iXBT Labs - Computer Hardware in Detail

Platform

Video

Multimedia

Mobile

Other

NEC DV-5800A



  • Interface: Enhanced IDE (ATAPI) bus interface (UDMA/33) .
  • Formats supported:
    • DVD-ROM : DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-Video
    • CD-ROM : CD-Audio, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-ROM XA (Mode 2, Form 1 and Form 2), Photo CD, CD-I (FMV), Video CD, CD Extra, CD Text
  • Reads discs of 8 and 12 cm in diameter
  • Data buffer: 512 KBytes
  • Data rate:
    • DVD Transfer Rate 16X
    • CD Transfer Rate 48X
  • Access time:
    • DVD 120 ms
    • CD 100 ms
  • Installation: horizontal and vertical
  • Weight: 930 g

The drive came in an OEM version. The front panel has a rubber pad to reduce noise during operation and provide dustproofing. There is only one button on the front panel - Load/Eject.

Test results

Quality of operation with CDs

CDWinBench 99

  • CDWinMark99 - 1850
  • CD-ROM Transfer Rate
    • Inside - 3210 KBytes/s
    • Outside - 6350 KBytes/s
  • CPU utilization - 8.23%
  • CD-ROM Access Time - 72 ms

Nero CD-Speed

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

  • Vendor : _NEC
  • Product : DV-5800A1
  • Firmware version : 1.91
  • Buffer size : 512 KBytes
  • Maximum read speed : 8467 KBytes/sec (48 X)
  • CDDA accurate : yes
  • C2 pointers : yes
  • Speed settings : 4 X
  • Read RAW mode : yes

According to these data the drive supports all functions necessary for accurate capture of audio tracks. As we found out later, the speeds defined by the program are not correct.

Testing of the drive using a standard CD

  NEC DV-5800A
Average Speed 32.88x
Start Speed 19.06x
End Speed 43.58x
Random Seek 89 ms
1/3 Seek 104 ms
Full Seek 173 ms
Reading type CAV
CPU usage 1x 1%
Accurate stream Yes
DAE quality Score 10
SpinUp Time 1.19 sec
SpinDown Time 2.79 sec
Disc Recognition Time 10.82 sec

CD-ROM Drive Analyzer

CD-R reading

CD-RW reading

Reading of a scratched CD

Advanced DAE Quality(Nero CD-Speed)


Offset 344 bytes (86 samples)
Sequential Read Test Average Speed: 21.42 X
Data Errors: 12
Sync Errors: 0
Harmonica Read Test Average Access Time: 121 ms
Data Errors: 0
Sync Errors: 0

Total Data Errors: 12
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
OK
Copying at 12 X
OK
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): 01:05.01 -> incorrect!
Absolute position (01:07.00): 01:07.01 -> incorrect!
Index (5): 5

Test 2
Track (17): 23 incorrect!
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): 53 incorrect!
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 21.4X 19.8X
Total errors 0.00% 0.00%

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

Unfortunately, this drive failed to read a 780 MBytes disc - when 98% of information was copied it failed and tried to read repeatedly but without success.

Quality of operation with DVD discs

Nero DVD Speed

Testing with a two-layer DVD disc


  NEC DV-5800A
Average Speed 5.06x
Start Speed 2.77x
End Speed 3.55x
Random Seek 111 ms
1/3 Seek 132 ms
Full Seek 234 ms
Reading type CAV
CPU usage 1x 23%
SpinUp Time 1.16 sec
SpinDown Time 1.46 sec
Layer Change Time 77 ms
Disc Recognition Time 11.13 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 - 7/10
    • Total noise - 6/10
  • DVD
    • Seek - 7/10
    • Total noise - 6/10

The drive makes quite a lot of noise when working at the highest speed. The reduction is possible only by means of exterior programs (CDBremse, Nero DriveSpeed). The speed, thus, can be 48x-32x-4x; the Drive check program showed only 4x in the list of possible speed settings.

Vibration

When the drive worked with badly balanced CDs it didn't shine. The vibration was quite noticeable. But it didn't prevent the drive from successful reading of the disc at a high speed.

Thermal conditions

There are no any complains about its thermal conditions, though I do not recommend you to install other devices tightly to its lower surface. The data were read after an intensive 2-hour operation:


T inside the case - 35°C
T of the upper surface - 43°C
T of the lower surface - 45°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, there is a problem: you can change a number of a region infinitely often but the counter will show 4 all the time.

Write a comment below. No registration needed!


Article navigation:



blog comments powered by Disqus

  Most Popular Reviews More    RSS  

AMD Phenom II X4 955, Phenom II X4 960T, Phenom II X6 1075T, and Intel Pentium G2120, Core i3-3220, Core i5-3330 Processors

Comparing old, cheap solutions from AMD with new, budget offerings from Intel.
February 1, 2013 · Processor Roundups

Inno3D GeForce GTX 670 iChill, Inno3D GeForce GTX 660 Ti Graphics Cards

A couple of mid-range adapters with original cooling systems.
January 30, 2013 · Video cards: NVIDIA GPUs

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1

An external X-Fi solution in tests.
September 9, 2008 · Sound Cards

AMD FX-8350 Processor

The first worthwhile Piledriver CPU.
September 11, 2012 · Processors: AMD

Consumed Power, Energy Consumption: Ivy Bridge vs. Sandy Bridge

Trying out the new method.
September 18, 2012 · Processors: Intel
  Latest Reviews More    RSS  

i3DSpeed, September 2013

Retested all graphics cards with the new drivers.
Oct 18, 2013 · 3Digests

i3DSpeed, August 2013

Added new benchmarks: BioShock Infinite and Metro: Last Light.
Sep 06, 2013 · 3Digests

i3DSpeed, July 2013

Added the test results of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 and AMD Radeon HD 7730.
Aug 05, 2013 · 3Digests

Gainward GeForce GTX 650 Ti BOOST 2GB Golden Sample Graphics Card

An excellent hybrid of GeForce GTX 650 Ti and GeForce GTX 660.
Jun 24, 2013 · Video cards: NVIDIA GPUs

i3DSpeed, May 2013

Added the test results of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770/780.
Jun 03, 2013 · 3Digests
  Latest News More    RSS  

Platform  ·  Video  ·  Multimedia  ·  Mobile  ·  Other  ||  About us & Privacy policy  ·  Twitter  ·  Facebook


Copyright © Byrds Research & Publishing, Ltd., 1997–2011. All rights reserved.