Yeah i’ll second that, using a 1600 flashed to 1620 ! Gr8 drive, regular formware updates and gr8 compatibility with various media. Becareful though if you are from mumbai, since the drive seems to be in shortage right now. Also refer to the optical drive guide stickied in the gen hardware section.
Writing is not a problem but the c1/c2 errors fluctuate a lot with media.
If thrown decent media like Ricohjpn or T Y then its no problem.
Infact MB India is considered one of the best dies in DVD media but my LiteOn gave horrible scans on it.
Whereas the same media gives excellent scans on my Benq.
Darky is absolutely right… the Liteys (and the sonys which are liteon oem) give horrible PI/PIF scans with media other than Taiyo Yuden/MCC/Ricoh jpn. The more PI/PIF errors, the quicker the DVD will turn into a coaster. So even though data burnt by a 1673 might not seem to have a prob now, after a few hundred reads, the disk will be totally screwed and unreadable. In DVD burners these days, the prime issue is neither time reqd to burn or cpu utilization but the write quality. Currently the pioneer a09/benq 1620/nec 3520/plextor 716 drives have the best burn quality. Asus is pioneer oem, msi is benq oem. So either of those are okay as well.
Wots so gr8 abt the benq: Umm amongst the best write quality, one of the fastest writers i believe, regular firmware updates and a gr8 price to boot make it one of the best drives out there. If you have reservations about the Benq brand (which i believe u do) then go for the Pioneer 109 !
Also do chk out reviews @ AT, cdrinfo and cdfreaks to get an clear picture. Maybe techhead can add more to this …
Wots so gr8 abt the benq: Umm amongst the best write quality, one of the fastest writers i believe, regular firmware updates and a gr8 price to boot make it one of the best drives out there. If you have reservations about the Benq brand (which i believe u do) then go for the Pioneer 109 !
Also do chk out reviews @ AT, cdrinfo and cdfreaks to get a clear picture. Maybe techhead can add more to this …
Found a bit of advantages of Pioneer DVR 109 over Benq
Pioneer also supports DVD-RAM reading at CLV 2x
The new Benq DW1640
The BenQ DW1640 supports 16x DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW and 8x DVD+R9 DL writing technology, allowing dual layer discs of 8.5Gb to be written. So far this is the worlds first DVD-burner to support the DVD+R9 DL format at 8x.
Performance
[DVD+R DL]
Data Transfer Rate /double layer write: 88.64 Mbit/sec (8X)
[DVD+R/+RW]
Data Transfer Rate /write: 177.28 Mbit/sec (16X)
Data Transfer Rate /rewrite: 88.64 Mbit/sec (8X)
[DVD-R/-RW]
Data Transfer Rate /write: 177.28 Mbit/sec (16X)
Data Transfer Rate /rewrite: 66.48 Mbit/sec (6X)
[DVDROM]
Data Transfer Rate /read: 177.28 Mbit/sec (16X, Max.)Access time: 120 ms
[CD]
Data Transfer Rate /write: 7200 KByte/sec (48X)
Data Transfer Rate /rewrite: 4800 KByte/sec (32X)
Data Transfer Rate /read: 7200 KByte/sec (48X, Max.)
Access time: 120 ms
Interface
E-IDE/ATAPI
Supported IDE mode
PIO mode 0/1/2/3/4
DMA mode 0/1/2
UDMA mode 0/1/2
Buffer Size 2 Mbytes
Writing Mode
[DVD+R/+RW]
DVD Data and Video
[CD-R/-RW]
Track-at-Once, Disc-at-Once, Multisession, Packet Writing (fixed & variable packet), CD Digital Audio, Direct-Over-Write on CD-RW, Test Write
Disc Size
[DVD] 120 mm disc
[CD] 80 and 120 mm discs
Disc Formats
[DVD]
DVD+R DL 8.5GB, DVD+R 4.7GB, DVD+RW 4.7GB, DVD-R 4.7GB (closed session), DVD-RW 4.7GB (closed session), DVD-Video, DVD-5, DVD-9, DVD-10, DVD-18
[CD]
CD-DA, CD-ROM XA (m1, m2f1/m2f2), CD-R, CD-RW, Bootable CD, Photo CD (single & multi-session), Video CD, Super Video CD, CD-Extra, Mixed-mode CD, CD-Text
Audio Performance
Signal-to-Noise ratio: 76 dB min.
Number of stereo channels: 2
Analog audio line output: 0.75 VRMS at 470 Ohm
Analog headphone output: 0.6 VRMS at 34 Ohm
CD sampling frequency: 44.1 KHz
Operating temperature:
5 0C~50 0C (410F~1220F) at humidity of 8-80% RH
Non-operating temperature:
-40 0C~60 0C (-40 0F~140 0F) at humidity: 5%~95% RH
Reliability Characteristics
MTBF: 125,000 POH (20%)
Non-recoverable read error < 1 block in 1012 bits (CD and DVD)
Firmware Update
Flash memory upgradeable
Panel Design
Front side:
open/close button and read/write status indicator LED
Rear side:
40-pin ATA-2 dual row flat-cable connector, 4-pin DC power connector, 3-position device jumpers, digital audio output and analog audio output
OS Compatibility
Windows XP, 2000, ME, 98SE
Speciality
The ventilation system/feature called Air Flow Cooling System (AFCS) and Anti-Dust Cooling System (ADCS)
check:-
Dual Cooling System
BenQ’s exclusive Dual Cooling System (DCS) features an Anti-Dust Cooling System (ADCS) and Air Flow Cooling System (AFCS) to effectively reduce the risk of over-heating during high-speed reading and writing.
Air Flow Cooling System (AFCS)
AFCS accelerates the circulation inside the drive and speeds up the heat elimination through the drive’s steel housing.
Check Image:-
Anti-Dust Cooling System (ADCS)
With an integrated heat chimney design, ADCS redirects the heat flow out of the drive, while still providing protection from dust.
Check Image:-
Positive:
Supports DVD+R/R9 DL/-R at 16x/8x/16x
Supports CD-R/RW at 48x/32x
Supports bitsetting for all types of DVD+R/R9 DL/RW (sets auto. booktype to DVD-ROM)
Supports disc quality scanning
Can read 99/100 minutes CD-R’s
Reads DVD+R/-R at 16x
Reads DVD+RW/R9 DL/-RW at 12x
Reads DVD-Video SL/DL at 16x/12x
Good Software package
Cheap price
Negative:
Does not support Mt. Rainier
Does not support LightScribe
Reads CD-RW only at 40x
Green LED for both reading and writing
The Benq DW1640 looks much much better than Pioneer DVR109
**
Discussion on Benq DW1640 to be carried here:-
**
But please answer my doubts here
I wanted to ask if Benq DW1640 is available here this really has gr8 features.
And want your opinion on this benq dw1640 writer.
You people have more optical drive knowledge than mine so please let me know.
Also wanted to ask that did anyone have a bad experience with any Benq DVD Writers
