Optiarc AD-7173A DVD-Writer Preview

 

Preview:
Optiarc AD-7173A
Reviewed by: Jan70
Provided by: CDFreaks
Firmware:
1-01
Manufactured: August
2006

We at CDFreaks would
like to present a preview of one of the latest DVD-ReWriter from Sony NEC
Optiarc Inc. '“ the Optiarc AD-7173A. The Optiarc AD-7173A supports 18x
DVD±R, 8x/6x DVD+RW/DVD-RW, 12x DVD-RAM and 8x
DVD+R DL/DVD-R DL writing technology, allowing
Double/Dual Layer discs of 8.5Gb to be written. This drive also supports the
LabelFlash™/DiscT@2™ feature.

Company
Information:

At the time
being the Sony NEC
Optiarc Inc. website is only available in Japanese:

Sony NEC Optiarc Inc is a
joint venture of Sony (55%) and NEC (45%) - established on the 3^rd of
April 2006. Their headquarters is located in Tokyo, Japan with approximately 350
employees.

The company is into
development, engineering, production, marketing and sales of optical disc drive
products.

The name Optiarc comes
from Optical (Opti-) and archive (-arc).

 

Drive specifications:

  General

    Expansion
/ Connectivity

    Optical
Storage

 

What's inside the
box?

Since the
drive is a bulk drive, there is neither a retail box nor any software, cables or
fixing screws.

Now it's time to take a look at
the drive itself.

The bezel is NEC's usual plain but
not unattractive style. The front sports a single (green) LED for read/write, an
emergency eject hole and the eject/close button. The logos located on the bezel
include: the LabelFlash™ logo, a DVD Alliance DVD+R DL
logo, a DVD-R DL multi recorder logo, and a CD-RW Ultra Speed
logo.

Top

On the top of the drive we found
one sticker, and we can read it was manufactured in Malaysia, during August
2006.

Side

Bottom

On the back of the drive there are
from the left: Digital Audio connector; analogue audio connector; pins and
jumper to set the drive to cable select, slave or master; IDE connector, power
connector.

 

Now, let us install the drive and
check out the features on the next page…

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Test machine:

For this preview we will be using a computer with the following configuration:

Hardware:

• Motherboard: Asus A8V Deluxe
• Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ (Toledo)
• RAM: 1 GB Corsair Kit PC3200 DDR
• GFX: MSI GeForce 6600 GT
• Sound: Onboard Realtek AC'97
• Hard disk: Maxtor 6V300F0 300 GB (S-ATA)

System set-up:

The Optiarc AD-7173A was connected as Secondary Slave and identified itself as Optiarc DVD RW AD-7173A. DMA (Direct Memory Access) and autorun was enabled for all devices.

Software:

Windows XP Professional is installed on the computer along with Service Pack 2 for Windows XP. We will be using the following software in this preview:

• Nero CD-DVD Speed
• Nero InfoTool
• Plextools Professional XL  

 

Installation:

We quickly installed the drive without any problems and here is a screenshot from Nero InfoTool:

Our drive came shipped with firmware 1-01. The only drawbacks we could see are: The missing Mt. Rainier support along with the small buffer size.

 

Features and techniques:

ACTIVE OPC:

Optiarc uses Active OPC Technology with its optical hardware. Active OPC constantly monitors the sensitivity of the media and adjusts the laser strength to achieve the best possible results. It does this by analyzing the reflection from the media's surface.

LabelFlash™ / DiscT@2™:

 

Writing Technology:

18x DVD±R writing speed:

The Optiarc AD-7173A uses CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD+R at 18x. The average speed is 13.26x and total writing time is 5:26 minutes.

The Optiarc AD-7173A uses CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD-R at 18x. The average speed is 13.29x and total writing time is 5:27 minutes.

8x DVD+R DL writing speed:

The Optiarc AD-7173A uses Z-CLV (Zoned Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD+R DL at 8x. Our drive did not write the first layer at 8x.

8x DVD-R DL writing speed:

The Optiarc AD-7173A Z-CLV (Zoned Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD-R DL at 8x. Our drive did not write the first layer at 8x.

12x DVD-RAM:

The Optiarc AD-7173A uses P-CAV (Partial Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD-RAM media at its maximum speed of 12x (verify off). This resulted in an average write speed of 9.73x and a total write time of 6 minutes and 4 seconds.

 

On the next page: Reading performance…

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Reading performance:

For these
tests we will use Nero CD-DVD Speed to read various CD and DVD's, including
audio discs and DVD-media.

Pressed
discs:

For this test
we used a pressed CD-ROM disc containing Creative Blaster Audigy install CD that
is close to 74 minutes long. Below you will see the produced result:

CD-Recordable
Discs:

For this test,
we made a copy of the original Creative Blaster Audigy install CD. The disc we
used was a Verbatim 48X certified CD-R disc manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemicals
Corporation. 

