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'../banner.php' ?> </h2> <h2 align="center">BENQ 1625 16X DVD LightScribe Burner (cont.)</h2> <p align="left"><strong>Performance:</strong></p> <p align="left">To test BenQ's 1625's write speed I first used a standard test. I copied a movie (4.5GB) to a 4.7 16X Ritek DVD+R media disc. This took almost 9 minutes, and I swear about 50 seconds was the drive spinning up and filling buffer. Not great times with 16X media. Therefore, I tested it again burning 4.2 GB of files to another 16X Ritek disc. This process took 5 minutes and 42 seconds. What happened here?</p> <p align="left">As I would find out, the 1625 DVD burner seems to have issues with my Ritek media. About every other disc would burn at 8X instead of 16X. As for my <a href="atruereview/lightscribe_burner/../dvd_burner/index.php">LiteOn 1633</a>, it always burns this media at 16X. </p> <p align="left">Doing a more technical test, Nero's CD-DVD Speed tool reveals the same findings. On a good burn speed that hit 16X, there are lots of slow downs while the laser power is adjusted.</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/lightscribe_burner/drivespeed.gif"><img src="atruereview/lightscribe_burner/drivespeedth.gif" alt="BENQ 1625 16X DVD LightScribe Burner" border="0" width="350" height="217"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p align="left"> On a lessor computer, LiteOn's 1633S burned this media flawlessly with a faster overall average burn speed, 12X.</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/lightscribe_burner/liteonspeed.gif"><img src="atruereview/lightscribe_burner/liteonspeedth.gif" alt="BENQ 1625 16X DVD LightScribe Burner" border="0" width="350" height="230"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p align="left">For read testing, I used Sandra 2005's CD-ROM/DVD Benchmark. </p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/lightscribe_burner/readspeed.gif"><img src="atruereview/lightscribe_burner/readspeedth.gif" alt="BENQ 1625 16X DVD LightScribe Burner" border="0" width="349" height="334"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p align="left">The drive performed exceptionally well and is the fastest DVD-Reader I have, all others are 4X. </p> <p align="left">Burning a 8.5 GB DL disc took 45 minutes and 28 seconds. I can't complain for its right on par with all the other times I have seen. The bookmark type made it very easy to burn as a DVD ROM. What I really like is it only took 17 minutes and 23 seconds to back up with DVD-Shrink.</p> <p align="left"><strong>LightScribe:</strong></p> <p align="left">Special media is needed to support LightScribe. As mentioned before, BenQ includes one CDR that supports LightScribe. LightScribe is just an etching so don't expect 32-bit color. For most of us that scribble with a Sharpy on blank media, this is just fine; especially, for those of you that have seen my handwriting.</p> <p align="left">I loaded up Nero LightScribe and used one of their templates. Make sure the disc is in upside down, LightScribe side facing the laser, otherwise Nero might not give you the option. While I thought it was a simple design it took near 1/2 hour to burn. This changes on quality of the image and how much you are printing. Maybe they will have 4X LightScribe burners soon :O). At least it was readable when finished, unlike my handwriting.</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/lightscribe_burner/10.jpg"><img src="atruereview/lightscribe_burner/10th.jpg" alt="BENQ 1625 16X DVD LightScribe Burner" border="0" width="250" height="215"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p align="left">If you wonder about a LightScribe burn failing, then you have a legit worry. In fact, my first burn failed about 1/4 way through. I only had one disk so I was really bummed. I thought to try again, and started the burn over. I got it to go. </p> <p align="left">Overall, LightScribe is a simple process and is very useful. It takes quite a bit longer than using a Sharpy or printing and applying a CD/DVD label to this disc from your printer. Therefore, if you have the need to print lots of discs, this might not be the technology for you; especially, if you love color labels.</p> <p align="left"><strong>Conclusion:</strong></p> <p align="left">BenQ's 1625 DVD burner with LightScribe technology is a good burner, I would not say the best though. I wanted to see better media compatibility, but it did burn all the media I through in there, just not at the speeds I always wanted. The added software makes it easy to customize burning to your own needs. </p> <p align="left">LightScribe is going to be a great technology, and if looking for a burner, get one that supports LightScribe. While it might not be as quick as the Sharpy, it allows home users to make professional looking DVDs and CDs with ease.</p> <p align="left"><strong>Pros:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Supports Lightscribe</li> <li>16X performance</li> <li>Add on tools easy to use (bookmark)</li> </ul> <p><strong>Cons:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Issues with some media speed wise</li> <li>Lack of head phone port on the front</li> <li>Wrong screws included</li> </ul> <p align="left"><strong>Ratings:</strong></p> <table width="227" border="0"> <tr> <td width="105">Overall:</td> <td width="183"> Good</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Performance:</td> <td> Good</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Installation: </td> <td>Good</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Price: </td> <td>Good</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Packaging:</td> <td>Excellent</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Compatibility: </td> <td>Good</td> </tr> </table> <p>(Ratings Possible: Terrible, Very Bad, Bad, Fair, Good, Very Good, Excellent)</p> <p align="left"><a href="atruereview/lightscribe_burner/dvd_burner.php"></a> <a href="lightscribe_burner/dvd_burner.php">Previous (Description & Software)</a></p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div id="footer" class="clr"> <div class="rk-1"> <div class="rk-2"> <div id="the-footer">  </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </body> </html>