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CD/DVD Performance Tests -
Plextor PX-708UF |
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It's NERO Time! |
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Ahead software, the makers of
Nero Burning ROM 6, have an excellent selection of free
utilities to test the functions of various types of optical
drives. Each of these small applications perform a
number of specific tasks that show us what
each drive is capable of. In the next section we ran
several of these tests on the Plextor PX-708UF and included
the results the Teac DV-W50D drive for comparison where
applicable.
Please note that in each test, the
Green line
represents Transfer Rates while the
Yellow Line
represents Rotation Speed.
Nero CD-DVD Speed - CD Data Test:
In our first run
of Nero CD-DVD Speed we'll focus our efforts on standard
CD-ROM performance. With this benchmark, we loaded a 703MB data disk
full of MP3s in the
drive and let CD-DVD Speed run through its cycle of tests.
PLEXTOR
PX-708UF
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Teac DV-W50D
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With CD-ROM performance, we were
impressed with the Plextor PX-708UF. The PX-708UF bested
the internal drive with overall performance as well as CPU
performance and average seek times. The drive averaged
a speed of 32X vs. the Teac's 25X score, while the Plextor
hit a burst rate of 18MBs compared to 14X. There was no
comparison with average seek times heavily favoring of the Plextor PX-708UF
where as CPU performance was
virtually identical.
Nero CD-DVD Speed - Movie Playback Test:
In the next two tests we focused on the drive's DVD performance. Each
drive is configured to perform differently based on whether
a DVD movie or DVD data disk is inserted. Our
first test will focus on performance with DVD movie media.
For this test we used a copy of The Patriot.
PLEXTOR
PX-708UF
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Teac DV-W50D
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Historically, when comparing DVD movie
performance, we see two distinct patterns, one where the
scale shows the drive maintaining the same speed, with an
increase in data output as the movie plays. The other
pattern is the DVD drive maintaining steady data output, by
throttling the drive speed accordingly.
The latter is the case with both drives, which results in
quiet performance and sustained transfers that feed the
buffer steadily. The similarities in performance with
both drives is striking. Where on would expect the
external drive to have to work a little harder to keep up,
it kept pace with the internal model nicely. The Plextor drive had a better
random and full access score and
CPU utilization was slightly higher at 1X yet more efficient
at 2X compared to the Teac drive.
Nero CD-DVD Speed - DVD Data Test:
In the next test we swapped out the
movie DVD for a DVD data disk containing 4.32GBs of MP3 music
files. This picture should be notably different compared to
movie playback.
PLEXTOR
PX-708UF
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Teac DV-W50D
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With the DVD Data read test we
saw a slightly different picture than with the other tests.
The Plextor drive did manage a slightly higher average read
speed at 5.32X compared to the Teac's 4.63X. What was
different was how the disk speed stepped down toward the end
of the test. The Plextor
drive managed better seek times with both random and
1/3
test, but the difference shifted drastically with the full
seek time test, slipping over 100ms to the Teac drive.
We also saw a major shift in CPU utilization, most notably
at 4X where the Plextor drive hit 100% when the Teac hovered
closer to 30%. Even at 1X, the Plextor drive hit 22%
CPU utilization.
CD-R/DVD+R Write Tests &
Conclusion |