 CD-Rewritable discs:

Again, we made
a copy of the original Creative Blaster Audigy install CD; this time we used a
Verbatim Ultra Speed (24X) CD-RW disc made by Mitsubishi Chemicals
Corporation.

The drive is locked around 40x
while reading CD-RWs.

Audio
CD:

We used Nero
CD-DVD Speed to measure the transfer rate. The audio disc we used is slightly
larger than the disc used for the other tests, to be exact it's about 78 minutes
long (77:43:45).

The drive is locked around 40x
while reading Audio-CDs.

90 minutes
CD:

We used Nero
CD-DVD Speed to measure the transfer rate. The 90 min disc we used is slightly
larger than the disc used for the other tests, to be exact it is 90 minutes and
10 seconds long.

 

DVD reading performance:

Again, we will use
Nero CD-DVD Speed to measure the reading performance, this time for various
types of DVD discs. The drive should read pressed single layer DVD-discs at
16X.

DVD '“
DVD-Video:

For our DVD
reading performance tests we are going to start with a single and dual layered
DVD video discs. While only 1X speed is required to watch DVD movies, it's
useful to be able to read the discs at higher speeds if you're going to extract
(rip) the content of the disc to your hard drive.

DVD-Video Single Layer

DVD-Video Double Layer
(OPT)

As we can see,
it reads DVD-Video Single layer at 16x and DVD-Video Double layer at
12x.

 

DVD '“ DVD+R/RW:

For this test,
we used one DVD+R and one DVD+RW with about 4.4Gb of data. Below are the
results:

DVD+R

DVD+RW

 

DVD '“ DVD-R/RW:

For this test,
we used one DVD-R disc and one DVD-RW disc filled with about 4.4Gb of data. Our
test results are found below:

DVD-R

DVD-RW

 

DVD '“ DVD+R DL:

For this test,
we used one DVD+R DL disc and the result can be found below:

 

DVD '“ DVD-R DL:

For this test,
we used one DVD-R DL disc and the result can be found below:

 

DVD '“ DVD-RAM:

For this test,
we used a Maxell DVD-RAM 12x disc and the result can be found below:

 

On the next
page: Writing performance…

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Writing Data CD-R/RW discs:

The
specifications state that the drive should be able to write CD-Rs at 48x and
CD-RWs at 32x:

The
Optiarc
AD-7173A
uses CAV (Constant Angular
Velocity) to write CD-R's at 48x. This gives an average writing
speed of 35.47x and a writing time of 3 minutes
and 16 seconds.

 

The Optiarc
AD-7173A uses Z-CLV, (Zone-Constant Linear
Velocity) to write CD-RWs at 32x. The
average speed is 29.69x and total writing time is 3 minutes and 22
seconds.

 

In
this preview, we did not include any quality scans of the CD-R/RW
discs.

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DVD-Writing performance:

The specifications of this drive tell us that it should write DVD±R at 18x, DVD+RW/-RW at 8x/6x, and DVD±R DL at 8x.

DVD+R at 18x:

Miflop extreme 16x DVD+R media at 18x, average writing speed of 13.26x, and a writing time of 5 minutes and 29 seconds.

Above a Quality scan of the Miflop Extreme DVD+R 16x media written at 18x.

Above the Transfer rate test curve.

 

Maxell 16x DVD+R media at 18x, average writing speed of 13.27x, and a writing time of 5 minutes and 28 seconds.

Above a Quality scan of the Maxell DVD+R 16x media written at 18x.

Above the Transfer rate test curve.

 

Sony 16x DVD+R media at 18x, average writing speed of 13.26x, and a writing time of 5 minutes and 29 seconds.

Above a Quality scan of the Sony DVD+R 16x media written at 18x.

Above the Transfer rate test curve.

 

TDK 16x DVD+R media at 18x, average writing speed of 13.26x, and a writing time of 5 minutes and 26 seconds.

Above a Quality scan of the TDK DVD+R 16x media written at 18x.

Above the Transfer rate test curve.

 

Verbatim 16x DVD+R media at 18x, average writing speed of 13.26x, and a writing time of 5 minutes and 29 seconds.

Above a Quality scan of the Verbatim DVD+R 16x media written at 18x.

Above the Transfer rate test curve.

 

DVD+RW at 8x:

The Optiarc AD-7173A uses Z-CLV, (Zone-Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD+RW at 8x. The average speed is 7.96x and total writing time is 7 minutes and 36 seconds.

Above a Quality scan of the Ricoh DVD+RW 8x media written at 8x.

Above the Transfer rate test curve.

