BenQ DW830A DL Recorder - page 2
- Drive Features
The
obvious feature of the BenQ DW830A is the support of Double Layer recording
at 2.4X recording speed. Double Layer recording offers a storage capacity of
up to 8.5GB and as BenQ says "...you can record up to 16 hours of VHS
quality video, or 4 hours of DVD quality video on a single disc, while retaining disc
compatibility with DVD video players and DVD-ROM drives..". Interesting
claim here, we will investigate it later.
BenQ has included several technologies that improves writing quality, already
found at previous BenQ DW8xxA series:
The following text is from BenQ's presentation "...Unlike other drives
which preset the writing power before the actual writing of data, the WOPC
II (Walking Optimal Power Control) algorithm evaluates the writing
quality constantly and adjusts the writing power accordingly in order to ensure
the best possible writing quality over the entire disc. The BLER OPC
(Block Error Rate Optimal Power Control) further enhances the writing
quality near the end of the disc, where the risk of warping is higher.."
The specific technology is very important for the integrity of the recorded
data.
(picture: courtesy of BenQ)
Optimal reading and writing quality is obtained when the angle between the
disc and the laser beam is 90 degrees. However, if a disc is warped, the laser
beam may no longer be correctly positioned. BenQ?s Tilt Control repositions
the OPU (Optical Pickup Unit) to maintain the 90-degree angle between the disc
and the laser beam in order to ensure the best writing quality.
(picture: courtesy of BenQ)
With the unique Sliding Cone Mechanism, the disc position on the turntable
is improved considerably. This greatly helps to reduce data access time and
also to deliver superior reading and writing quality.
(picture: courtesy of BenQ)
Lastly, the dark-colored CD tray efficiently minimizes jitters, and enhances
readability and burning quality, again according to BenQ.
- Drive Specifications
The DW830A specifications are more or less the same with the other DW8xxA
series. The big difference compared with DW800A is the reduced buffer (2 instead
of 8MB) since BenQ claims that 2MB buffer are enough for DVD writing. Of course,
the less buffer the lowest the price:)
Through a firmware upgrade available in Q3, 2004, the DW830 will be able to
additionally support DVD-R/-RW recording. The drive is expected to be released
end of May 2004.
| Performance |
[DVD]
Data Transfer Rate /DL write: 26.59 Mbit/sec (2.4X)
Data Transfer Rate /write: 88.64 Mbit/sec (8X)
Data Transfer Rate /rewrite: 44.32 Mbit/sec (4X)
Data Transfer Rate /read: 132.96 Mbit/sec (12X, Max.)
Access time: 150 ms
[CD]
Data Transfer Rate /write: 3600 KByte/sec (24X)
Data Transfer Rate /rewrite: 1500 KByte/sec (10X)
Data Transfer Rate /read: 6000 KByte/sec (40X, Max.)
Access time: 120 ms |
| Interface |
E-IDE/ATAPI |
| Supported
IDE mode |
PIO mode 0/1/2/3/4
DMA mode 0/1/2
UDMA mode 0/1/2 |
| Buffer
Size |
2 Mbytes |
| Writing
Mode |
[DVD]
DVD Data and Video
[CD]
Track-at-Once, Disc-at-Once, Multi-session, Packet Writing (fixed & variable
packet), CD Digital Audio, Direct-Over-Write on CD-RW, Simulation write
|
| Disc Size |
[DVD] 120 mm disc
[CD] 80 and 120 mm discs
|
| Disc Formats |
[DVD]
DVD+R DL 8.5GB, DVD Video, DVD-5, DVD-9, DVD-10, DVD-18, DVD+RW 4.7GB,
DVD+R 4.7GB, DVD-RW 4.7GB (closed session), DVD-R 4.7GB
[CD]
CD-DA, CD-ROM XA (m1, m2f1/m2f2), CD-R, CD-RW, Bootable CD, Photo CD (single & multi-session),
Video CD, Super Video CD, CD-Extra, Mixed-mode CD, CD-Text, CD-Graphics |
| Audio
Performance |
Signal-to-Noise ratio:
75 dB min.
Number of stereo channels: 2
Analog audio line output: 0.75 VRMS at 470 Ohm
Analog headphone output: 0.6 VRMS at 34 Ohm
CD sampling frequency: 44.1 KHz |
| Power
Requirement |
DC 5 Vą5%, 0.9 A
DC 12 Vą10%, 1.8 A |
| Environment
Conditions |
Operating temperature:
0 0C~50 0C (320F~1220F) at humidity of 50% RH
Non-operating temperature: -40 0C~60 0C (-40 0F~140 0F)
Non-operating humidity: 5%~95% RH |
| Reliability
Characteristics |
MTBF: 50,000 POH
Non-recoverable read error < 1 block in 1012 bits (CD and DVD) |
| Physical
Characteristics |
Dimension: 146 X 42
X 198 mm (W x H x D)
Weight: 1.0 Kg |
| Firmware
Update |
Flash memory upgradable |
| Panel
Design |
Front side: open/close
button, audio play/skip button, volume control wheel,
read/write status indicator LED and 3.5 mm headphone jack
Rear side: 40-pin ATA-2 dual row flat-cable connector, 4-pin DC power connector,
3-
position master/slave jumpers, digital audio output connector and analog
audio
output connector |
| OS Compatibility |
Windows 98/ME/2000/XP |
- Software Utilities
For performing our tests we used:
- CopyToDVD v3.09
- Nero CD-DVD Speed v2.94beta
- Nero Info Tool v2.21
- DVDInfoPro v2.47
- KProbe v2.01
- PowerDVD v5.0
