ASUS DRW-1814BLT Super Multi DVD-Writer Review

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Introduction

Features

Reading Performances

CD-R/RW Writing Performances

DVD+R/RW writing performance

DVD-R/RW Writing performances

DVD+R DL/-R DL Writing performance and compatibility

DVD-RAM Performance

Advanced tests

Conclusion

Author

KIPPER
Retired Moderator & Reviewer: Article posted 31 May 07 06:59

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DVD-RAM Performance

The ASUS is a so-called Multi DVD Drive; meaning is also supports writing and reading the DVD-RAM format. Writing at 14X and reading at 12X. Lets us look at the recording side of the disc, and as you can see it has differences from the other DVD+R/W/R9 DL and DVD-R/W discs.

On the data side, we can see a very fascinating pattern of lighter spots, supposedly these spots are used for calibration while writing and reading.

A DVD-RAM’s disc can be formatted in the following formats: FAT32, UDF 1.02, UDF 1.50, UDF 2.00, UDF 2.01, and UDF 2.50.

By formatting a DVD-RAM disc with FAT32 it will act like a removable hard drive and all writing will be done as “background processes”. Meaning you do not have to wait for it to finish, you can start or work with other applications while the DVD-RAM is working without noticing any “hangs” or CPU slowdowns.

Lets us take a look how the drive performs:

Maxell branded 12x media manufactured by Maxell.
Thanks to ExtremeMhz for providing this media.

Writing Maxell 12x without verification

Transfer Rate test

As shown above the ASUS DRW-1814BLT writes 12X DVD-RAM without problem at 14X in 5:44 minutes. This drive will read DVD-RAM at 12X and read this disc in 5:36 minutes.

With 12X DVD-RAM being very difficult to locate at this time we will also test the DRW-1814BLT with some 5X DVD-RAM discs which are more available. Here are those results:

Writing Maxell 5X without verification

Writing Maxell 5X with verification

Transfer Rate Test

As we can see, the ASUS DRW-1814BLT writes and reads 5X DVD-RAM without any problem.

For those of you who are not familiar with DVD-RAM, you may probably think that something went wrong during the write process with the verification turned on, since the 3x and 5x media was written at 1.3x and 2x, respectively. But don’t worry, that is pretty normal for DVD-RAM discs. The reason for the lower writing speed is, the drive constantly reads back the data after writing it to verify that it’s written correctly. We can also call it a “bullet proof” writing/verify technique, with no data loss/errors.

Before we complete this review, let us run the drive through some advanced tests at next page…

15 Comments

puki ajam: Posts: 97; Posted on: 03 Jun 07 09:57

looks good, can it overburn??

zebadee: Posts: 5218; Posted on: 24 Jun 07 19:22

I have tried this drive & found it sadly lacking. It was noisey + slow (when compared to my other drives). However I have to add that the drive failed after just 8 days. So may not be a fair reflection. The dealer who supplied me this drive though claimed it gave him a headache & has now stopped supplying this drive.

puki ajam: Posts: 97; Posted on: 25 Jun 07 17:12

not that good then

guest: Posts: 15288; Posted on: 26 Jun 07 16:55

I have got one. Has two major drawbacks: - Flashing new firmware needs to be done using a Windows program. Impossible to flash when running Linux

- Upon flashing on a Windows system, the program reported "Failed" without any further info. Drive was completely screwed, so I had to replace it. Did not dare to flash the new one yet...

