DVD reading tests

- Single Layer DVD-ROM (Click for CDSpeed results)

To check the reading performance of the AOpen drive with single layer DVD-ROM, we used Nero CDSpeed and the 820A test disc from ABEX.

All three devices returned an end speed of over 16X. For the AOpen, CDSpeed reported P-CAV reading strategy and the speed versus revolutions graph shows some problems from around the 3 GB mark and onwards during the reading process.

The AOpen drive returned faster seek times than both the LiteOn and NU for single layer DVD-ROM. The full seek time for the AOpen was 149ms.

- Dual Layer PTP DVD-ROM (Click for CDSpeed results)

The two layers of a PTP DVD-ROM disc are read sequentially, with the drive starting the read process from the inner tracks on the disc, where lies the beginning of each layer and progressing outwards towards to the outer tracks for each layer. The tools for this test are Nero CDSpeed and Abex 840 test disc.

The AOpen proved quite a deal faster than either the NU or LiteON drives when reading dual layer DVD-ROM media. The NU and LiteOn Combo drives had very similar speeds for all of start, end and average speeds.

The AOpen combo drive was also faster with the seek times, especially with the full seek time where it was 35ms faster than the NU drive, and 56ms faster than the LiteON.

- Dual Layer OTP DVD-ROM

The first layer of an OTP dual layer DVD-ROM is read exactly the same way as the first layer of the PTP disc we tested previously. The difference here is the reading strategy of the second layer on the disc. The beginning of the second layer is located in the outer part of the disc, so the drive starts reading from the outer tracks inwards towards the inner tracks of the disc.

The AOpen used CAV reading strategy for the OTP dual layer DVD-ROM reading test. The above screenshot shows that the drive had a problem during the switchover from the first layer to the second.

- DVD Ripping Tests

We measured the DVD-Video ripping speed for the LiteOn using the latest version of DVD Decrypter. The DVD Video title is the "Matrix" pressed DVD-Video.

Although the AOpen reported the fastest reading speeds amongst the three devices for both single and dual layer DVD-ROM media tests, in the DVD ripping tests with DVD Decrypter, it proved the slowest ripper with an average read rate of only 3.0X while the maximum read rate was 5.125 KB/s (3.7x)

- DVD Recordable / Rewritable reading Tests

The chart below shows the Nero CDSpeed average reading speed results with the following media by MC:

• 8x DVD+R
• 4x DVD+RW

• 8x DVD-R
• 4x DVD-RW

The three devices of the roundup reported almost the same average reading speeds with all four tested DVD media.