LG GSA-4040B DVD±RW/DVD±R DVD-RAM Drive Review

LG is one of the companies that aggressively promotes its new DVD-Multi format. But if the previous Super-Multi model GMA-4020B supported only two formats out of three, the GSA-4040B integrates all widely used CD and DVD recording technologies and provides users with a universal tool for handling any type of optical media. The today's tests will show how good this tool is.

LG GSA-4040B

Specification

Interface: E-IDE/ATAPI
Read speed:

CD-ROM/R: 32x Max.
CD-RW: 24x Max.
DVD-ROM: 12x Max.
DVD-R/RW: 10x Max.
DVD+R/+RW: 10x Max.
DVD-RAM: 3x, 2x, 1x

Write speed:

CD-RW: 16x, 12x, 8x, 4x
CD-R: 24x, 16x, 8x, 4x
DVD-RW: 2x, 1x
DVD-R: 4x, 2x
DVD+RW: 2.4x
DVD+R: 4x, 2.4x
DVD-RAM: 3x, 2x

Formats supported:

DVD: DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM
CD: CD-ROM, CD-ROM XA, CD-DA, CD-Extra, CD-Text, CD-R (Orange Book Part 2), and CD-RW (Orange Book Part 3), Supports High Speed Disc Media, Reads Photo CD (Single and Multi-Session), Reads CD-I and Video CD

Access time:

CD-ROM: 110ms (Typical)
DVD-ROM: 130ms (Typical)
DVD-RAM: 150ms (Typical)

Buffer: 2MBytes
MTBF 100,000 POH
Dimensions: 146mm x 180mm x 41.3mm
Weight: 0.9 kg

The drive came in the OEM package, without any accessories. Its design is pretty ascetic, the front panel houses only a one-color LED, an emergency eject hole and an Open/Eject button. The tray is designed exceptionally for DVD-RAM media without cartridge, which can be either DVD-RAM discs able to come out of cartridge or DVD-RAM discs without it.

The label on top provides information on the location and time of production, and BIOS version. Note that I updated the BIOS version before testing the drive.

Here's the drive's base.

And here you can see how it looks inside.

The installation caused no problems. A user is offered a standard procedure, like that for an ordinary CD-ROM drive. The drive needs no special drivers. You can do just with the NeroBurning Rom; as for me, I used the latest version - 6.0.0.9.

If you want to handle DVD-RAM media in the mode of the removable media drive you have to install special drivers - it took us a while until we could find them on one of the company's sites. Such a poor support of the device selling for over six months already is simply a disgrace. After installation of the drivers the drive is seen as a standard optical drive and a removable media drive.

Now let's use other utilities to get more information on the drive; for example, Nero Infotool and DVDinfoPro tells what formats and disc types are supported by the drive:

As you can see from the screenshot, it's still impossible to turn the drive into RPC-1 (according to www.rpc1.com). However, you can use the DVD Region free program which provides the regional protection.

EAC (EAC Configuration Wizard) tells us about Audio CDs.

Test results

DVD recording

First of all, we will try to burn DVD-RAM media as we are promised a certain speed gain - the maximum speed was lifted from 2x to 3x. But to reach that speed you have to get DVD-RAM designed for 3x burn speeds. However, we didn't have such discs at the time of testing on our market. Also, you need a respective 3x DVD-RAM disc to reach 3x at reading.

In the tests we used a standard DVD-RAM disc from TDK. Although the disc must be burnt at 2x the actual time of recording corresponds to 1x. It's like with the previous model GMA-4020B. When the DVD-RAM drive was used as a removable media drive the situation was similar. The matter is that according to the DVD-RAM burning technique each recorded sector is immediately checked by reading, that is why the burn time is twice greater than expected.

	LG GMA-4020B	LG GSA-4040B
Recording in UDF 1.5(2.0): 1GB, one file	15:45 min	14:58 min
Recording in FAT 32: 1GB, one file	14:25 min	14:10 min

The speed of reading of the standard DVD-RAM remains at 2x, and the users have to update their collection of DVD-RAM media to be able to burn and read the media at a higher speed.