---

DVD-R at
18x: 

Maxell 16x
DVD-R media at 18x, average writing speed of 13.33x, and a writing time of 5
minutes and 29 seconds.

Above a
Quality scan of the Maxell DVD-R 16x media written at 18x.

Above the
Transfer Rate Test curve.

 

Miflop extreme
16x DVD-R media at 18x, average writing speed of 13.29x, and a writing time of 5
minutes and 27 seconds.

Above a
Quality scan of the Miflop extreme DVD-R 16x media written at 18x.

Above the
Transfer Rate Test curve.

 

Sony 16x DVD-R
media at 18x, average writing speed of 13.28x, and a writing time of 5
minutes and 31 seconds.

Above a
Quality scan of the Sony DVD-R 16x media written at 18x.

Above the
Transfer Rate Test curve.

 

TDK 16x DVD-R
media at 18x, average writing speed of 13.26x, and a writing time of 5
minutes and 34 seconds.

Above a
Quality scan of the TDK DVD-R 16x media written at 18x.

Above the
Transfer Rate Test curve.

Verbatim 16x
DVD-R media at 18x, average writing speed of 13.24x, and a writing time of 5
minutes and 33 seconds.

Above a
Quality scan of the Verbatim DVD-R 16x media written at 18x.

Above the
Transfer Rate Test curve.

 

DVD-RW at
6x:

The Optiarc
AD-7173A uses CLV (Constant
Linear Velocity) to write DVD-RW
at 6x. The average speed is 6.20x and total writing time is 10 minutes and 14
seconds.

Above a
Quality scan of the Verbatim DVD-RW 6x media written at 6x.

Above the
Transfer Rate Test curve.

---

DVD+R DL at
8x:

The Optiarc
AD-7173A uses Z-CLV (Zone-Constant Linear
Velocity) to write DVD+R DL at 8x. Our
drive did not write the first layer at 8x though.

Above a
Quality scan of the Verbatim DVD+R DL 8x media written at 8x.

Above the
Transfer Rate Test curve.

 

DVD-R DL at
8x:

The Optiarc
AD-7173A uses Z-CLV (Zone-Constant Linear
Velocity) to write DVD-R DL at 8x. Our
drive did not write the first layer at 8x though.

Above a
Quality scan of the Verbatim DVD-R DL 8x media written at 8x.

Above the
Transfer Rate Test curve.

---

DVD-RAM writing performance:

The
specifications of this drive tell us that it should read and write
DVD-RAM at 12x.

The Optiarc
AD-7173A used P-CAV (Partial-Constant Angular
Velocity) to write DVD-RAM at 12x with
verify off. The average write speed is 9.73x and total writing time is 6 minutes
and 4 seconds.

Above a
screenshot of the Optiarc AD-7173A reading back the Maxell DVD-RAM 12x
media.

 

This
concludes our preview of the Optiarc AD-7173A drive. Let us head on to the final
page for our 'preview" conclusion…..

Positive:

• Supports DVD-RAM
  read and write 12x
  
• Supports
  DVD±R at
  18x
  
• Can write
  DVD±R certified media at higher speed
  
• Supports DVD±R DL writing at
  8x
  
• Supports
  DVD+RW/DVD-RW writing at 8x/6x
  
• Supports CD-R/RW
  writing at 48x/32x
  
• Supports
  Bitsetting on DVD+R DL media (sets auto. BookType to DVD-ROM)
  
• Supports
  LabelFlash™ and DiscT@2™ labelling techniques
  
• Reads
  DVD-Video SL/DL at 16x/12x
  
• Reads
  DVD±R/RW at
  16x/13x
  
• Very good reading
  performance
  
• Very good write
  quality on our tested media
  
• The
  hardware components are 'lead-free"

 

Negative:

• Does not
  support Mt. Rainier
  
  
• Reads CD-DA/CD-RW only
  at 40x
  
• Does not support
  Bitsetting on DVD+R/+RW
  
• Green LED for both
  reading and writing

 

Conclusion:

To sum it all up, this is what we
would say:

'Optiarc
being a newcomer on the block, shows us the joint venture between Sony and NEC,
giving us a drive from two companies with very long experiences in the ODD
industry.

So far we
get the feeling that this drive has it all, it combines features,
reading/writing speed and quality.

The 16x
media capability of media that can be written at 18x, is also very good when
compared to other 18x writers - so far we found 10 different media that is
supported at 18x.

If we should
say anything negative about this drive, then it would be the lack of Bitsetting
support on DVD+R/RW media."

 

By using our
price grabber feature cdfreaks.pricegrabber we did not find any offers, but
at getprice, we
found the drive listed at 39.93  €.
(August 2006).

 

You may
discuss/comment this article below or in this
forum thread.

 

Thanks to: 

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