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.
| LG BH12LS38 |
Plextor PX-LB950UE |
Sony BWU-500S |
Lite-On iHBS112 |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
12.31x 6.83x 16.48x |
12.12x 6.70x 16.20x |
12.11x 6.74x 16.19x |
12.11x 6.74x 16.19x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
112ms 126ms 204ms |
113ms 128ms 195ms |
118ms 131ms 212ms |
114ms 130ms 199ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
4% 6% 12% n/a |
5% 10% 17% 30% |
44% 38% 25% 38% |
5% 10% 16% 29% |
The BH12LS38 was fairly quick when reading single layer DVD-ROM's. In our tests it started reading at 6.83x and reached a maximum transfer speed of 16.48x. Looking at the other scores, you can see that the drive's access times were also quite good.
Nero CD Speed v4.7.7.16 - DVD-R and DVD-RW:
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 disk 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
| LG BH12LS38 |
Plextor PX-LB950UE |
Sony BWU-500S |
Lite-On iHBS112 |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
12.33x 6.84x 16.48x |
12.06x 6.69x 16.11x |
12.05x 6.72x 16.11x |
12.05x 6.73x 16.11x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
117ms 129ms 193ms |
121ms 133ms 235ms |
119ms 132ms 221ms |
119ms 131ms 224ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
4% 7% 12% 60% |
6% 11% 18% 31% |
6% 11% 17% 29% |
6% 11% 17% 29% |
Verbatim DVD-RW
| LG BH12LS38 |
Plextor PX-LB950UE |
Sony BWU-500S |
Lite-On iHBS112 |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
9.27x 5.14x 12.41x |
9.17x 5.07x 12.26x |
9.17x 5.10x 12.26x |
9.17x 5.08x 12.26x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
112ms 131ms 189ms |
119ms 135ms 231ms |
125ms 146ms 228ms |
118ms 148ms 225ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
4% 7% 12% n/a |
6% 11% 18% 31% |
6% 11% 18% 31% |
5% 11% 16% 30% |
Verbatim DVD-R DL
| LG BH12LS38 |
Plextor PX-LB950UE |
Sony BWU-500S |
Lite-On iHBS112 |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
9.29x 5.18x 12.39x |
9.07x 5.06x 12.09x |
9.07x 5.05x 12.08x |
9.07x 5.06x 12.08x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
130ms 144ms 226ms |
124ms 142ms 241ms |
124ms 136ms 244ms |
137ms 136ms 247ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: |
3% 13% 61% |
5% 9% 15% |
5% 10% 15% |
5% 9% 18% |
The BH12LS38 had no problems reading DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-R DL media. In our tests, the drive read DVD-R discs at 16x, and both DVD-RW and DVD-R DL media at a respectable 12x.
Maxell 12x DVD-RAM
| LG BH12LS38 |
Plextor PX-LB950UE |
Sony BWU-500S |
Lite-On iHBS112 |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
10.04x 6.13x 12.32x |
10.27x 4.67x 12.40x |
10.27x 6.01x 12.05x |
10.27x 5.98x 12.40x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
159ms 163ms 215ms |
151ms 156ms 23ms |
136ms 158ms 213ms |
116ms 133ms 190ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
5% 8% 13% n/a |
6% 9% 15% 26% |
4% 9% 15% 28% |
4% 8% 13% 25% |
The BH12LS38 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 4.97x and quickly 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 disk 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
| LG BH12LS38 |
Plextor PX-LB950UE |
Sony BWU-500S |
Lite-On iHBS112 |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
12.34x 6.83x 16.49x |
12.06x 6.69x 16.12x |
12.06x 6.72x 16.12x |
12.06x 6.71x 16.12x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
117ms 125ms 193ms |
119ms 129ms 215ms |
120ms 130ms 222ms |
120ms 125ms 227ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
4% 6% 12% 61% |
8% 11% 17% 32% |
8% 11% 17% 30% |
7% 11% 16% 29% |
Verbatim DVD+RW
| LG BH12LS38 |
Plextor PX-LB950UE |
Sony BWU-500S |
Lite-On iHBS112 |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
9.30x 5.17x 12.43x |
9.17x 5.11x 12.24x |
9.19x 5.12x 12.28x |
9.19x 5.11x 12.28x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
111ms 130ms 208ms |
118ms 126ms 233ms |
117ms 128ms 233ms |
114ms 130ms 219ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
4% 7% 12% 59% |
6% 11% 18% 30% |
6% 11% 17% 30% |
5% 11% 16% 29% |
Verbatim DVD+R DL
| LG BH12LS38 |
Plextor PX-LB950UE |
Sony BWU-500S |
Lite-On iHBS112 |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
9.29x 5.18x 12.39x |
9.07x 5.05x 12.09x |
9.07x 5.06x 12.09x |
9.07x 5.05x 12.09x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
130ms 144ms 226ms |
123ms 125ms 227ms |
121ms 128ms 220ms |
121ms 129ms 217ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: |
3% 13% 61% |
5% 9% 15% |
5% 9% 15% |
5% 9% 14% |
The BH12LS38'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 16x and both DVD+RW and DVD+R DL media at 12x.
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.
| LG BH12LS38 |
Plextor PX-LB950UE |
Sony BWU-500S |
Lite-On iHBS112 |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
9.13x 5.06x 12.21x |
11.99x 6.65x 16.04x |
11.99x 6.66x 16.04x |
11.99x 6.67x 16.03x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
125ms 140ms 212ms |
114ms 132ms 211ms |
119ms 132ms 222ms |
115ms 134ms 212ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
4% 6% 12% n/a |
5% 10% 17% 30% |
44% 41% 31% 37% |
5% 10% 16% 28% |
The BH12LS38 didn't do nearly as well as the other drives when reading DVD videos. In our tests, it reached a maximum speed of 12x when reading single layer discs.
To see how well LG's new drive worked as a DVD player, I watched a few scenes from Transformers: The Movie and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace using the bundled version of PowerDVD. The BH12LS38 had no problems playing back either movie and was fairly quiet.
