Nero CD Speed v4.7.7.16 - DVD-ROM:

For this test I used a single layer, single sided data DVD-ROM disc that is 4.37GB in size.

   Optiarc
AD-7260S
Lite-On
iHAS424-08
Optiarc
AD-7240S
Samsung
SH-S223Q
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

12.03x
6.60x
16.08x

12.11x
6.68x
16.19x

12.03x
6.61x
16.09x

12.13x
6.75x
16.21x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

126ms
147ms
225ms

99ms
122ms
173ms

129ms
149ms
232ms

96ms
110ms
188ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

10%
15%
29%
29%

3%
6%
10%
20%

11%
16%
29%
29%

8%
5%
10%
19%

The AD-7260S was fairly quick when reading single layer DVD-ROM's. In our tests it started reading at 6.60x and reached a maximum transfer speed of 16.08x.  Unfortunately, its seek times were not as low as some of the other drives.

Nero CD Speed v4.7.7.16 - DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM:

First, we'll look at the drive's DVD-R and DVD-RW reading performance. For this I made copies of our DVD-ROM test disc using some general use 16x DVD-R and 6x DVD-RW media from Verbatim and then ran our usual DVD read tests with CD Speed. For the DVD-RAM tests, media from Maxell was used. The results are below.


Verbatim DVD-R

   Optiarc
AD-7260S
Lite-On
iHAS424-08
Optiarc
AD-7240S
Samsung
SH-S223Q
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

12.05x
6.62x
16.10x

12.12x
6.74x
16.21x

12.05x
6.63x
16.11x

12.14x
6.74x
16.23x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

124ms
153ms
244ms

107ms
120ms
191ms

129ms
166ms
253ms

116ms
132ms
201ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

13%
17%
30%
32%

3%
6%
11%
24%

14%
17%
31%
32%

10%
5%
11%
22%


Verbatim DVD-RW

   Optiarc
AD-7260S
Lite-On
iHAS424-08
Optiarc
AD-7240S
Samsung
SH-S223Q
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

9.77x
5.35x
13.07x

9.03x
4.98x
12.07x

9.78x
5.36x
13.08x

9.18x
5.08x
12.27x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

118ms
152ms
246ms

110ms
121ms
178ms

130ms
163ms
260ms

124ms
138ms
207ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

5%
16%
17%
29%

3%
6%
11%
23%

5%
16%
17%
30%

9%
5%
10%
19%

The AD-7260S performed very well when reading DVD-R and DVD-RW media. In our tests, the drive read DVD-R discs at 16x and DVD-RW media at a respectable 13x.


Verbatim DVD-R DL

   Optiarc
AD-7260S
Lite-On
iHAS424-08
Optiarc
AD-7240S
Samsung
SH-S223Q
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

9.01x
4.99x
12.00x

9.05x
5.01x
12.06x

9.01x
4.98x
12.00x

9.41x
5.23x
12.54x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

142ms
165ms
246ms

131ms
146ms
217ms

152ms
172ms
255ms

126ms
133ms
211ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:

4%
13%
13%

4%
8%
16%

4%
13%
14%

12%
7%
13%

Optiarc's new drive wasn't as fast when reading Verbatim's 8x DVD-R DL media. As you can see, the AD-7260S started reading at 4.99x and reached a maximum transfer speed of 12.00x.  


Maxell 12x DVD-RAM

   Optiarc
AD-7260S
Lite-On
iHAS424-08
Optiarc
AD-7240S
Samsung
SH-S223Q
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

10.11x
5.90x
11.98x

10.31x
5.95x
12.65x

10.16x
5.90x
11.98x

10.33x
5.95x
12.08x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

240ms
421ms
542ms

128ms
136ms
216ms

243ms
276ms
392ms

121ms
136ms
236ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

6%
12%
18%
30%

3%
10%
12%
22%

5%
12%
17%
31%

8%
6%
10%
19%

Optiarc's new drive has a maximum transfer speed of 12x when reading DVD-RAM discs. By looking at the screenshot you can see that it starts reading at 5.90x and accelerates, reaching 12x at the 2.9GB mark.  

Nero CD Speed v4.7.7.16 - DVD+R and DVD+RW:

Next we'll look at the drive's DVD+R and DVD+RW reading performance. For this I made a copy of our DVD-ROM test disc using some 16x DVD+R and 8x DVD+RW media from Verbatim. I then ran our usual DVD read tests with CD Speed. The results are below.


Verbatim DVD+R

     Optiarc
AD-7260S
Lite-On
iHAS424-08
Optiarc
AD-7240S
Samsung
SH-S223Q
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

12.05x
6.61x
16.11x

12.13x
6.71x
16.23x

12.06x
6.63x
16.12x

12.15x
6.73x
16.24x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

122ms
149ms
259ms

105ms
118ms
190ms

127ms
160ms
254ms

117ms
131ms
205ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

12%
16%
18%
30%

10%
8%
11%
23%

12%
32%
18%
31%

10%
6%
11%
23%


Verbatim DVD+RW

   Optiarc
AD-7260S
Lite-On
iHAS424-08
Optiarc
AD-7240S
Samsung
SH-S223Q
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

9.79x
5.38x
13.08x

9.04x
5.01x
12.08x

9.79x
5.42x
13.08x

9.19x
5.04x
12.28x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

117ms
150ms
345ms

103ms
117ms
174ms

132ms
166ms
264ms

125ms
134ms
198ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

5%
17%
24%
27%

3%
6%
11%
22%

5%
16%
17%
28%

9%
5%
10%
19%

The AD-7260S's performance with DVD+R and DVD+RW media was very similar to what we saw with DVD-R and DVD-RW media. The drive read DVD+R discs at 16x and DVD+RW media at 13x.


Verbatim DVD+R DL

   Optiarc
AD-7260S
Lite-On
iHAS424-08
Optiarc
AD-7240S
Samsung
SH-S223Q
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

9.01x
4.99x
12.01x

9.05x
5.02x
12.06x

9.01x
4.99x
12.01x

9.42x
5.23x
12.55x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

122ms
155ms
244ms

126ms
143ms
215ms

133ms
164ms
255ms

126ms
132ms
214ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:

4%
12%
12%

4%
8%
16%

4%
13%
13%

12%
7%
13%

Reading Verbatim's double layer DVD+R media wasn't a problem for the AD-7260S either. The drive started reading at 4.99x and reached a maximum transfer speed of 12.01x.

Nero CD Speed v4.7.7.16 - DVD-Video:

For these tests I am using the US version of Transformers: The Movie on DVD. The disc is over 4GB and single sided.

   Optiarc
AD-7260S
Lite-On
iHAS424-08
Optiarc
AD-7240S
Samsung
SH-S223Q
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

11.91x
6.53x
15.93x

11.99x
6.62x
16.03x

11.91x
6.54x
15.94x

12.00x
6.66x
16.05x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

124ms
139ms
221ms

98ms
114ms
177ms

136ms
148ms
232ms

97ms
114ms
186ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

11%
17%
21%
29%

3%
6%
10%
20%

11%
16%
29%
29%

8%
6%
11%
21%

The AD-7260S didn't slow down very much when reading single layer DVD videos. It started out at about 6.53x and reached a maximum read speed of 15.93x. Optiarc's new drive was also fairly quick when reading dual layer discs. By looking at the screenshot below, you can see that the drive's transfer speeds peaked at about 12x.

To see how well the AD-7260S worked as a DVD player, I watched a few scenes from Transformers: The Movie and Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith using Nero Showtime. The drive had no problems playing back these movies with either program and was fairly quiet.