ASUS DVD-E608

By Roman Shelepov

Enhanced IDE (ATAPI) bus interface.
Formats supported:

DVD-ROM : Single or double side / 1 or 2 layers , DVD-R, DVD-ROM, DVD-Video
CD-ROM : Audio CD ,CD-ROM , Mode 1 and Mode 2 ,Mixed Mode CD (Audio combined data) ,Video CD , CD-Extra ,CD-R ,CD-RW

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

DVD Transfer Rate 8X max CAV 4530 ~ 10800 k bytes/s max
CD Transfer Rate 40X max CAV 2750 ~ 6000k bytes/s max.

Access time:

8X DVD 110 ms typical
40X CD 80 ms typical

Error-free running time:

MTBF 120,000 Power On hours (POH)
POH at the working cycle not more than 20%

Weight: 1kg

Accessories: user manual, fastening bolts, CD audio cable, a diskette with drivers, a CD with drivers and a soft-DVD player (WinDVD). DDSS2 (Double Dynamic Suspension System) supported. The front panel has two buttons for Audio CD playback - Open/Close/Stop and Play/Skip. These buttons can also change the drive's speed: 40x-32x-24x-8x. You should just press and hold Play. To return to the maximum speed press Open twice.

Test results

Quality of operation with CDs

CDWinBench 99

CDWinMark99 - 1620
CD-ROM Transfer Rate

Inside - 2890 kBytes/s
Outside - 5570 kBytes/s

CPU utilization - 10.2%
CD-ROM Access Time - 86.1 ms

Nero CD-Speed

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

Vendor : ASUS
Product : DVD-ROM E608
Firmware version : 1.50
Buffer size : 128 KBytes
Maximum read speed : 7040 KBytes/sec (40 X)
CDDA accurate : yes
C2 pointers : yes
Speed settings : 4-6-8-10-12-14-16-18-20-22-24-26-28-30-32-34-36-38-40 X
Read RAW mode : yes

A list of speed modes is really striking, though there are only 4 intermediate speeds given in the specification.

Testing of the drive using a standard CD

	ASUS DVD-E608
Average Speed	28.37x
Start Speed	16.46x
End Speed	37.62x
Random Seek	96 ms
1/3 Seek	102 ms
Full Seek	151 ms
Reading type	CAV
CPU usage 1x	4%
Accurate stream	No
DAE quality Score	10
SpinUp Time	6.34 sec
SpinDown Time	5.59 sec
Disc Recognition Time	5.82 sec

CD-ROM Drive Analyzer

CD-R reading

CD-RW reading

Damaged CD reading

Advanced DAE Quality(Nero CD-Speed)

Offset	344 bytes (86 samples)
Sequential Read Test	Average Speed: 13.24 X Data Errors: 0 Sync Errors: 0
Harmonica Read Test	Average Access Time: 149 ms Data Errors: 0 Sync Errors: 0 Total Data Errors: 0 Total Sync Errors: 0 Quality Score: 100.0
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 too slow 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): 01 Relative position (01:05.00): 01:05.00 Absolute position (01:07.00): 01:07.00 Index (5): 5 Test 2 Track (17): 17 Relative position (01:33.00): 01:33.01 -> incorrect! Absolute position (33:35.00): 33:35.01 -> incorrect! Index (1): 1 Test 3 Track (36): 36 Relative position (00:00.00): 00:00.01 -> incorrect! Absolute position (70:02.00): 70:02.01 -> incorrect! Index (1): 1
Leadin	Drive cannot read data from the Leadin
Leadout	Drive cannot read data from the Leadout

Soundtrack extraction from audio CDs (CDDAE 99)

	Licensed CD	Pirated CD
Average extraction speed	13.2x	10.4x
Total errors	0.00%	0.00%

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

The drive read the 780 MBytes disc very good. The time of full copying is 4 min. 47 sec.

Quality of operation with DVD discs

Nero DVD Speed

Testing with a two-layer DVD disc

	ASUS DVD-E608
Average Speed	5.55x
Start Speed	3.03x
End Speed	3.90x
Random Seek	147 ms
1/3 Seek	149 ms
Full Seek	235 ms
Reading type	CAV
CPU usage 1x	16%
SpinUp Time	5.51 sec
SpinDown Time	5.64 sec
Layer Change Time	65 ms
Disc Recognition Time	10.15 sec

Noise characteristics.

Tray - 6/10
CD

Seek - 4/10
Total noise - 5/10

Seek - 4/10
Total noise - 7/10

At the maximum speed the noise level was acceptable. Unfortunately, there is no anymore a possibility to reduce a speed of operation with CDs with the Play button, though it is possible with the help of external programs (however, not all, for example, CDBremse doesn't suit it). The Nero DriveSpeed can't determine speed parameters of the drive but it can work blindly with it. It is even better as when using the PLAY button you will have to implement this operation again every time the computer boots. In case of external programs you can also set the required speed in course of booting.

DVD-Video playback with the Cyberlink PowerDVD 2.55

The DVD-Video was played without any problems; no artifacts were noticed. Changing of the layer didn't affect the quality of reproduction.

Vibration

The drive is equipped with the DDSS2 system. When working with badly balanced CDs the drive shined. The vibration wasn't noticeable, even at a high speed.

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 - 38°C
T of the lower surface - 39°C

Possibility to make the drive region free (RPC-1).

The drive is originally region free (RPC-1).

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