T3R: Posts: 26; Posted on: 26 Jun 07 20:49

I have compared this drive with Pioneer DVR-112 on few 16x +- Verbatim media, altought completely different in design both drives are fairly similar in operation speed-vise, but ASUS is fairly more silent. Most interesting, I am very surprised it gives two times less PIE/PIF errors on the same recording speed than Pio. Seems ASUS made good thing switching to MediaTek after all. Higly recommended.

guest: Posts: 15288; Posted on: 30 Jun 07 21:07

I'm Thai. I have just bought this SATA ASUS DVD-Writer, but i can't install "Nero7 Essential ASUS D070 V.7.5.13.1" because I have no SERIAL No. of this program. In my DVD box bought : 1. DVD-Writer 2. Manual "Optical Internal Drive Installation" 3. CD "Nero D070" 4. Bochoure"ASUS Make your mark..." I'm not sure that the saler kept other thing except this four things or not. However, I would like to hurry up to test the subscribe. Please help me the SERIAL No by sending E-mail to me "studentthai@hotmail.com". For other thing is not in the box if there is, i will ask the saler for the thing lost from the box. Comment : I have just used the DVD-Writer. I feel that this drive make the computer slow in sometimes including sometimes reading from this drive. & Usually my case has the mask in front of the DVD/CD drive, but this DVD writer can't be used with this mask. However, I think that there is no problem in long time for this ASUS DVD writer because I had ever used the ASUS CD when a few years ago with good work. This makes me confident to use this ASUS.

zwelf: Posts: 1; Posted on: 16 Sep 07 16:39

Please guys, I need your help. I have just recently bought asus drw1814blt, and for a while everything was great. But, a few days after I've installed winXP x64, the computer stopped showing it in my computer and in total commander. So now I cannot use it at all. I've tried reinstalling the driver manually and using device manager without any response. When I try to refresh the driver, the error message says that the missing data in the registry is preventing it from installing the driver. :c

guest: Posts: 15288; Posted on: 05 Oct 07 00:30

my father has purchased a new computer with a asus 1814bl dvd writer installed,the problem i am having is that the writer keeps spitting the dvd out that i want to copy after 25% saying read error ,but when i try it on a different computer it copies all the way through it had nero 7 in the box which the shop installed. i have updated the firmware on the asus site and nero 7, but it still won't work is there anything else i can try

guest: Posts: 15288; Posted on: 13 Nov 07 00:10

Hey, I am in need of some serious help here. I recently bought the the Nero 7 software for my computer, installed it and everything, only now it won't play any DVD's. It says something about needing to update a 'code' reader or something? I'm a college student and money is SUPER tight right now. I called Best Buy (it's where I purchased from) and they said they can install a diferent program, VLC, but don't know what to do about my problem.... I've downladed VLC to my usb card and onto my computer and THAT plays them but I'm realy hoping to get my money's worth out of the NERO. If anyone knows how i could update whatever it is that needs updating could you please let me know? Thanks.

guest: Posts: 15288; Posted on: 20 Nov 07 00:14

It's *NOT* a 3-Sheep-Burner

guest: Posts: 15288; Posted on: 28 Nov 07 00:03

Although my drive is still working, the lightscribe portion had stopped after making 5 lightscribed discs. If you do a bit of searching on the web you'll find this is a major issue with this drive. I'd steer clear.

acman: Posts: 6; Posted on: 02 Jan 08 05:52

The sheep3 file is the wrong size 402mb it should be 460mb not a 3 sheep burner for me also :c

hcobra: Posts: 5; Posted on: 08 Jan 08 13:14

just woundering if some one could help me, my drive is from region 2 but i put dvd from region 1 now my drive wouldnt change it back to region 2, can i format the computer or do i have to buy another drive??? help apreciated thanks :c

guest: Posts: 15288; Posted on: 11 Feb 08 20:47

I wrote sheep3.dat on a TDK DVD-RW and copy to hard disk without any problems. firmware of my ASUS-DRW 1814BLT is 1.13.

guest: Posts: 15288; Posted on: 13 Feb 08 06:14

I HANVE JUST PURCHASED A ASY-DRW 1814BLT I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESION THAT IT COULD BYE INSTALLED ON ANY OPERATING SYSTEM I EVEN MENTIONED TO THE SUPPLIER THAT I HAVE A WINDOWS ME, HE MADE NO COMMENTS NOW I CANNOT INSTALL THE DRIVE PLEASE HELP :*

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ASUS DRW-1814BLT Super Multi DVD-Writer Review

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DVD-RAM Performance

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