Article index
Author
Conclusion
Positive:
- Reads BD-ROM SL and DL media
- Reads BD-R and BD-RE media at 4x
- Writes both DVD+R and DVD-R media at 8x
- Excellent write quality on CD-R media at 16x
- Quiet drive operation
· Supports 5x writing on DVD-RAM
- Very Good to Excellent DVD+R writing quality
· Relatively inexpensive for a Internal Blu-ray reader
Negative:
· Some PI-1 failures (PIF) out of spec on our DVD-R media
· Bitsetting is only supported on DVD+R DL media
Conclusion:
Let us summarize the most
important positive and negative points below:
The Optiarc BC-5500S’s ability to write CD, DVD and read Blu-Ray media with good speed and quality give this drive an advantage over other Internal Laptop drives.
Writing of DVD+R and DVD DL media with the Optiarc BC-5500S at 8x and 4x respectively with good to excellent writing quality gives this unit the ability to be a single drive solution for DVD burning.
Writing of CD-R/RW media, 16x and 10x respectively with good to excellent quality is more than an added bonus. The Optiarc BC-5500S is also a very quiet drive in operation be it reading or Writing media.
The drive supports an internal SATA interface for quick and easy installation. With Blu-ray reading as well as DVD and CD burning and authoring, this really makes the Optiarc BC-5500S a multi format drive solution.
We have only found a few negatives with this drive, Bitsetting is only supported on DVD+R DL media. The drive does write some media a little slower than other Internal Slim drives but is very consistent and quiet. Lastly the drive did produce a few PI-1 failures (PIF) that are out of spec on our DVD-R media but the discs did play Video flawlessly with no skipping or stuttering.
To sum it all up, this is what we would say: “The Optiarc BC-5500S is a Blu-ray reader giving you the ability to watch high-definition content on your Laptop, additionally its capable of writing DVD and CD-R media with good to excellent quality.” We therefore award the Optiarc BC-5500S with a 4 Star rating.
We found the Bulk version of the Optiarc BC-5500S listed at the cheapest price of $202.94 at Amazon.com (July 2009).
Thanks to:
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Maxell USA – For providing the media used in this review. |
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Memorex USA – For providing the media used in this review. |
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Rima.com USA – For providing Taiyo Yuden media used in this review. |
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Advanced Media/Ritek-USA – For providing the media used in this review. |
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Verbatim USA – For providing the media used in this review. |
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ExtremeMhz – For providing the Maxell 12x DVD-RAM media used in this review |
18 Comments on Optiarc BC-5500S Slim Laptop Drive Review
my hp laptop hasn't had any firmware updates from hp, i want 4x bluray reading!!! |
Originally Posted by happyscrappy
link is malformed.
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| The Optiarc BC-5500S uses CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) to write CD-RW media at its maximum speed of 10X, this gives an average speed of 9.84X. |
| The Optiarc BC-5500S uses CLV, (Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD+R at the maximum supported speed of 8X. This gives an average write speed of 5.88X and a writing time of 11 minutes 14 seconds. |
| The Optiarc BC-5500S uses CLV, (Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD-R at the maximum supported speed of 8X. This gives an average write speed of 5.90X and a writing time of 11 minutes 23 seconds. |
| The Optiarc BC-5500S uses CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD+R DL media at 4X which gives an average write speed of 3.94X and a total write time of 29 minutes and 58 seconds. |
| The Optiarc BC-5500S uses CLV, (Constant Linear Velocity) to write DVD-R DL media at 2X. The average speed is 3.93x and the total writing time is 30 minutes and 49 seconds |
Should be fixed now.
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Originally Posted by DrageMester
Thanks for the review.
As can be seen from the graph, the drive uses Z-CLV to write CD-RW media at 10x - starting at 8x and then increasing to 10x at the 6min position. Nero CD-DVD Speed misreports this as CLV. Nero CD-DVD Speed must be crazy when it reports this as CLV instead of CAV! CDSpeed is wrong again. It's Z-CLV even if CDSpeed reports it as P-CAV. It's writing at 4x Z-CLV as seen in the graph. |
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Originally Posted by hajj_3
firmware update from official sony optiarc site adds 4x bluray reading, unfortunately oem's have to give you the update themselves or it wont flash
my hp laptop hasn't had any firmware updates from hp, i want 4x bluray reading!!! |
I have one of these, but it's the BC-5500A P-ATA..
I'm also unable to update to 4X because firmware updater looks for the VAIO name in BIOS before it will update.
Drive works fine, though I'm glad it was only 75 bucks AU on eBay.
BTW, why this review now, these drives are at least 18 months old as far as I know?
Also the Sony Optiarc drive was an OEM drive and many times they don't offer these for reviews.
We were asked to review the BC-5500 and with a laptop available we
were more than happy to review it.
Things have been changing at Sony Optiarc in regards to ODD's so we should see some NEW drive from them soon.
Thank you Oz for your comments.
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Originally Posted by Oz.
Yes, how typical of Sony to screw over their customers.
I have one of these, but it's the BC-5500A P-ATA.. I'm also unable to update to 4X because firmware updater looks for the VAIO name in BIOS before it will update. Drive works fine, though I'm glad it was only 75 bucks AU on eBay. BTW, why this review now, these drives are at least 18 months old as far as I know? |
Didn't even know this thread existed, replied on your review/news page.
SO!, since you have a OEM drive, guess you can't update it either. How 'bout you ask your supplier to provide a newer firmware from Sony, since it would make your review look allot better for the Blu-ray section, as in 4X BD reading.
Then perhaps you could pass it on to Liggy "Your tame racing driver" and let him dismantle it for us mere mortals?
If not, then a note in review that there will NEWER be an update of firmware because Sony only supports people who are insane enough to buy their own overpriced battery exploding notebooks.
BUT it doesn't appear my drive is an OEM. What firmware do you have?
I have 1.05
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Originally Posted by Oz.
Thanks for the nfo MegaDETH
Didn't even know this thread existed, replied on your review/news page. SO!, since you have a OEM drive, guess you can't update it either. How 'bout you ask your supplier to provide a newer firmware from Sony, since it would make your review look allot better for the Blu-ray section, as in 4X BD reading. Then perhaps you could pass it on to Liggy "Your tame racing driver" and let him dismantle it for us mere mortals? If not, then a note in review that there will NEWER be an update of firmware because Sony only supports people who are insane enough to buy their own overpriced battery exploding notebooks. |
Guessing 1.B4 is to be read as "1 before 1.05"
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Originally Posted by rexroach
what is the point of putting pictures of the back and underneath of the drive up when they are exactly the same as every other slim sata optical drive ?
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Originally Posted by Oz.
If you know they all look the same, then why do you keep examining them?
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@MegaDETH, any word from your supplier re firmware update?
BTW, just noticed I'm a Senior member, is this age related? because then I'm offended
I am a double Senior
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Originally Posted by Oz.
Damned if you and damned if you don't....
@MegaDETH, any word from your supplier re firmware update? BTW, just noticed I'm a Senior member, is this age related? because then I'm offended |
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Originally Posted by Oz.
BTW, just noticed I'm a Senior member, is this age related? because then I'm offended
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Originally Posted by MegaDETH
Nothing yet sorry...
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