LG GSA-4040B DVD-RAM

	LG GMA-4020B	LG GSA-4040B
Average speed	2.03x CAV	2.03x CAV
Random Seek	152 ms	131 ms
Full Seek	462 ms	206 ms
CPU usage (Max Speed)	4 %	5 %
SpinUp Time	1.83 sec	2.05 sec
SpinDown Time	2.98 sec	1.83 sec
Disc Recognition Time	14.34 sec	8.45 sec

As usual, we recorded several types of brand-name and non-brand discs. No problems occurred, the drive successfully detects and records most discs. But it doesn't like SKY DVD+R discs. Although they were successfully recorded (in DVD-Video mode) none of the PC DVD-ROM drives could read them, though the consumer DVD player BBK-916S read them without any problems.

Recording of the discs of both formats was flawless at all speeds available.

Below is the burn time for various discs.

DVD-R burning

Drive	burning at 1x, min.	burning at 2x, min.	burning at 4x, min.
LG GSA-4040B	59:26	29:14	15:12
SONY DRU-510A	57:48	28:35	15:18

DVD-RW burning

Drive	fast cleaning, min.	burning at 1x, min.	burning at 2x, min.
LG GSA-4040B	00:32	59:16	29:42
SONY DRU-510A	00:56	56:24	27:56

DVD+R burning

Drive	burning at 2.4x, min.	burning at 4x, min.
LG GSA-4040B	24:38	14:23
SONY DRU-510A	23:12	13:54

DVD+RW burning

Drive	fast cleaning, min.	burning at 2.4x, min.
LG GSA-4040B	00:32	24:35
SONY DRU-510A	00:23	24:05

All DVDs recorded passed the control reading test on two reference DVD-ROM drives Toshiba SD-M1712 and Pioneer DVD-117LJ. The tests on the consumer DVD player BBK 939 revealed no problems with reading.

Below are results of reading of the recorded discs for the Lite-On drive with the KProbe utility. The KProbe utility is a new test program developed for OS Widows which estimates a level of C1/C2 errors on a disc tested. The outcome may depend on whether the drive favors a given disc, but anyway, some general data can be obtained.

LG GSA-4040B, DVD-R 4x (Princo)

LG GSA-4040B, DVD-R 2x (Princo)

LG GSA-4040B, DVD-R 1x (Princo)

LG GSA-4040B, DVD-R 4x (TDK)

LG GSA-4040B, DVD-R 2x (Verbatim)

LG GSA-4040B, DVD-RW 2x (Digitex)

LG GSA-4040B, DVD-RW 2x (TDK)

LG GSA-4040B, DVD+R 4x (Memorex)

LG GSA-4040B, DVD+R 2.4x (Philips)

LG GSA-4040B, DVD+RW 2.4x (Philips)

DVD media reading

NERO DVD Speed

Test DVD reading

LG GSA-4040B 1-layer DVD (stamped DVD-Data)

	SONY DRU-510A	LG GSA-4040B
Average speed	8.88x CAV	9.12x CAV
Random Seek	139 ms	106 ms
Full Seek	219 ms	206 ms
CPU usage (Max Speed)	2 %	9 %
SpinUp Time	3.15 sec	0.01 sec
SpinDown Time	3.24 sec	2.57 sec
Disc Recognition Time	9.14 sec	3.37 sec

LG GSA-4040B 2-layer DVD (stamped DVD-Video)

	SONY DRU-510A	LG GSA-4040B
Average speed	5.99x CAV	6.17x CAV
Random Seek	165 ms	113 ms
Full Seek	225 ms	211 ms
CPU usage (Max Speed)	2 %	7 %
SpinUp Time	3.46 sec	0.01 sec
SpinDown Time	3.29 sec	2.23 sec
Disc Recognition Time	9.14 sec	10.48 sec
Layer Change Time	215 ms	105 ms

Reading of recordable DVD

DVD+R

LG GSA-4040B

DVD+RW

LG GSA-4040B

DVD-R

LG GSA-4040B

DVD-RW

LG GSA-4040B

The drive successfully reads all types of recordable discs, including multiborder DVDs.

