BenQ DW1620: An Elegant, Robust DVDR Surprise
by Kristopher Kubicki on September 29, 2004 10:32 AM EST- Posted in
- Storage
Construction
The BenQ DW1620 bezel looks slightly sleeker on the DW1620 over the DW1600. Our model came in black, although it appears that there are some tan versions as well.
Click to enlarge.
Here, we see the Nexperia PNX7860E chipset, which is just starting to show up on a few other drives (QSI and NuTech come to mind). You may recall that the NuTech DDW-082 used a predecessor to this chipset, and we also talked slightly about the development version of this chipset at Computex Taipei. The Nexperia platform comes bundled with the TZA1047HL analog pre-processor as seen below. Feel free to read more information here.
Click to enlarge.
At Computex 2004, we were told of BenQs new "High-Speed Signal Algorithm", which manages the "Eight-to-Fourteen Modulation" (EFM) signal loss that occurs while writing discs [1]. This is kind of a silly statement on BenQ's behalf. EMF is just the process of converting a single byte (8-bits) into 14-bits, and all optical media uses 14-bits to express 8-bits as data. This is just an error correcting process. The "High Speed Signal Algorithm" supposedly makes this error correction work better; although, we are slightly skeptical as to how unique BenQ's algorithm really is.
The WOPC II (Walking Optimal Power Control II) algorithm described by BenQ may hold a little more truth to being an actual algorithm designed by BenQ, but we have seen identical features on previous drives with the Nexperia chipset. WOPC should evaluate the write quality of the disc while burning, and then adjust the speed accordingly to slow down, or speed up the burn as necessary. However, as we have seen with drives like the Plextor PX series, aggressively timing the calibration of a drive like this generally hurts write speeds.
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amdfanboy - Monday, October 4, 2004 - link
*Test*chucky2 - Friday, October 1, 2004 - link
As a follow-up to reviewing the LG GSA-4160BI drive, it'd be nice if you do review the drive that you use the lastest revision of the firmware, which I belive is available here (http://us.lgservice.com/b2c/jsp/SubSys.jsp?SYS=SWL... by choosing DVD-Writer.In fact, I think the latest revision of firmware for each drive should be used so as to be fair to all drivers involved.
Thanks either way for doing the review, even if you don't include the LG!
Chuck
deathwalker - Thursday, September 30, 2004 - link
A final thought on my original post...the Pioneer 108 is $79 at newegg and this BenQ is $77...for a $2 difference give me the pioneer any day of the week. I'll pay $2 more for a company that has been doing it right for a long time vs. a company that is still tring to figure out how to do it right.deathwalker - Thursday, September 30, 2004 - link
Well..just call me a stick in the mud..but..if the chipset in use on this burner is a version of the one that was in the NU-082, then they can keep it. I have a NU-082 and it is quite possibly the worst optical device i have ever put in a computer..and just to think I bought it due to the praise it recieved from AnandTech. Having gotten that off my chest..keep up the good work guys I know you do your best to bring us quality reviews with objective analysis.WooDaddy - Thursday, September 30, 2004 - link
A couple of questions:- What is Mount Rainier?
- Will the overview include a table of features per drive? In particular I'd like to see things like HD-Burn and DVD-RAM read capablities, etc.
- Bitsetting disks .... why not just burn all discs in DVD-ROM format anyway? Is there a benefit to burning in the other? DVD-ROM is supposedly more compatible anyway. (This is a question, not a statement.)
And last but not least,
- Why won't Ian STFU!? Geez... Quit acting like a hater... If Anandtech doesn't have something you like, do you own damn website. oh wait.. YOU DO! So go do it! (Kris, I know you wanted to say that.)
For the record, IAN YOU HAVEN'T EVEN DONE A REVIEW ON THE DVR-108 YET! NOR HAVE YOU DONE A REVIEW ON ANY DRIVE WITH 16X -R MEDIA...
Gawd...
You do have a nice website and whole helluva comprehensive reviews. But because you're such a d|ck, I'll wait for Anandtech to come out with their review.
assemblage - Thursday, September 30, 2004 - link
I don't like the mouseover images you all are using.KristopherKubicki - Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - link
Ian: Got any 16X -R media for us to test it with?Kristopher
Ian@CDRlabs - Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - link
It says Pioneer DVR-108 above the specs.Why no 16x -R writing tests?
chucky2 - Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - link
I'd really like to see how the LG GSA-4160BI drive stacks up in the roundup...with a current price of $86 + $4 shipping, it'd be interesting to see how it compares to the larger names like Sony, Pioneer, etc.KristopherKubicki - Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - link
lennylim: Fixed.Kristopher