CDR Tests

The AOpen CRW2040 supports 16x CLV and 20x Z-CLV writing speeds. We used Nero CD Speed build-in writing test in order to test the drive's writing performance. The drive's average writing speed is 19.46X as Nero CD Speed revealed.

The drive also supports JustSpeed, which automatically reduces the writing speed in case an un-certified 20/24x CD is inserted. JustSpeed detects that the condition of the medium is not suitable for the maximum writing speeds (16x/20X) and will reduce the speed to 12x or even 8x! That may annoy some users, but we all want fully working burned CDs, don't you agree?

Let us now find out which is the fastest of the four drives, according to the Nero CD Speed writing tests. The Ricoh MP9200A has the higher recording speed, mainly due to the different approach of the JustSpeed function, with 19.70X, which is very close to the theoretical 20x writing speed. The MP7200A is the second with 19.50 and the AOpen CRW2040A comes third with only 19.46x writing speed.

The above claims were confirmed by our tests results as you will read later on :-)

- Procedure:

We tested the AOpen CRW2040 with Nero v5.5.4.0, CloneCD v3.0.8.2 and Padus DJ v3.50.799 software. For the CDR tests we used: Verbatim 74min (16x) & 80min (16x), Taiyo Yuden 74 & 80min (24x), Mitsui 74min (24 & 16x) and Ricoh/Verbatim/TDK 74min HS-RW media. Note that Nero 5.5.4.0 forgets to disable JustSpeed in some cases, so we advise you to use a previous Nero version for using that particular function.

- CD-R Tests:
We created a "DataCD" with an amount of data slightly higher than 74mins (74:03:65). We burned the same data amount with all 4 CDR-W drives:

The AOpen CRW2040 needs 5more seconds to finish the task than the Ricoh MP9200A. The Ricoh MP7200A is one second faster and as for the Acer 2010 it stays far behind since it uses Z-CLV and not CLV as the main writing technology. The CPU Usage levels are relevant to the needed time of each drive, as you can see.

In the maximum 20x writing speed the AOpen CRW2040 is once again slower than both Ricoh drives. The drive needs 7more secs than the MP9200A and 4secs more than the MP7200A.

- 80min CDs:
As with the previous test, we created a DataCD (80:01:47) and used the same media for all burns:

The AOpen CRW2040 performed better with 80min CDs. The drive needs 335secs to end the task, which is the faster time among the 4 competitors. Both Ricoh competitors need 1/2 more secs to finish and the Acer simply tries to follow.

With 80min CDs at the 20x writing speed, the AOpen CRW2040 is again slower than the Ricoh drives. The drive needs 6 more seconds than the MP9200 and 4 secs more than the MP7200A. Its CPU Usage is at the same levels of the competition.

- Writing Quality tests:

We used Ricoh's 24x 74min CD-R media and wrote a full 74min CD. All CDs were burned with Nero 5.5.3.0 and were Audio CDs with 74:51:27 of length. The produced CDs were measured from DigitalDrives and the results are very interesting as you can see:

The AOpen may be the faster recorder with Ricoh 74min 24x certified media, but it also produces high error rates during recording. Another very interesting fact is that with "JustSpeed Off" the drive manages to produce lower C1 error rates than when it is enabled(!). The Ricoh MP7200A is a good example how recorders should behave while recording. We think that AOpen can improve writing quality with future updates, as Ricoh did :-)

- Overburning Tests:
The AOpen CRW2040 supports overburning up to 99minutes!

- CD-Text Results:
We created several AudioCDs with CD-Text enabled. The AOpen can write/read CD-Text Audio CDs.

- CloneCD Tests:
CloneCD v3.0.8.2 reports that the drive supports the DAO-RAW writing feature. The drive also supports JustLink. From our tests results, DAO-RAW writing works without any problems for the SafeDisc 1, LaserLock 1/2 and SecuROM 2 protections.

- SD2 Support:
For the SD2 tests we used the "No One Lives For Ever" and "Emperor Battle for Dune" CD titles. We used the AOpen CRW2040 both as reader/writer. The produced backup didn't play using the same drive or any other drive we tested. Therefore, the AOpen CRW2040 cannot produce SD2 working backups.

- 8cm mini CDs:
The AOpen does support 8cm CDs and/or business cards. We tried a burn with a business card CD which was successful, despite the loud noise while writing/reading.

- Buffer Underrun tests:
The AOpen CRW2040 supports the "JustLink" anti-buffer underrun technology that has been developed by Ricoh. The drive worked without any problems whenever we tried to cause all kinds of difficult situations for it.