Many people were talking about such possibility, finally the first tests are here, with DL media burning tests

WE DON'T HOST ANY FILES, WE ONLY TEST THE PROCEDURE, IF YOU DECIDE TO PERFORM THIS, DO IT AT YOUR OWN RISK. CURRENTLY, THERE ISN'T ANY WAY TO REVERSE THIS PROCESS 830A->822->800A, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!

First, lets see the BenQ DW800A, its a retail drive, upgraded with retail firmware to vB3D7 supporting 8X DVD+R and 4X DVD-R formats:

- NeroInfoTool



- DVDInfoPro



Using a "patched" Windows flasher, we will try to upgrade our DW800A to a DW822A:

The firmware upgrade was succeful! After rebooting, the drive has been identified as an "ATAPI DVD DUAL 8X4X12", aka a DW822A:

- NeroInfoTool



- DVDInfoPro



Using a patch, we removed the vB4A8 flasher checks and flashed the DW822A to a BenQ DW830A:

(in reply to emperor)

Again, the firmware upgrade was succeful! After rebooting, the drive has been identified as a "BenQ DVD DL DW830A":

- NeroInfoTool



- DVDInfoPro



- VSO Inspector



What's interesting? First of all, the BenQ DW800A/822A support 8MB of buffer, while the DW830A supports only 2MB of buffer. The BenQ DW830A supports only DVD+R/+RW among with DVD+R DL writing, while the BenQ DW822A supports both DVD-R/+R formats.

(in reply to emperor)

Now going for the really interesting stuff...What will happen after inserting a blank Mitsubishi Chemicals DVD+R DL media? Using DVDInfoPro we saw that, the media was recognized correctly!



So far things look really nice. Let's proceed with the next step...burning DVD+R DL media!

Using CopyToDVD and Gladiator Special Edition Disc 1, we chosen the BenQ DW800A->830A as the desired burned and pressed ok. Unfortunaly things didn't went as we would like too:



The disc was recognized correctly, the burning process started but...write error occured. CopyToDVD immediatly went to finalizing process and the drive's led was blinking red. After passed some 30mins, the drive's kept blinking red (still writing?) but the HDD led wasn't active. We decided that probably BenQ DW800A->830A stuck and rebooted.

After reboot, we ejected the burned media, and we saw that the media was burned till some point. We don't know what exactly has been written, but since the HDD led wasn't active, we assume probably the drive's laser lost focus and wrote sequentialy...

The Burned media did recognized with DVDInfoPro, with proper ID and content but of course wasn't readable:



Using CDSpeed, the media recognized as DVD+R DL without however correct size, since the burn stopped before finished:

(in reply to emperor)

As it seems the overclocked drive cannot burn DVD+R DL media...As a final test we used a burned DVD+R DL media by a true BenQ DW830A and performed a Nero CD-DVD Speed transfer test. At least the drive was able to read the burned DVD+R DL media without any problems...




NOTE: The BenQ DW800A->830A drive worked ok with 8X DVD+R and 4X DVD+RW burning, but as currently stands cannot reversed back, be warned in case you wish to perform this...

(in reply to emperor)

I think I recall a statement by Philips saying that there is a conversion success rate of < 30% for this drive (only "hand-picked" units with exceptionally good quality). Which is a DL upgrade for the 800A won't be available. The 822A, however, are produced with tighter specs (since Philips has to be able to gaurantee a DL upgrade), which is why the 822@830 would probably work while the 800@830 would be more iffy.

Incidentally, to show that the 800@830 really would work if you just got lucky and got an exceptionally good unit, OC-Freak over at CD Freaks displayed a picture of the label on the 830 drive that he received from BenQ for his review: the label showed that it was actually manufactured as a 800 drive...

(in reply to emperor)

code65536, both our BenQ DW822A and BenQ DW830A samples, got DW800A labels...

(in reply to code65536)

quote:

ORIGINAL: emperor

code65536, both our BenQ DW822A and BenQ DW830A samples, got DW800A labels...

Hehehe.

(in reply to emperor)

We hope tomorrow testing DW822A->DW830A...

(in reply to code65536)

Ok, so what's the big deal? 800, 822 and 830 might use the same flash EEPROM, but they have a different board, you showed it in your own review.

Compare these pictures (you have to rotate one 180°):

822A: http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Articles/Sources/BenQ%20DW822A/images/inside_big.jpg

830A: http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Articles/Sources/BenQ%20DW830A%20DL/images/driver%20001.jpg

See the different layout? How do you want to change that with flashing...?

(in reply to emperor)

Many people reported success, we tested it, proved that possibly won't work, at least with DL media, its simple!

(in reply to Mike500)

quote:

ORIGINAL: emperor

Many people reported success, we tested it, proved that possibly won't work, at least with DL media, its simple!

More then simple, it's essential! People need to be aware of these risks! And since DVD+R9 media is going to be so expensive, it is better to pay the extra money on a reliable drive, then it is to save it now, and pay for it in failed burns on pricey media!

(in reply to emperor)

I definately agree...

(in reply to Dolphinius_Rex)

Hi.

I'm wondering if any one else has noticed that benQ has been putting out a bit of false advertizing on it's (distributed) 830a?

To explain. I've been following the 830A's progress from it's initial proposal to it's distribution.

For a month now the 830a has been listed on the USA web site as being both +R and -R. I check again this morning and it's changed to +R only.

Also the benq Europe website (for the past 2 months) has it's distribution 830a's listed as both + & - R.

Now, I'm not all that interested in DL (dual layer) it's technology that's new and needs perfecting. My interest were benq's book writting feature (which is now a mute point as it can no longer utilize -R media) . Secondly BenQ's new slide cone spindle drive is a nice option as well as it's read/write tilting head. and lastly the ability to **READ** cd/dvd's properly which is an option that the DVD and CD drive market has seems to have abandoned.

I was inteding to purchase a dozzen or so 830a's to upgrade our systems. However after seeing that the 830A has lost over half it's abilities inlcuding the 8mb buffer . BenQ as lost a customer as far as i'm concerned.

I am extremely disapointed in benQ but not surprised.

Any one care to sugeset another make/modele of dvd-writer with simular abilities to the benQ 830A?


***********
EDITED
***********

I forgot to mention. The specs page for the 830A on the benQ Europe web site claims -R -RW
ability. The USA web site claims only+R. As for benQ Canada. The web site never seems to get updated, nor does any one reply to email inquiries.

yt

Flame.

P.S> Now Just watch with my luck , now that I've said something 30 seconds from now they'll update thier web site, but I'm not holding my breath

(in reply to emperor)

BenQ DW830A will in start support only +R/RW writing, perhaps in future they will support both +/- formats, sometimes companies do make mistakes at websites, its not so difficult as you understand

(in reply to Flame)

Hi.

I tend to agree Emperor.

It is indeed strange that even the 822a that perhaps once it's firmware is updated to support
DL that it'll loose it's -R ability.

Paticularly when one of the main (useful) functions of the 830a is the BOOK protocol.

Do you know what benQ has said about this feature? Has it been canceled/removed along with the -R abilities?

Thanks.

yt

Flame.

(in reply to emperor)