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» Pioneer DVR-108 Provisional Results

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I received my DVR-108 drive Saturday morning special delivery. a bare OEM drive just an instruction leaflet accessories. I checked firmware Pioneer GENERAL v1.04. Pioneer just released v1.06 I updated version before carrying out any my tests. Fitting drive was different fitting any other DVR drive: was installed master my Toshiba DVD-ROM drive. My favourite burning program Record Now Max 4.5 with PXEngine 507 failed yet again allow selection burning speeds was normal most new drives. I modified PXDRV.DLL recognise drive now can select available burning speeds absence 12x unknown reason. modified PXDRV.DLL can downloaded from HERE Just replace existing one in WindowsSystem32 folder (this done without Record Now Max running). absence the12x speed writing selection real problem when media capable writing 12x speed just need select a higher burning speed when burning commences default maximum available burning speed media in question. I successfully burnt RITEKG05 media 12x speed official 1.14 firmware Record Now Max 4.5 My provisional tests done currently available DVD-R 8x speed media. I Dual Layer 16x speed media available I review later. I haven�t anything officially burn 16x. Here test burns first tests carried out my pioneer DVR-108 official unmodified 1.06 firmware. 4x Media Burnt 4x Constant Speed Media code/Manufacturer ID AN32 Format Capacity Not Formatted Free Blocks 412352512 Free Capacity 4.38GB(4.71GB) Book Type DVD-R Media Type DVD-R Media Id Code Speed 4.0x 5540KBps Available Write Descriptor CLV 4.0x 5540KBps Available Write Descriptor AN32 CLV 2.0x 2770KBps Not Formatted CLV 1.0x 1385KBps Budget TYG02 Media an Attempted Burn 12x Media code/Manufacturer ID TYG02 Format Capacity Not Formatted Free Blocks 411107328 Free Capacity 4.38GB(4.71GB) Book Type DVD-R Media Type DVD-R Media Id Code Speed 8.0x 11080KBps Available Write Descriptor CLV 12.0x 16620KBps Available Write Descriptor CLV 8.0x 11080KBps Available Write Descriptor CLV 6.0x 8310KBps Available Write Descriptor CLV 4.0x 5540KBps Note burning speed rises 12x a short then drops back down 8x when drive checks quality burn finds unsuitable 12x. RITEKG05 Media Burnt 12x Speed Media code/Manufacturer ID RITEKG05 Format Capacity Not Formatted Free Blocks 411107328 Free Capacity 4.38GB(4.71GB) Book Type DVD-R Media Type DVD-R Media Id Code Speed 8.0x 11080KBps Available Write Descriptor CLV 12.0x 16620KBps Available Write Descriptor CLV 8.0x 11080KBps Available Write Descriptor CLV 6.0x 8310KBps Available Write Descriptor CLV 4.0x 5540KBps A read test media also showed a good burn. ripping speed DVD-R media also good. starts just over 5x ends just over 12x a big improvement earlier Pioneer models. Datawrite FUJIFILM03 Burnt Maximum 8x Speed Media code/Manufacturer ID FUJIFILM03 Format Capacity Not Formatted Free Blocks 411107328 Free Capacity 4.38GB(4.71GB) Book Type DVD-R Media Type DVD-R Media Id Code Speed 8.0x 11080KBps Available Write Descriptor CLV 8.0x 11080KBps Available Write Descriptor CLV 6.0x 8310KBps Available Write Descriptor CLV 4.0x 5540KBps 2x Media I checked various 2x media find only burn 1x speed. Media code/Manufacturer ID PRODISCG02 Format Capacity Not Formatted Free Blocks 412352512 Free Capacity 4.38GB(4.71GB) Book Type DVD-R Media Type DVD-R Media Id Code Speed 2.0x 2770KBps Available Write Descriptor CLV 1.0x 1385KBps Conclusions above can seen 8X media reach 12x burning minimum burning speed any 8x media 4x. TYG02 burn shows burn speeding up 12x then dropping down 8x finding 12x burn unsuitable was apparent when media failed a read test. RITEKG05 reached 12x burn point continued 12x end burn. A read test disc showed burn good. FUJIFILM03 burnt a maximum 8x speed. can see 12x burns only just over 1 minute faster 8x just over twice fast 4x burns. 