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.

   Lite-On
iHAS422
Optiarc
AD-7240S
Samsung
SH-S223Q
LG
GH22LP20
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

12.13x
6.75x
16.21x

12.03x
6.61x
16.09x

12.13x
6.75x
16.21x

12.00x
6.57x
16.05x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

103ms
120ms
181ms

129ms
149ms
232ms

96ms
110ms
188ms

115ms
135ms
199ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

5%
7%
11%
21%

11%
16%
29%
29%

8%
5%
10%
19%

4%
8%
15%
26%

The iHAS422 was fairly quick when reading single layer DVD-ROM's. In our tests it started reading at 6.61x and reached a maximum transfer speed of 16.09x. 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 8x 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

   Lite-On
iHAS422
Optiarc
AD-7240S
Samsung
SH-S223Q
LG
GH22LP20
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

12.14x
6.75x
16.23x

12.05x
6.63x
16.11x

12.14x
6.74x
16.23x

12.04x
6.59x
16.09x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

120ms
128ms
185ms

129ms
166ms
253ms

116ms
132ms
201ms

123ms
154ms
242ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

6%
6%
12%
25%

14%
17%
31%
32%

10%
5%
11%
22%

5%
9%
16%
28%


Verbatim DVD-RW

   Lite-On
iHAS422
Optiarc
AD-7240S
Samsung
SH-S223Q
LG
GH22LP20
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

9.04x
5.01x
12.08x

9.78x
5.36x
13.08x

9.18x
5.08x
12.27x

9.12x
5.02x
12.19x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

131ms
142ms
200ms

130ms
163ms
260ms

124ms
138ms
207ms

128ms
166ms
258ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

6%
7%
14%
24%

5%
16%
17%
30%

9%
5%
10%
19%

5%
9%
17%
32%


Verbatim DVD-R DL

   Lite-On
iHAS422
Optiarc
AD-7240S
Samsung
SH-S223Q
LG
GH22LP20
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

9.02x
5.04x
12.02x

9.01x
4.98x
12.00x

9.41x
5.23x
12.54x

9.19x
5.09x
12.25x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

131ms
141ms
210ms

152ms
172ms
255ms

126ms
133ms
211ms

138ms
163ms
243ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:

8%
13%
20%

4%
13%
14%

12%
7%
13%

5%
10%
16%

The iHAS422 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

   Lite-On
iHAS422
Optiarc
AD-7240S
Samsung
SH-S223Q
LG
GH22LP20
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

10.24x
5.93
12.02x

10.16x
5.90x
11.98x

10.33x
5.95x
12.08x

10.27x
5.92x
12.02x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

132ms
161ms
225ms

243ms
276ms
392ms

121ms
136ms
236ms

180ms
169ms
243ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

4%
14%
28%
37%

5%
12%
17%
31%

8%
6%
10%
19%

5%
9%
17%
35%

Lite-On'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 5.93x and accelerates, reaching 12x at the 2.7GB 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 8x 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

     Lite-On
iHAS422
Optiarc
AD-7240S
Samsung
SH-S223Q
LG
GH22LP20
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

12.14x
6.77x
16.24x

12.06x
6.63x
16.12x

12.15x
6.73x
16.24x

12.03x
6.57x
16.08x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

115ms
120ms
181ms

127ms
160ms
254ms

117ms
131ms
205ms

126ms
157ms
263ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

6%
6%
10%
21%

12%
32%
18%
31%

10%
6%
11%
23%

5%
9%
15%
27%


Verbatim DVD+RW

   Lite-On
iHAS422
Optiarc
AD-7240S
Samsung
SH-S223Q
LG
GH22LP20
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

9.05x
5.07x
12.09

9.79x
5.42x
13.08x

9.19x
5.04x
12.28x

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

123ms
133ms
188ms

132ms
166ms
264ms

125ms
134ms
198ms

121ms
153ms
244ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

6%
7%
11%
22%

5%
16%
17%
28%

9%
5%
10%
19%

5%
9%
16%
31%


Verbatim DVD+R DL 

   Lite-On
iHAS422
Optiarc
AD-7240S
Samsung
SH-S223Q
LG
GH22LP20
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

9.03x
5.08x
12.03x

9.01x
4.99x
12.01x

9.42x
5.23x
12.55x

9.20x
5.09x
12.26x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

123ms
132ms
180ms

133ms
164ms
255ms

126ms
132ms
214ms

135ms
172ms
246ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:

8%
13%
20%

4%
13%
13%

12%
7%
13%

4%
9%
16%

The iHAS422'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.

   Lite-On
iHAS422
Optiarc
AD-7240S
Samsung
SH-S223Q
LG
GH22LP20
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

11.98x
6.68x
16.02x

11.91x
6.54x
15.94x

12.00x
6.66x
16.05x

4.50x
2.48x
6.01x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

103ms
123ms
175ms

136ms
148ms
232ms

97ms
114ms
186ms

138ms
160ms
222ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

4%
7%
11%
21%

11%
16%
29%
29%

8%
6%
11%
21%

5%
9%
16%
n/a

The iHAS422 didn't slow down very much when reading single layer DVD videos. It started out at about 6.68x and reached a maximum read speed of 16.02x. Lite-On'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 iHAS422 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.