CD Freaks reviews: LG GSA-5163D Triple format DVD writer

March 25, 2005

OC-Freak, CD Freaks drive reviewer and forum administrator, has just finished his review of the LG GSA-5163D DVD-writer. This drive is one of a few drives out which supports writing of all three current DVD formats (+R, -R and -RAM). It writes DVD+/-R's at 16x, DVD+R DL at 4x, DVD+RW at 8x, DVD-RW at 6x and DVD-RAM at 5x speed.

Drive specifications:

These are the specifications of this drive, found at the LGE webpage:

Compatible with all DVD formats.

Store up to 4.7 GB on 1 DVD-RAM, DVD-R/RW and DVD±R/RW disc

Bum and Read all major formats of DVD and CD media

DVD video bumed can be read on most DVD players and DVD-ROM drives

2 MB buffer memory with buffer underrun prevention technology

Write Speed (DVD+R) : 2.4x, 4x CLV, 8x ZCLV, 12x, 16x PCAV

Write Speed (DVD+R DL) : 2.4x , 4x CLV

Write Speed (DVD-R) : 2x, 4x CLV, 8x ZCLV, 16x PCAV

Write Speed (DVD+RW) : 2.4x, 4x CLV, 8x ZCLV

Write Speed (DVD-RW) : 1x, 2x, 4x, 6x CLV

Write Speed (DVD-RAM) : 2x, 3x ZCLV (Ver.2.2), 3x-5x PCAV(Ver.2.2)

Write Speed (CD-R) : 4x, 8x, 16x CLV, 24x, 32x, 40x ZCLV

Write Speed (CD-RW) : 4x, 10x,16x CLV,24x ZCLV

(High Speed: 10x, Ultra Speed: 16x, 24x)

Read Speed (CD-ROM) : Max 40x

Read Speed (DVD-ROM) : Max 16x

Write Method(DVD-RAM) : Random write

Write Method(DVD-R/RW) : Disk-at-Once, Incremental Recording

Write Method(DVD-R/RW) : Restricted Overwrite (DVD-RW only)

Write Method(DVD+R) : Sequential Recording

Write Method(DVD+RW) : Random Write

Write Method(CD-R/RW) : Disk-at-Once, Track-at-Once

Write Method(CD-R/RW) : Session-at-Once, Packet Write

Data Transfer Rate(CD) : Max 6,000KB/s, DVD: Max 22.16 Mbytes/s

Access Time(CD) : 125 ms, DVD-ROM 145 ms, DVD-RAM 165 ms

Buffer Size : 2MB with buffer under run prevention technology

Loading Type : Motorized Tray

Interface Type : USB 2.0 / IEEE 1394

Compatible Formats Write : DVD-RAM, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CD-R/RW

Compatible Formats Read : DVD-RAM, DVDR/RW, DVD+R/RW, DVD-ROM

Compatible Formats Read : CD-R/RW, CD-ROM Mode 1, 2 CD-DA, CD-IFMV

Compatible Formats Read : CD-ROM XA, Mixed CD, CD-Extra, CD-Text

Compatible Formats Read : CD-Plus, Photo-CD, Video CD

W x D x H : 163.2 x 244.7 x 54.0 mm

Weight : 1460g

OS : Windows 2000 Professional, XP Home Edition

The specifications are very good, the only drawbacks we could see is that it only supports 40x CD reading and writing. It should also write with P-CAV technology, which is promising for low recording times and high average recording speeds.

If you want to know what he had to say and why the drives deserves the CD Freaks Editors Choice Award, you have to check out whole review here. Any comments, reactions and discussions are welcome in this thread in our LG Forum at Club CD Freaks.

Source: CD Freaks