi DW7872TE.
