In our CNET Labs' DVD-burner tests, the Memorex 16X16X IDE DL drive produced identical performance figures when recording single-layer DVD+R and DVD-R media, burning a 4.4GB DVD disc in 6 minutes, 23 seconds. This was about average for the 16X DVD-R rewriters we've tested, and only a few seconds behind the other DVD+R results. In the double-layer burning test, the Memorex was the fastest of the 4X drives we tested, though it beat the NEC ND-3500A by only 4 seconds and the Sony DRU-720a by 20 seconds. If you want even faster dual-layer recording, you should consider a next-generation 6X DL model such as the Plextor PX-716A, which beat the 4X units in this benchmark by about 9 minutes. The Memorex's RW write performance was impressive. It took 10 minutes, 12 seconds to write 4.22GB of mixed data files onto DVD-RW media, only 4 seconds slower than the blazing Sony DRU-720A. The Memorex unit's 7-minute, 14-second DVD+RW recording figure was the best we've measured. The drive's CD rip/burn times were on a par with its competitors' as well. The Memorex 16X16X DL internal drive's weakness is in reading and ripping discs. Its 9 minutes, 49 seconds and 9 minutes, 50 seconds for DVD+RW and DVD-RW read times, respectively, were the slowest of any internal drive in its class (though some of the drives were only marginally faster). The drive is even more disappointing when it comes to DVD ripping. It ripped a single-layer disc in 15 minutes, 59 seconds, more than 6 minutes slower than the next-slowest drive. It took 30 minutes, 46 seconds to rip a DL disc, more than 13 minutes slower than the next-slowest drive. Only the NEC drive was slower.
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4.4GB DVD Video burn test | |
4.4GB DVD Video rip test (from DVD Video) |
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7.9GB DVD Video burn test | |
7.9GB DVD Video rip test (from DVD Video) |
** The Memorex, the NEC, and the Sony write to 2.4X double-layer DVD+R media at 4X.
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74:35 CD Audio burn test | |
74:35 CD Audio rip test |
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4.22GB RW write test | |
4.22GB RW read test |
Memorex offers a one-year warranty for the 16X16X Internal IDE DL drive. Live tech support is available Monday through Friday via a toll-free number, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT. Firmware downloads, FAQs and installation tips, documentation (including downloadable manuals and quick-start sheets), warranty registration and replacement requests, rebate status, e-mail tech support, and other resources are available online.
