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-2920Q |
Pioneer DVR-116D |
Optiarc AD-7200S |
Samsung SH-S203N |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
11.99x 6.61x 16.04x |
12.01x 6.61x 16.04x |
12.03x 6.61x 16.09x |
12.14x 6.70x 16.20x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
122ms 143ms 226ms |
118ms 134ms 218ms |
124ms 141ms 226ms |
97ms 113ms 184ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
6% 8% 26% n/a |
7% 8% 28% n/a |
11% 9% 16% 29% |
9% 6% 10% 19% |
The DVR-2020Q 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 nearly as low as the drive from Samsung.
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 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
| Pioneer DVR-2920Q |
Pioneer DVR-116D |
Optiarc AD-7200S |
Samsung SH-S203N |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
12.01x 6.63x 16.07x |
12.02x 6.69x 16.01x |
12.07x 6.62x 16.13x |
12.15x 6.71x 16.25x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
139ms 155ms 240ms |
136ms 152ms 243ms |
125ms 153ms 245ms |
114ms 127ms 203ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
19% 8% n/a n/a |
19% 8% n/a n/a |
13% 16% 24% 33% |
11% 6% 11% 23% |
Verbatim DVD-RW
| Pioneer DVR-2920Q |
Pioneer DVR-116D |
Optiarc AD-7200S |
Samsung SH-S203N |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
10.10x 5.62x 13.54x |
10.10x 5.65x 13.50x |
9.78x 5.36x 13.07x |
9.03x 4.97x 12.08x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
140ms 158ms 242ms |
137ms 163ms 237ms |
123ms 156ms 252ms |
122ms 130ms 209ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
20% 7% n/a n/a |
19% 8% n/a n/a |
5% 10% 17% 30% |
9% 6% 11% 19% |
The DVR-2020Q 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-2920Q |
Pioneer DVR-116D |
Optiarc AD-7200S |
Samsung SH-S203N |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
9.22x 5.15x 12.29x |
9.22x 5.15x 12.29x |
8.91x 4.93x 11.87x |
9.23x 5.12x 12.30x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
135ms 150ms 235ms |
142ms 165ms 232ms |
142ms 164ms 253ms |
125ms 140ms 213ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: |
10% 19% n/a |
11% 18% n/a |
5% 8% 14% |
12% 8% 15% |
Pioneer's new drive had no problems reading Verbatim's 4x DVD-R DL media. The DVR-2020Q started reading at 5.15x and reached a maximum transfer speed of 12.29x.
Maxell 12x DVD-RAM
| Pioneer DVR-2920Q |
Pioneer DVR-116D |
Optiarc AD-7200S |
Samsung SH-S203N |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
10.26x 6.00x 12.04x |
4.92x 4.30x 4.98x |
10.06x 5.91x 11.99x |
10.19x 5.93x 12.02x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
223ms 4ms 1ms |
191ms 2ms 6ms |
205ms 251ms 274ms |
147ms 152ms 245ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
11% 19% 36% n/a |
13% 22% 45% n/a |
13% 12% 18% n/a |
9% 10% 12% 20% |
Pioneer'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 6.00x and accelerates, reaching 12x at the 2.6GB mark. 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-2920Q |
Pioneer DVR-116D |
Optiarc AD-7200S |
Samsung SH-S203N |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
12.01x 6.65x 16.07x |
12.03x 6.63x 16.06x |
12.06x 6.63x 16.12x |
12.14x 6.71x 16.23x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
146ms 163ms 263ms |
143ms 160ms 259ms |
124ms 150ms 246ms |
125ms 129ms 211ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
19% 22% n/a n/a |
18% 22% n/a n/a |
11% 10% 16% 29% |
13% 11% 20% 34% |
Verbatim DVD+RW
| Pioneer DVR-2920Q |
Pioneer DVR-116D |
Optiarc AD-7200S |
Samsung SH-S203N |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
10.13x 5.68x 13.54x |
10.14x 5.64x 13.52x |
9.79x 5.39x 13.08x |
9.03x 4.98x 12.07x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
139ms 157ms 239ms |
137ms 152ms 240ms |
123ms 153ms 248ms |
124ms 134ms 202ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
19% 49% n/a n/a |
18% 23% n/a n/a |
5% 9% 16% 29% |
9% 6% 11% 19% |
The DVR-2020Q'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-2920Q |
Pioneer DVR-116D |
Optiarc AD-7200S |
Samsung SH-S203N |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
9.22x 5.13x 12.29x |
9.23x 5.14x 12.29x |
8.91x 4.93x 11.87x |
9.22x 5.12x 12.30x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
136ms 149ms 238ms |
139ms 150ms 237ms |
127ms 153ms 251ms |
131ms 146ms 213ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: |
5% 10% n/a |
8% 8% n/a |
5% 7% 13% |
12% 8% 15% |
Reading Verbatim's double layer DVD+R media wasn't a problem for the DVR-2020Q either. The drive started reading at 5.13x 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-2920Q |
Pioneer DVR-116D |
Optiarc AD-7200S |
Samsung SH-S203N |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
11.87x 6.58x 15.87x |
11.88x 6.54x 15.88x |
11.91x 6.54x 15.93x |
12.00x 6.63x 16.04x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
123ms 143ms 222ms |
116ms 131ms 214ms |
123ms 146ms 225ms |
95ms 112ms 183ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
8% 6% 24% n/a |
9% 7% 23% n/a |
11% 9% 16% 29% |
9% 6% 10% 21% |
The DVR-2020Q didn't slow down very much when reading single layer DVD videos. It started out at about 6.58x and reached a maximum read speed of 15.87x. 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-2920Q 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.
