AOpen DVD-1240/AMH

Interface: Standard Enhanced IDE (ATAPI) bus interface (UDMA/33)
Formats supported:

DVD family: DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW,DVD-Video
CD family: CD-DA, CD-ROM/XA, CD-R,CD-RW,CD-I, Video CD, Photo-CD,CD-Extra

Reading of discs of 8 and 12 cm in diameter
Data buffer: 512 KBytes
Data rate:

DVD-ROM: 16620 KBytes/s (12X)
CD-ROM: 6000 KBytes/s (40X)

Installation: horizontal or vertical
Weight: 1 kg

Accessories: User Manual, fastening bolts, CD-audio cable, CD with drivers and softDVD-player. The DDS (Dynamic Damping System) is provided to reduce vibrations. For convenient Audio CD playback the front panel has Load/Eject and Play/Next buttons.

Test results

Tests of quality of operation with CDs

CD WinBench 99

CDWinMark99 - 1550
CD-ROM Transfer Rate

Inside - 2960 KBytes/s
Outside - 5710 KBytes/s

CPU utilization - 8.22%
CD-ROM Access Time - 90.5 ms

Nero CD Speed

The following information on the drive is obtained with the Drive check utility:

Vendor: AOpen
Product: 12X DVD-ROM/AMH
Firmware version: R06
Buffer size: 512 KBytes
Maximum read speed: 7040 KBytes/s (40X)
CDDA accurate: no
C2 pointers: yes
Speed settings: 12X
Read RAW mode: unknown

The 'CDDA accurate' parameter implies that the drive has problems with audio tracks capture. A vague value of the RAW reading parameter means probably the same. The detailed information on the problem will be found out in the test on quality of soundtrack extraction.

Tests of the drive with a standard CD

	AOpen DVD-1240/AMH
Average Speed	29.63x
Start Speed	17.18x
End Speed	39.30x
Random Seek	118 ms
1/3 Seek	104 ms
Full Seek	244 ms
Reading type	CAV
CPU usage 1x	1%
Accurate stream	Yes
DAE quality Score	10
SpinUp Time	2.32 sec
SpinDown Time	2.59 sec
Disc Recognition Time	9.28 sec

CD-ROM Drive Analyzer

CD-R reading

CD-RW reading

Reading of a scratched CD

It seems that the drive checks the speed at which it'd better read a certain disc. It sets such a speed and doesn't work faster. It is interesting that almost all CD-Rs and CD-RWs were read at a reduced speed.

Advanced DAE Quality (Nero CD Speed)

Offset	2640 bytes (660 samples)
Sequential Read Test	Average Speed: 17.55 X Data Errors: 2 Sync Errors: 0
Harmonica Read Test	Sync error at 51:25.00 (+19) Sync error at 50:42.25 (-19) Sync error at 47:14.30 (+19) Sync error at 47:10.30 (+19) Average Access Time: 128 ms Data Errors: 363241 Sync Errors: 4 Total Data Errors: 363248 Total Sync Errors: 4 Quality Score: 85.4
On The Fly Copying Simulation	Copying at 1 X OK Copying at 2 X OK Copying at 4 X OK Copying at 6 X OK Copying at 8 X OK Copying at 10 X OK Copying at 12 X too slow Copying at 16 X too slow
CD Text	Drive is capable of reading CD Text information
Subchannel Data	Test 1 Track (01): 00 incorrect! Relative position (01:05.00): 00:00.00 -> incorrect! Absolute position (01:07.00): 00:00.00 -> incorrect! Index (5): 0 -> incorrect! Test 2 Track (17): 00 incorrect! Relative position (01:33.00): 00:00.00 -> incorrect! Absolute position (33:35.00): 00:00.00 -> incorrect! Index (1): 0 -> incorrect! Test 3 Track (36): 00 incorrect! Relative position (00:00.00): 00:00.00 Absolute position (70:02.00): 00:00.00 -> incorrect! Index (1): 0 -> incorrect!
Leadin	Drive can read max. 144 sectors (-00:01.69) from the Leadin
Leadout	Drive cannot read data from the Leadout

Well, yes, the drive have problems with accurate extraction of audio tracks. In-depth information on this test with described parameters can be found in the help file to the CDSpeed99.

Soundtrack extraction from audio CDs (CD DAE 99)

	Licensed CD	Pirated CD
Average extraction speed	18.4X	6.4X
Total errors	2.17%	0.00%

Direct copying of data from a 780 MBytes CD-R onto a hard disc

The copying was carried out flawlessly, but the drive read data at a too low speed, that is why it didn't make sense to measure the time.

Tests of quality of operation with DVD discs

Nero DVD Speed

Testing with a two-layer DVD disc

	AOpen DVD-1240/AMH
Average Speed	5.60x
Start Speed	3.05x
End Speed	3.93x
Random Seek	103 ms
1/3 Seek	119 ms
Full Seek	202 ms
Reading type	CAV
CPU usage 1x	16%
SpinUp Time	1.57 sec
SpinDown Time	N/A
Layer Change Time	28 ms
Disc Recognition Time	13.09 sec

DVD-Video playback with the Cyberlink PowerDVD 2.55

The DVD-Video was played without any problems; no artifacts were noticed. During changing the layer the DVD quality didn't get worse.

Noise characteristics

Tray - 5/10
CD

Seek - 3/10
Total noise - 3/10

Seek - 4/10
Total noise - 4/10

The drive makes quite a lot of noise both when working at the highest speed and at the speed being reduced on a software level. The reduction is possible only to 12X and only by means of external programs (CD Bremse, Nero DriveSpeed).

Vibration

As we have already mentioned, the drive is equipped with the DDS system. But when working with a badly balanced CD the drive didn't excel. The vibration was quite noticeable even at the speed reduced.

Thermal conditions

There are no any complains about its thermal conditions. The data were read after an intensive 2-hour operation:

T inside the case - 36°C
T of the upper surface - 39°C
T of the lower surface - 40°C

Possibility to make a multizone drive (RPC-1)

According to www.firmware.fr.st, the drive can become a multizone one by changing its firmware version. However, we haven't tested it yet, that is why you can use this version at your own risk.

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