Samsung SW-224B CD-RW

Review Pages

1. Introduction
2. Data Tests
3. CloneCD reading Tests
4. DAE Tests
5. CDR Tests
6. Writing Quality Tests
7. RW-Packet Writing Tests
8. Conclusion

Samsung SW-224B IDE CDR-W - Page 8

Conclusion

Positive (+)

Negative (-)

- Supports 24x writing speeds
- "ExacLink" anti-buffer underrun technology
- Can write most media at 24x writing speed
- Low C1 errors with almost all media
- Good PSX reading time
- Very good DAE quality with scratched CDs
- Supports DAO-RAW
- Good CloneCD reading performance
- Can backup SD2 protected CDs
- Supports reading/writing of SubChannel Data
- Supports CD-Text (reading/writing)
- Supports Overburning (up to 99mins)
- Supports Ultra-DMA 33 connection interface
- Retail package includes Nero 5.5x
- Low Price ($80-90)
- Very low hoise while operating

- Reading/writing performance in lower than what competition offers
- Low packet writing performance
- Cannot read/rip protected AudioCDs

Samsung is one of the last few manufacturers that ships 24x writing CD-RW drive. The overall performance is not the best you can find in this category but it's not the worst either. The drive supports 24x writing, 10x re-writing and 40x reading. In addition includes "ExacLink", overburing up to 99minutes and backups accurately SD2 protected CDs.

Getting into details, the drive will not limit the maximum writing speed, and will burn them at 24x speed with low C1/C2 errors. The CloneCD reading performance is quite good and can read/write SubChannel data. We must also note the drive's overall noise-less operation.

On the dark side, the drive's overall reading/writing performance wasn't near the top and in most tests, the Samsung SW-224B got the last place. Of course the performance gap is not that big but users who wish the absolute reading/writing performance might look for an alternative solution.

The price of the drive is something that will please users. The price/performance mark of the drive is high enough to gain our "Safe Buy" award.