Nero CD Speed v4.7.7.7 - DVD-ROM:

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

  ASUS
DRW-2014L1T
Samsung
SH-S203N
Lite-On
DH-20A3H
LG
GSA-H55L
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

12.15x
6.69x
16.24x

12.14x
6.70x
16.20x

12.12x
6.73x
16.20x

12.00x
6.54x
16.05x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

96ms
113ms
187ms

97ms
113ms
184ms

103ms
119ms
173ms

119ms
148ms
215ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

3%
5%
10%
22%

9%
6%
10%
19%

12%
9%
15%
98%

5%
9%
18%
34%

The SH-S203N performed very well when reading single layer DVD-ROM's. In our tests it started reading at 6.69x and reached a maximum transfer speed of 16.24x.Looking at the other scores, you can see that the drive's seek times and CPU usage were also quite good.

Nero CD Speed v4.7.7.7 - 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 4x DVD-R and 2x 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

  ASUS
DRW-2014L1T
Samsung
SH-S203N
Lite-On
DH-20A3H
LG
GSA-H55L
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

9.10x
5.03x
12.16x

12.15x
6.71x
16.25x

12.15x
6.70x
16.25x

12.03x
6.59x
16.08x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

108ms
122ms
199ms

114ms
127ms
203ms

134ms
146ms
222ms

127ms
164ms
234ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

3%
6%
13%
28%

11%
6%
11%
23%

27%
9%
18%
n/a

6%
10%
19%
36%

 


Verbatim DVD-RW

  ASUS
DRW-2014L1T
Samsung
SH-S203N
Lite-On
DH-20A3H
LG
GSA-H55L
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

6.21x
3.43x
8.31x

9.03x
4.97x
12.08x

9.03x
4.98x
12.08x

9.13x
5.01x
12.20x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

124ms
136ms
216ms

122ms
130ms
209ms

148ms
159ms
256ms

133ms
182ms
265ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

4%
7%
14%
26%

9%
6%
11%
19%

20%
10%
18%
98%

6%
10%
19%
37%

 


Verbatim DVD-R DL

  ASUS
DRW-2014L1T
Samsung
SH-S203N
Lite-On
DH-20A3H
LG
GSA-H55L
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

6.13x
3.41x
8.17x

9.23x
5.12x
12.30x

9.02x
5.02x
12.02x

9.08x
5.04x
12.11x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

123ms
130ms
203ms

125ms
140ms
213ms

154ms
127ms
259ms

154ms
193ms
266ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:

3%
6%
n/a

12%
8%
15%

24%
12%
97%

6%
10%
19%

The DRW-2014L1T had no problems reading DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-R DL media. In our tests, the drive was able to read DVD-R discs at 12x, but slowed to only 8x when reading DVD-RW and DVD-R DL media.


Maxell 12x DVD-RAM

  ASUS
DRW-2014L1T
Samsung
SH-S203N
Lite-On
DH-20A3H
LG
GSA-H55L
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

10.14x
5.87x
11.99x

10.19x
5.93x
12.02x

10.21x
5.94x
12.02x

10.24x
5.93x
12.03x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

144ms
190ms
282ms

147ms
152ms
245ms

122ms
135ms
240ms

175ms
204ms
274ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

7%
15%
26%
30%

9%
10%
12%
20%

12%
9%
20%
34%

5%
10%
18%
36%

ASUS'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 5.87x and accelerates, reaching 12x at the 2.7GB mark.

Nero CD Speed v4.7.7.7 - 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 4x DVD+R and 2.4x DVD+RW media from Verbatim. I then ran our usual DVD read tests with CD Speed. The results are below.


Verbatim DVD+R

  ASUS
DRW-2014L1T
Samsung
SH-S203N
Lite-On
DH-20A3H
LG
GSA-H55L
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

9.09x
5.02x
12.15x

12.14x
6.71x
16.23x

12.14x
6.74x
16.23x

12.04x
6.58x
16.11x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

111ms
125ms
202ms

125ms
129ms
211ms

128ms
143ms
209ms

127ms
162ms
244ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

4%
6%
12%
26%

13%
11%
20%
34%

28%
9%
17%
n/a

6%
10%
19%
37%

 


Verbatim DVD+RW

  ASUS
DRW-2014L1T
Samsung
SH-S203N
Lite-On
DH-20A3H
LG
GSA-H55L
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

6.22x
3.45x
8.31x

9.03x
4.98x
12.07x

9.03x
5.01x
12.07x

9.13x
5.04x
12.20x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

117ms
131ms
204ms

124ms
134ms
202ms

136ms
148ms
221ms

138ms
184ms
268ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

4%
7%
14%
26%

9%
6%
11%
19%

19%
9%
17%
96%

6%
10%
19%
36%

 


Verbatim DVD+R DL

  ASUS
DRW-2014L1T
Samsung
SH-S203N
Lite-On
DH-20A3H
LG
GSA-H55L
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

6.23x
3.46x
8.30x

9.22x
5.12x
12.30x

9.02x
5.01x
12.02x

9.09x
5.02x
12.11x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

118ms
129ms
203ms

131ms
146ms
213ms

136ms
146ms
206ms

153ms
186ms
273ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:

3%
5%
n/a

12%
8%
15%

23%
12%
98%

5%
10%
18%

The DRW-2014L1T's performance was very similar to what we saw with DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-R DL media.The drive read DVD+R discs at 12x and both DVD+RW and DVD+R DL media at 8x.

Nero CD Speed v4.7.7.7 - 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.

  ASUS
DRW-2014L1T
Samsung
SH-S203N
Lite-On
DH-20A3H
LG
GSA-H55L
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

12.03x
6.64x
16.09x

12.00x
6.63x
16.04x

12.00x
6.67x
16.04x

6.03x
3.33x
8.07x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

96ms
111ms
188ms

95ms
112ms
183ms

104ms
122ms
174ms

126ms
153ms
217ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

3%
7%
10%
23%

9%
6%
10%
21%

13%
9%
15%
n/a

5%
9%
18%
38%

The DRW-2014L1T didn't slow down very much when reading single layer DVD videos. It started out at about 6.64x and reached a maximum read speed of 16.09x. ASUS'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 8.25x.

To see how well the DRW-2014L1T worked as a DVD player, I watched a few scenes from Transformers: The Movie and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace using Nero Showtime. The drive had no problems playing back these movies with either program and was fairly quiet.