PAGE 2 Features & Technology

Test machine

For this review we will be using two computers with the following configuration:

Review PC #1:

• Motherboard: Asus P5K Deluxe WI-FI/AP

• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe @3.70 GHz

• Memory: 4x 2GB A-DATA PC2-6400 DDR2

• Video: eVGA  8800GT Superclocked

• Display: Hanns·G HG-216DPO 21.6" 5ms Widescreen HDMI LCD

• Sound: SoundMAX Digital HD Audio (Onboard)

• Hard Disks: 2x 320GB – 1x 750GB Seagate SATA-II

• Operating System: Windows Vista Ultimate x64 is installed on this machine.

Review PC #2:

• Motherboard: eVGA / Jetway 939GT4-SLI

• Processor: AMD Opteron(tm) Processor 165 @ 2.7GHz

• Memory: 2x 1Gb G.Skill Extreme Series 2GBZX @ 250MHz

• Video: ATI X600

• Display: Samsung SyncMaster 710N 17” LCD

• Sound: Onboard AC97

• Hard disks: 320GB Seagate SATA-II

• Operating System: Windows Vista Ultimate x86 is installed on this machine.

Software:

We will be using the following software in this review:

• Nero 8.1.1.0 Ultra Edition Enhanced

• Nero CD/DVD Speed

• Nero InfoTool 5.1.0.0

• K-Probe v2.5.2

• Exact Audio Copy V0.95 beta 4

• CloneCD 5.2.3.2

An Introduction to Blu-Ray Disc:

Until recently, optical disc technologies such as DVD, DVD±R, DVD±RW, and DVD-RAM relied on a red laser to read and write data. The new technology Blu-Ray format uses a blue-violet laser, which explains the name Blu-ray.

Blu-ray drives can also be made backwards compatible with CDs and DVDs through the use of a BD/DVD/CD compatible optical pickup unit.

A blue-violet laser (405nm) has a shorter wavelength than a red laser (650nm); this makes it possible to focus the laser with even greater accuracy. This will allow data to be packed more tightly, so it’s possible to squeeze more data on the disc even though it’s the same size as a CD/DVD. This together with the change of numerical aperture to 0.85 enables Blu-ray discs to hold 25GB/50GB.

Blu-ray media is structurally different from DVD media. The Blu-ray disc consists of a single 1.1 mm thick polycarbonate substrate with a 0.1 mm thick cover layer on the bottom side of the disc, while the DVD disc is made of two 0.6 mm thick substrates. In both cases, two substrates are bonded together by a UV-cured resin adhesive:

DVD vs. Blu-ray disc structure

The larger 25 GB and 50 GB storage capacity of the Blu-ray disc is due to the higher density of pits and tracks on the disc. Unlike previous optical discs, Blu-ray uses a shorter-wavelength, tighter-focused violet laser to read and write pits that are about three times smaller than pits used in DVDs:

CD, DVD and Blu-ray laser beam color and size

CD, DVD and Blu-ray pits and tracks as seen by a scanning electron microscope

Blu-ray disc surface mapped by an atomic force microscope

An Introduction to HD DVD:

The HD DVD disc builds on the experience gained from the conventional DVD format and is derived from the same fundamental technology.

In the following illustrations, multiple laser beams are shown for convenience, both above and below the disc. In actual HD DVD drives there is a single laser beam, which illuminates the disc from below.

Although the data density is much greater in HD DVD discs, the structure is very similar to existing DVDs. Discs may be single or double-sided, giving a total storage potential of 60GB on a single disc.

Alternative architectures include the ‘Combination’ disc, in which one side may be a conventional DVD-9 and the other a dual layer HD DVD. This offers a single inventory product for retailers and a future-proof acquisition for consumers. There is also a technology proposal, approved by the DVD Forum as a format option in HD DVD-ROM version 1.2, for a ‘Twin format’ disc, in which the layer closest to the pick-up head is reflective to red and transparent to blue-violet light. With this structure, a conventional DVD video player ‘sees’ the disc as a normal DVD-5, while the blue laser penetrates the first layer to read the HD DVD data behind.

Family of HD DVD discs:

• HD DVD-ROM is a 12cm disc, 1.2mm thick, replicated as either single or dual layer, with a storage capacity of 15GB for a single layer and 30GB for a dual layer disc. Double sided versions increase capacity to 30GB and 60GB respectively.
• 3X DVD-ROM Brings the higher data rate of HD DVD to the conventional format, enabling 135 minutes of HD content to be placed on a DVD-ROM, using AVC or VC-1 codecs.
• 8 cm mini HD DVD offers 4.7GB in single layer form and 9.4GB as dual layer. A double-sided disc is part of the standard.
• HD DVD-R write once discs can hold 15 GB per side, 30GB total.
• HD DVD-RW re-writable discs store 20GB on each side, 40GB total.