2x burn 29:44 4x burn 15:02 6x burn 10:07 8x burn 08:05 12x burn 06:58 16x burn 07:04 burning speeds a test burn a full data disc under ideal conditions bottlenecks causing buffer underun protection kick in. can see actually takes 6 seconds longer burn 16x 12x. reason being delay in changing 12x 16x longer time saved burning last 200meg 16x. I yet able burn a disc 16x did errors 16x speed switch point I yet able find any 16x certified media. ripping speed DVD-R media also good starts just over 5x ends just over 12x a big improvement earlier pioneer models Here's list MID firmware tables burn 4x DVR-108 firmware 1.06 (DVD-R media only ): TTG01 6x 8x SONY08D1 6x 8x 12x 16x TYG02 6x 8x 12x 16x FUJIFILM03 6x 8x TTG02 6x 8x 12x MXL RG03 6x 8x 12x 16x MCC 02RG20 6x 8x 12x RITEKG05 6x 8x 12x ProdiscF01 6x 8x CMC MAG. AE1 6x 8x 12x TTH01 6x 8x 12x 16x GSC003 6x 8x MBI 03RG3000 6x 8x 16x-4-All Firmware I beta 16x-4-All firmware carried out a few test burns: Firstly 16x OTF my Liteon DVD-ROM drive: 105 - 09/08/2004 16:21:37 |01| Job 1 Started > 115 - 09/08/2004 16:21:37 |01| Job 1 Reader drive: Host:4 ID:1 (N:) - Jlms XJ-HD165H - DVD Closed Multiborder (DVD F3) 1 Zone(s) 4,489.25MB (2298496) Used 106 - 09/08/2004 16:21:39 |01| Job 1 Round 1 Started - 1 Recorder(s) 107 - 09/08/2004 16:29:21 |01| Job 1 Round 1 Terminated - 1 Good Disc(s) 109 - 09/08/2004 16:29:21 |01| Job 1 Completed successfully > here can see took 7 mins 45 seconds complete a full disc-disc OTF copy. My second test was a DVD Title my hard drive. 105 - 09/08/2004 16:37:08 |02| Job 2 Started > 115 - 09/08/2004 16:37:08 |02| Job 2 - RecType:2 Mode:1 FSType:3 106 - 09/08/2004 16:37:10 |02| Job 2 Round 1 Started - 1 Recorder(s) 124 - 09/08/2004 16:37:14 |02| Job 2 Scanning 107 - 09/08/2004 16:44:44 |02| Job 2 Round 1 Terminated - 1 Good Disc(s) 109 - 09/08/2004 16:44:44 |02| Job 2 Completed successfully > here can see took 7mins 36 seconds burn a full DVD Title Monitoring burning speeds changed intervals burn 6x speed > 385.56meg < 8x speed> 2,001.56meg 4,265.56meg end last speed increase probably dropped 5 seconds off burning speed added burning time because pause speed changes. I feel we conned Pioneer believing we a 16x speed writer when in fact only burns 16x speed last 200megs! test 16x burnt media was FUJIFILM03 produced read errors outer edge. Added fact takes longer switch 16x speed so I recommend setting maximum burn speed 12x. burning speeds slightly longer ideal speeds my early data tests due minor bottlenecks in my system restricting file transfer my burner. patched firmware I was able a test burn 16x Datawrite Grey PRODISCS03 4x media. Although burn completed 16X last 200meg section was unreadable. other media I burnt 16x speed. disc up 4.2gig produced a perfect burn so appears satisfactory burn media up 12x speed without any problems. Here a test burn a DATAWRITE PRODISCS03 16X burning my 16x burns last 200meg was unreadable. 16X speed burn results only provisional firmware still in beta stage a few minor bugs ironed out before release. It actually takes longer burn 16x speed produce a coaster does 12x speed produce a usable disc So in my book drive 16X SPEED per specifications 12X speed MAXIMUM. a 12x speed burner drives performs very well highly recommend I my doubts when comes calling a 16x burner tested any other high speed burner I cannot offer any comparison so I standard go by. I yet test drive DVD+R burning Dual Layer media I felt important enough publish my provisional findings early possible. Update 20-08-04 Pioneer just released firmware upgrade 1.10 108 drive improvements Reduction 12X/16X DVD-R Writing time DVD-R Writability Improvement Reduction 12X/16X +R Writing time +R Writability Improvement CD-R Writability Improvement DVD Playability Improvement CD Playability Improvement Currently I am vacation updating my results my Battle Burners firmware my return Since publishing report I obtained NEC ND-3500AG 16x speed Dual Format Dual Layer DVD burner drive one main competitors Pioneer DVR-108 I decided a comparison two drives so check out my Battle Burners More Reviews Pioneer DVR-108 BATTLE of the BURNERS FUJIFILM03 8X TYG02 12x RITEKG05 8X PRODISCR03 8X CDR Media 16X Burning MINI DVD-R 12x DVD+R RICOHJPN01 8X