Optiarc AD-7173A DVD-Writer Preview

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Article index

Introduction

Features

Reading performance

Writing performance CD-R/RW

Writing performance DVD+R/RW

Writing performance DVD-R/RW

Writing performance DVD±R DL

Writing performance DVD-RAM 12x

Conclusion

Author

Jan70
Senior Administrator: Article posted 01 Sep 06 22:10

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Introduction

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

Width	14.8 cm
Depth	19 cm
Height	4.2 cm
Weight	0.7 kg
Device Type	DVD+/-RW (+/-R DL) / DVD-RAM drive
Enclosure Type	Internal
Interface	IDE

Expansion / Connectivity

Interfaces	1 x ATA-33 – 40 PIN IDC – 1 x audio out – 4 PIN MPC
Compatible Bays	1 x front accessible – 5.25″ x 1/2H

Optical Storage

Type	DVD+/-RW (+/-R DL) DVD-RAM – 5.25″ x 1/2H
Access Time	160 ms (DVD), 140 ms (CD)
Features	Emergency disc eject hole, Active Optimum Power Control (AOPC)
Compliant Standards	CD-Bridge, Video CD
Read Speed	48x (CD) / 16x (DVD)
Write Speed	DVD+/-R (SL) 18x DVD+R (DL) 8x DVD-R (DL) 8x DVD+RW 8x DVD-RW 6x DVD-RAM 12x CD-R 48x CD-RW 32x
CD / DVD Rewrite Speed	CD-ROM 48x CD-RW 40x DVD-ROM/+/-R(SL) 16x
Buffer Size	2 MB
Media Load Type	Tray
Supported CD Formats	CD Text, CD Extra, CD-I, CD-ROM XA, Photo CD, Video CD, CD-ROM
Supported Recording Modes	Multisession, disc-at-once, track-at-once, session-at-once
Supported Media Types	CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL

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…