CDR Tests

ASUS CRW-1610A supports up to 16x (CLV) writing speed. 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 16.01X as the Nero CD Speed shows:

- Procedure

We tested ASUS CRW-1610A with Nero v5.5.3.5, CloneCD v3.0.5.1 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.

- CD-R Tests

We created a "DataCD" job with data slightly higher than 74mins (74:03:65). We burned the same job with all 4 CDR-W drives:

The ASUS CRW1610A needs 323secs to finish the task. That's 11secs slower than PleXWriter!

- 80min CDs

Following the same procudure as in the previous test, we created a DataCD (80:01:47) and used the same media for all the burnings:

Again in the 80min CD task, ASUS CRW-1610A needs 10 more seconds than PleXWriter and 2 more than LiteOn drive.

- Writing Quality Tests

We used Creation's (Plasmon based) 16x certified media for our writing quality tests. We used Nero 5.5.6.4 and all CDs were Audio CDs with 74:51:27 in size. The produced CDs, were measured from DigitalDrives and results are illustrated in the following tables:

The ASUS CRW1610A gave a low average C1 error rate meaning that the recording quality is high using 74min CDs:

When using Creation's 80min 16x media, the C1 error rate is higher:

- Overburning Tests

The ASUS CRW-1610A supports overburning up to 99minutes!

- CD-Text Results

We created several AudioCDs with CD-Text enabled. ASUS CRW-1610A can write/read audio CDs with CD-Text.

- CloneCD Tests

The CloneCD v3.3.2.1 reports that the drive supports the DAO-RAW writing feature. CloneCD also recognizes that the drive also supports anti-buffer underrun protection (even with the name BurnProof/JustLink). From our tests results DAO-RAW recording works without problems for the SafeDisc 1/2, 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 ASUS CRW-1610A both as reader/writer. The produced backup played in the same drive and in any drive we tested. Therefore the ASUS CRW-1610A can produce SD2 working backups. CloneCD author also lists the drive as capable of doing EFM correction.

- 8cm mini CDs

The ASUS CRW-1610A supports 8cm CDs.

- Buffer Underrun tests

The ASUS CRW-1610A supports "FlextraLink" anti-buffer underrun technology. The drive worked without any problems even when we attempted to cause a buffer underrun, interrupting the burning process.