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.

   Pioneer
DVR-116D
Optiarc
AD-7200S
Samsung
SH-S203N
Lite-On
DH-20A3H
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

12.01x
6.61x
16.04x

12.03x
6.61x
16.09x

12.14x
6.70x
16.20x

12.12x
6.73x
16.20x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

118ms
134ms
218ms

124ms
141ms
226ms

97ms
113ms
184ms

103ms
119ms
173ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

7%
8%
28%
n/a

11%
9%
16%
29%

9%
6%
10%
19%

12%
9%
15%
98%

The DVR-116D 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 16.04x. Unfortunately, its seek times were not as low as some of the other drives.

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 8x DVD-R and 4x 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

   Pioneer
DVR-116D
Optiarc
AD-7200S
Samsung
SH-S203N
Lite-On
DH-20A3H
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

12.02x
6.69x
16.01x

12.07x
6.62x
16.13x

12.15x
6.71x
16.25x

12.15x
6.70x
16.25x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

136ms
152ms
243ms

125ms
153ms
245ms

114ms
127ms
203ms

134ms
146ms
222ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

19%
8%
n/a
n/a

13%
16%
24%
33%

11%
6%
11%
23%

27%
9%
18%
n/a


Verbatim DVD-RW

   Pioneer
DVR-116D
Optiarc
AD-7200S
Samsung
SH-S203N
Lite-On
DH-20A3H
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

10.10x
5.65x
13.50x

9.78x
5.36x
13.07x

9.03x
4.97x
12.08x

9.03x
4.98x
12.08x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

137ms
163ms
237ms

123ms
156ms
252ms

122ms
130ms
209ms

148ms
159ms
256ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

19%
8%
n/a
n/a

5%
10%
17%
30%

9%
6%
11%
19%

20%
10%
18%
98%

The DVR-116D 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

   Pioneer
DVR-116D
Optiarc
AD-7200S
Samsung
SH-S203N
Lite-On
DH-20A3H
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

9.22x
5.15x
12.29x

8.91x
4.93x
11.87x

9.23x
5.12x
12.30x

9.02x
5.02x
12.02x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

142ms
165ms
232ms

142ms
164ms
253ms

125ms
140ms
213ms

154ms
127ms
259ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:

11%
18%
n/a

5%
8%
14%

12%
8%
15%

24%
12%
97%

Pioneer's new drive had no problems reading Verbatim's 4x DVD-R DL media. The DVR-116D started reading at 5.15x and reached a maximum transfer speed of 12.29x.


Maxell 5x DVD-RAM

   Pioneer
DVR-116D
Optiarc
AD-7200S
Samsung
SH-S203N
Lite-On
DH-20A3H
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

4.92x
4.30x
4.98x

10.06x
5.91x
11.99x

10.19x
5.93x
12.02x

10.21x
5.94x
12.02x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

191ms
2ms
6ms

205ms
251ms
274ms

147ms
152ms
245ms

122ms
135ms
240ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

13%
22%
45%
n/a

13%
12%
18%
n/a

9%
10%
12%
20%

12%
9%
20%
34%

The DVR-116D has a maximum transfer speed of 5x when reading DVD-RAM discs. By looking at the screenshot, you can see that it reads at this speed from start to finish. For whatever reason, the 1/3 and full seek times were much lower than they should have been.

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 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

     Pioneer
DVR-116D
Optiarc
AD-7200S
Samsung
SH-S203N
Lite-On
DH-20A3H
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

12.03x
6.63x
16.06x

12.06x
6.63x
16.12x

12.14x
6.71x
16.23x

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

143ms
160ms
259ms

124ms
150ms
246ms

125ms
129ms
211ms

128ms
143ms
209ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

18%
22%
n/a
n/a

11%
10%
16%
29%

13%
11%
20%
34%

28%
9%
17%
n/a


Verbatim DVD+RW

   Pioneer
DVR-116D
Optiarc
AD-7200S
Samsung
SH-S203N
Lite-On
DH-20A3H
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

10.14x
5.64x
13.52x

9.79x
5.39x
13.08x

9.03x
4.98x
12.07x

9.03x
5.01x
12.07x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

137ms
152ms
240ms

123ms
153ms
248ms

124ms
134ms
202ms

136ms
148ms
221ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

18%
23%
n/a
n/a

5%
9%
16%
29%

9%
6%
11%
19%

19%
9%
17%
96%

The DVR-116D'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
 

   Pioneer
DVR-116D
Optiarc
AD-7200S
Samsung
SH-S203N
Lite-On
DH-20A3H
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

9.23x
5.14x
12.29x

8.91x
4.93x
11.87x

9.22x
5.12x
12.30x

9.02x
5.01x
12.02x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

139ms
150ms
237ms

127ms
153ms
251ms

131ms
146ms
213ms

136ms
146ms
206ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:

8%
8%
n/a

5%
7%
13%

12%
8%
15%

23%
12%
98%

Reading Verbatim's double layer DVD+R media wasn't a problem for the DVR-116D either. The drive started reading at 5.14x and reached a maximum transfer speed of 12.29x.

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.

   Pioneer
DVR-116D
Optiarc
AD-7200S
Samsung
SH-S203N
Lite-On
DH-20A3H
Transfer Speed
Average:
Start:
End:

11.88x
6.54x
15.88x

11.91x
6.54x
15.93x

12.00x
6.63x
16.04x

12.00x
6.67x
16.04x
Seek Times
Random:
1/3:
Full:

116ms
131ms
214ms

123ms
146ms
225ms

95ms
112ms
183ms

104ms
122ms
174ms
CPU Usage
1x:
2x:
4x:
8x:

9%
7%
23%
n/a

11%
9%
16%
29%

9%
6%
10%
21%

13%
9%
15%
n/a

The DVR-116D didn't slow down very much when reading single layer DVD videos. It started out at about 6.54x and reached a maximum read speed of 15.88x. Pioneer'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 9x.

To see how well the DVR-116D 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.