DVD Video copying with Smart Ripper

CD-RW drive	Average speed
LG GSA-4040B	4.2 X
SONY DRU-510A	5.6 X

CD-R and CD-RW recording

CD burning time

Traditionally, we used two types of media, with cyanine and phthalocyanine coating. The number of the trade marks were lifted up to 4, 2 of each type, to get more information of how the drive treats discs of different trade marks. Below is the ATIP for the discs tested.

Mirex 48x
Disc Type = CDR (B-)
Nominal = 702.83MB (79m 59s 74f/LBA:359849)
Manufacturer = Plasmon Data Systems Ltd.

Philips 32x
Disc Type = CDR (A-)
Nominal = 702.83MB (79m 59s 73f/LBA:359848)
Manufacturer = RiTEK Corporation

Verbatim 48x
Disc Type = CDR (A+)
Nominal = 702.83MB (79m 59s 74f/LBA:359849)
Manufacturer = Mitsubishi Chemicals Corporation

The burning results will be partially represented in the graphical form.

Recording on the LG GSA-4040B (Mirex 48x, phthalocyanine)

The screenshot above looks the same for all trade marks of the discs. The burn speed was the same for all trade marks and types of media. We also tested ability of the drive to record cyanine discs at the minimal speed, - the mode usually used by audiophiles to get the highest quality sound.

CD-R	SONY DRU-510A	LG GSA-4040B
Philips 32x	4:26	5:03
Verbatim 48x	4:26	5:04
Mirex 48x	4:24	5:03
Verbatim 8x	21:18	10:28

To extend the picture, I added the results of the Verbatim CD-RW 10x.

Verbatim 10x
Disc Type = HIGH SPEED CD-RW
Nominal = 702.83MB (79m 59s 74f/LBA:359849)
Manufacturer = Mitsubishi Chemicals Corporation

Verbatim 24X
Disc Type = ULTRA SPEED CD-RW 24X
Nominal = 656.40MB (74m 43s 00f/LBA:336075)
Manufacturer = Mitsubishi Chemicals Corporation

Recording on the LG GSA-4040B (Verbatim 10x CD-RW)

Recording on the LG GSA-4040B (Verbatim 24x CD-RW)

The drive has problems with 10x CD-RW media. If it doesn't like one, it slows down the speed to 8x.

Recording on the LG GSA-4040B (TDK 12x CD-RW)

Most of all I was surprised at the drive's attitude towards Ritek's media selling under TDK trade mark.

Time of CD-RW full formatting in UDF with InCD 4.1.0

CD-RW recording in UDF format, 530 Mb test packet in 3000 files.

Verbatim 10x CD-RW

CD-RW drive	Burn time (min.)	Formatting time (min.)
SONY DRU-510A	10:14	9:48
LG GSA-4040B	12:40	10:12

Verbatim 24x CD-RW

CD-RW drive	Burn time (min.)	Formatting time (min.)
SONY DRU-510A	9:45	6:45
LG GSA-4040B	8:29	6:10

Operation with 80mm CDs (tested with a CD-RW disc), formatting and recording in UDF

Formatting and recording of the 80mm CD-RW disc in UDF, 4x write speed.

CD-RW drive	Formatting time (min.)	Burn time (min.)
SONY DRU-510A	9:15	5:48
LG GSA-4040B	9:16	6:04

The drive reads and burns the 80mm discs quite well.

Reading of the recorded discs on the Lite-On drive with KProbe

Reading of the Philips CD-R recorded on LG GSA-4040B

Reading of the Verbatim CD-R recorded on LG GSA-4040B

Reading of the Mirex CD-R recorded on LG GSA-4040B

Reading of the Verbatim 8x CD-R recorded on LG GSA-4040B

Reading of the Verbatim 10x CD-RW recorded on LG GSA-4040B

Reading of the Verbatim 24x CD-RW recorded on LG GSA-4040B

Overburn

The discs used have the following ATIP.