Comparison of Blu-ray Disc, HD DVD and DVD formats:

We include a table of both high-definition formats and including DVD format for comparison.

Installation and Supported Features:

The installation was flawless; we hooked the drive up using a standard SATA cable

Here is the Nero InfoTool output for the drive and its supported features:

CD-DVD Speed reports the burst rate of 59 MB/s:

Disc Writing Technology:

Now let’s take a closer look at the writing technology of the LG GGC-H20L:

CD-Recordable:

The LG GGC-H20L uses P-CAV, (Partial Constant Angular Velocity), to write at its maximum speed of 40X, this gives an average speed of 33.47X.

For comparison we have made the following table: 

As we can see from our chart the LG GGC-H20L was the fastest at writing our test CD-R media.

24x CD-Rewritable: 

The LG GGC-H20L uses Z-CAV 2-Zone (Zone-Constant Linear Velocity) to write CD-RW media at its maximum speed of 24X, this gives an average speed of 22.96X.

For comparison we have made the following table:

As you can see from the graph, our LG GGC-H20L is by far the fastest at CD-RW writing, with a time of 3m:41s.

16X DVD+R writing speed:

The LG GGC-H20L uses P-CAV, (Partial Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD-R at the maximum supported speed of 16X. This gives an average write speed of 12.11X and a writing time of 5 minutes 39 seconds.

For comparison we have made the following table:

As you can see from the graph, our LG GGC-H20L is the fastest at DVD+R writing, with a time of 5m:39s.

16X DVD-R Writing speed:

The LG GGC-H20L uses P-CAV, (Partial Constant Angular Velocity) to write DVD-R at the maximum supported speed of 16X. This gives an average write speed of 12.10X and a writing time of 5 minutes 39 seconds.

For comparison we have made the following table:

As you can see from the graph, our LG GGC-H20L is the fastest at DVD-R writing, with a time of 5m:39s.

8X DVD+RW writing speed: 

The LG GGC-H20L uses Z-CLV (Zone-Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD+RW at 8X. The average speed is 7.84X and total writing time is 7:19 minutes.

For comparison we have made the following table: 

As you can see from our graph the LG GGC-H20L was ahead of the competition writing DVD+RW, with a time of 7m:19s.

8X DVD-RW writing speed: 

The LG GGC-H20L uses CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD-RW at 6X. The average speed is 6.01X and total writing time is 9:55 minutes.

For comparison we have made the following table: 

As you can see from our graph the LG GGC-H20L was at the top of the competition writing DVD-RW, with a time of 9m:55s.

4X DVD+R DL writing speed:  

The LG GGC-H20L supports 4x writing speed on DVD+R DL media.

The LG GGC-H20L uses CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD+R DL media at 4X which gives an average write speed of 3.95X and a total write time of 27 minutes and 27 seconds.

4X DVD-R DL writing speed:  

The LG GGC-H20L supports 4X writing speed on DVD-R DL media.

The LG GGC-H20L uses CLV, (Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD-R DL media at 4X. The average speed is 3.95x and the total writing time is 28 minutes and 11 seconds

For comparison we have made the following table:

As you can see from our chart above the LG GGC-H20L posts very competitive times when we compare it at 4X writing on both DVD+DL media.

DVD-RAM

The specifications for the LG GGC-H20L state that the drive is capable of writing DVD-RAM at 5X.  Let’s take a look at the write strategy for this media.

5X DVD-RAM Writing

The LG GGC-H20L uses P-CAV (Partial Constant Angular Velocity), to write at is maximum speed of 5X.  This gives an average speed of 4.56X and a total writing time of 12 minutes and 21 seconds.

Book type (bitsetting):

The LG GGC-H20L supports bitsetting, but at default will write DVD+R, and DVD+R DL media with DVD+R, and DVD+R DL book type, the drive does not remember your Book Type setting so you will need to change it every time.

With Nero CD-DVD Speed, we can see that the “Book Type" column in the Drive Settings area that all disc types are currently bitset to DVD+R, and DVD+R DL. When a disc is inserted in the drive, the Disc Settings area will show the Book Type.

We can also check if our discs are really written with DVD-ROM Book Type is by clicking on the Disc Info tab. This should look something similar to the following screen shot:

LightScribe

The LG GGC-H20L as a LightScribe drive enables images to be burned onto LightScribe Discs, both CD and DVD.  Make a label whenever and wherever you want with your PC and burner.  It is Simple, Compatible and Flexible. 

On the next page let’s take a look at the Reading Performance…