Model: Sony Optiarc AD-7260S 24x DVD±RW/RAM
Manufacturer: Sony Optiarc
Provided By: Reader Donations
While a relatively new name in the optical storage industry, Sony Optiarc already has a lot of experience under its belt. Established in 2006 as a joint venture between Sony and NEC, Optiarc combines the technologies and expertise of its parent companies with the goal of providing the best optical drives in the world. It has definitely paid off, as Optiarc is quickly becoming one of the industry's largest manufacturers with a product lineup that includes DVD and Blu-ray Disc drives for the portable and desktop markets.
One of the latest additions to Optiarc's already impressive line of DVD writers is the AD-7260S. Featuring some of the fastest reading and writing speeds available, this Serial ATA equipped "Super-Multi" drive is capable of 24x DVD±R, 12x DVD±R DL, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW and 12x DVD-RAM writing speeds and a maximum DVD read speed of 16x. The AD-7260S also includes features like 48x CD reading and writing speeds, 32x rewriting speeds and support for buffer underrun protection.
We've had the AD-7260S in the 'Labs for a few weeks now and have had the time to put it through its paces. To give you an idea of what to expect from Optiarc's new DVD writer, we'll take a look at its features and then see how it compares to some of the 22x and 24x DVD±RW drives from the competition. Does the AD-7260S have what it takes? More importantly, is it the best bang for your buck? Keep reading to find out.