Verbatim 48x
Disc Type = CDR (A+)
Lead In = 97:34:23
Lead Out = 79:59:74
Nominal = 702.83MB (79m 59s 74f/LBA:359849)
Manufacturer = Mitsubishi Chemicals Corporation

Intenso 99 min
Disc Type = CDR (A-)
Lead In = 96:43:37
Lead Out = 79:59:74
Nominal = 702.83MB (79m 59s 74f/LBA:359849)
Manufacturer = RiTEK Corporation

CD-RW drive	80 min CD-R	99 min CD-R
SONY DRU-510A	80:45.30	--:--.--
LG GSA-4040B	81:49.10	95:58.28

CD reading parameters

CDWinBench 99

	SONY DRU-510A	LG GSA-4040B
Winmark	2370	1030
Inside transfer	2370 Kb/s	2380 Kb/s
Outside transfer	4660 Kb/s	4600 Kb/s
CPU Utilization	1.86 %	13.3 %
Access Time	120 ms	110 ms

NERO CD Speed

Test CD reading

LG GSA-4040B

	SONY DRU-510A	LG GSA-4040B
Average speed	23.83 CAV	25.10 CAV
Random Seek	124 ms	113 ms
Full Seek	237 ms	234 ms
CPU Usage 8X	6 %	8 %
SpinUp Time	1.34	3.44
SpinDown Time	2.25	2.31
Disc Recognition Time	10.19 sec	10.10 sec
Accurate stream	Yes	Yes

CD-ROM Drive Analyzer

CD-R reading

LG GSA-4040B

CD-RW reading

LG GSA-4040B

Low-quality CD reading

LG GSA-4040B

CD audio track extraction (CDDAE 99, EAC)

LG GSA-4040B

	CDDAE	EAC
Average extraction speed	16.2x	7.6x
Total errors	0.15%	0.00%

Advanced DAE Quality(Nero CD-Speed)

LG GSA-4040B

The detailed information on the tested parameters is given in the help file to the Nero CD Speed test program. If you don't want to download the utility, here you can find the HTMl help file.

DAE Quality (EAC)

This test was made by the developer of EAC, and it's called DAE Quality (see its description here). In short, it measures quality of audio data extraction and quality of C2 error processing with a special test disc. In this case it's impossible to measure C2 processing quality, you just look at the general data on quality of audiotrack extraction.

LG GSA-4040B

LG GSA-4040B

Errors total Num : 8120390
Errors (Loudness) Num : 358034 - Avg : -73.1 dB(A) - Max : -5.9 dB(A)
Error Muting Num : 166100 - Avg : 21.6 Samples - Max : 3584 Samples
Skips Num : 2 - Avg : 6.0 Samples - Max : 6 Samples
Total Test Result : 62.9 points (of 100.0 maximum)
C2 Accuracy : 77.0 %

Direct copying of information from 832 MB (92 min) CD-R to HDD

The drive successfully copied the contents of the 832MB drive without any errors.

LG GSA-4040B

Copy time

LG GSA-4040B - 12 min. 32 sec.

Drive's physical characteristics

Noise

CD-RW drive	Tray	CD-Seek	CD total	DVD-Seek	DVD total
LG GSA-4040B	7/10	6/10	7/10	6/10	7/10

There's no much noise when the drive works with properly balanced CDs or at a lower than maximum speed.

Thermal conditions

CD-RW drive	T inside PC case, C	T of the upper surface, C	T of the lower surface, C
LG GSA-4040B	36	48	48

The drive doesn't get hot even if used a lot. But be careful when placing other devices close to it as they can burn.

Vibration in case of unbalanced CDs

The drive vibrated when it handled such disc but it managed to finish its reading without errors.

Summary

So, all DVD formats have finally gathered in one drive. The merger passed well - we have no complaints about the DVD part. However, the CD section is not that flawless. First of all, the drive might have problems with 10x CD-RW media. Secondly, the audiotrack extraction is not that perfect - some tests finished with a lot of errors. However, they are not that important disadvantages, and the drive deserves a high score for its functionality and operation.

Roman Shelepov (srl@ixbt.com)

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