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 BH14NS40 |
LG BH12LS38 |
Plextor PX-LB950UE |
Sony BWU-500S |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
12.06x 6.63x 16.13x |
12.33x 6.84x 16.48x |
12.06x 6.69x 16.11x |
12.05x 6.72x 16.11x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
131ms 144ms 227ms |
117ms 129ms 193ms |
121ms 133ms 235ms |
119ms 132ms 221ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
19% 7% 11% 20% |
4% 7% 12% 60% |
6% 11% 18% 31% |
6% 11% 17% 29% |
Verbatim DVD-RW
| LG BH12LS38 |
Plextor PX-LB950UE |
Sony BWU-500S |
LG BH14NS40 |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
9.12x 5.01x 12.20x |
9.17x 5.07x 12.26x |
9.17x 5.10x 12.26x |
9.17x 5.08x 12.26x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
132ms 156ms 227ms |
119ms 135ms 231ms |
125ms 146ms 228ms |
118ms 148ms 225ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
7% 7% 11% 19% |
6% 11% 18% 31% |
6% 11% 18% 31% |
5% 11% 16% 30% |
Verbatim DVD-R DL
| LG BH14NS40 |
LG BH12LS38 |
Plextor PX-LB950UE |
Sony BWU-500S |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
9.14x 5.07x 12.18x |
9.29x 5.18x 12.39x |
9.07x 5.06x 12.09x |
9.07x 5.05x 12.08x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
142ms 178ms 239ms |
130ms 144ms 226ms |
124ms 142ms 241ms |
124ms 136ms 244ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: |
12% 5% 9% |
3% 13% 61% |
5% 9% 15% |
5% 10% 15% |
The BH14NS40 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 5x DVD-RAM
| LG BH14NS40 |
LG BH12LS38 |
Plextor PX-LB950UE |
Sony BWU-500S |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
4.99x 4.94x 5.00x |
10.04x 6.13x 12.32x |
10.27x 4.67x 12.40x |
10.27x 6.01x 12.05x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
141ms 172ms 239ms |
159ms 163ms 215ms |
151ms 156ms 23ms |
136ms 158ms 213ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
3% 6% 9% n/a |
5% 8% 13% n/a |
6% 9% 15% 26% |
4% 9% 15% 28% |
While the other Blu-ray drives can read DVD-RAM discs at 12x, the BH14NS40 has a maximum read speed of only 5x. By looking at the screenshot you can see that it reads at this speed from start to finish.
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 BH14NS40 |
LG BH12LS38 |
Plextor PX-LB950UE |
Sony BWU-500S |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
12.07x 6.64x 16.15x |
12.34x 6.83x 16.49x |
12.06x 6.69x 16.12x |
12.06x 6.72x 16.12x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
132ms 141ms 231ms |
117ms 125ms 193ms |
119ms 129ms 215ms |
120ms 130ms 222ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
19% 7% 11% 20% |
4% 6% 12% 61% |
8% 11% 17% 32% |
8% 11% 17% 30% |
Verbatim DVD+RW
| LG BH14NS40 |
LG BH12LS38 |
Plextor PX-LB950UE |
Sony BWU-500S |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
9.14x 5.04x 12.21x |
9.30x 5.17x 12.43x |
9.17x 5.11x 12.24x |
9.19x 5.12x 12.28x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
135ms 159ms 230ms |
111ms 130ms 208ms |
118ms 126ms 233ms |
117ms 128ms 233ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
7% 7% 11% 19% |
4% 7% 12% 59% |
6% 11% 18% 30% |
6% 11% 17% 30% |
Verbatim DVD+R DL
| LG BH14NS40 |
LG BH12LS38 |
Plextor PX-LB950UE |
Sony BWU-500S |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
9.14x 5.06x 12.18x |
9.29x 5.18x 12.39x |
9.07x 5.05x 12.09x |
9.07x 5.06x 12.09x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
141ms 180ms 236ms |
130ms 144ms 226ms |
123ms 125ms 227ms |
121ms 128ms 220ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: |
12% 5% 9% |
3% 13% 61% |
5% 9% 15% |
5% 9% 15% |
The BH14NS40'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 BH14NS40 |
LG BH12LS38 |
Plextor PX-LB950UE |
Sony BWU-500S |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
9.06x 4.98x 12.12x |
9.13x 5.06x 12.21x |
11.99x 6.65x 16.04x |
11.99x 6.66x 16.04x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
113ms 125ms 204ms |
125ms 140ms 212ms |
114ms 132ms 211ms |
119ms 132ms 222ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
6% 6% 11% 18% |
4% 6% 12% n/a |
5% 10% 17% 30% |
44% 41% 31% 37% |
The BH14NS40 didn't do as well as the drives from Plextor and Sony 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 BH14NS40 had no problems playing back either movie and was fairly quiet.
