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.
| Samsung SH-S203N |
Lite-On DH-20A3H |
Samsung SH-S203B |
LG GSA-H55L |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
12.14x 6.70x 16.20x |
12.12x 6.73x 16.20x |
12.13x 6.72x 16.21x |
12.00x 6.54x 16.05x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
97ms 113ms 184ms |
103ms 119ms 173ms |
96ms 113ms 186ms |
119ms 148ms 215ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
9% 6% 10% 19% |
12% 9% 15% 98% |
9% 6% 10% 20% |
5% 9% 18% 34% |
The SH-S203N performed very well when reading single layer DVD-ROM's. In our tests it started reading at 6.70x and reached a maximum transfer speed of 16.20x.Looking at the other scores, you can see that the drive's seek times and CPU usage were also quite good.
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 4x DVD-R and 2x 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
| Samsung SH-S203N |
Lite-On DH-20A3H |
Samsung SH-S203B |
LG GSA-H55L |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
12.15x 6.71x 16.25x |
12.15x 6.70x 16.25x |
12.16x 6.72x 16.25x |
12.03x 6.59x 16.08x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
114ms 127ms 203ms |
134ms 146ms 222ms |
116ms 132ms 202ms |
127ms 164ms 234ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
11% 6% 11% 23% |
27% 9% 18% n/a |
11% 6% 12% 24% |
6% 10% 19% 36% |
Verbatim DVD-RW
| Samsung SH-S203N |
Lite-On DH-20A3H |
Samsung SH-S203B |
LG GSA-H55L |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
9.03x 4.97x 12.08x |
9.03x 4.98x 12.08x |
9.03x 4.99x 12.08x |
9.13x 5.01x 12.20x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
122ms 130ms 209ms |
148ms 159ms 256ms |
122ms 137ms 213ms |
133ms 182ms 265ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
9% 6% 11% 19% |
20% 10% 18% 98% |
9% 6% 11% 20% |
6% 10% 19% 37% |
Verbatim DVD-R DL
| Samsung SH-S203N |
Lite-On DH-20A3H |
Samsung SH-S203B |
LG GSA-H55L |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
9.23x 5.12x 12.30x |
9.02x 5.02x 12.02x |
9.23x 5.13x 12.30x |
9.08x 5.04x 12.11x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
125ms 140ms 213ms |
154ms 127ms 259ms |
122ms 137ms 206ms |
154ms 193ms 266ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: |
12% 8% 15% |
24% 12% 97% |
12% 8% 15% |
6% 10% 19% |
The SH-S203N 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
| Samsung SH-S203N |
Lite-On DH-20A3H |
Samsung SH-S203B |
LG GSA-H55L |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
10.19x 5.93x 12.02x |
10.21x 5.94x 12.02x |
10.20x 5.91x 12.02x |
10.24x 5.93x 12.03x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
147ms 152ms 245ms |
122ms 135ms 240ms |
138ms 157ms 253ms |
175ms 204ms 274ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
9% 10% 12% 20% |
12% 9% 20% 34% |
15% 9% 12% 19% |
5% 10% 18% 36% |
Samsung'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 v4.7.7.7 - 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 4x DVD+R and 2.4x DVD+RW media from Verbatim. I then ran our usual DVD read tests with CD Speed. The results are below.
Verbatim DVD+R
| Samsung SH-S203N |
Lite-On DH-20A3H |
Samsung SH-S203B |
LG GSA-H55L |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
12.14x 6.71x 16.23x |
12.14x 6.74x 16.23x |
12.14x 6.73x 16.23x |
12.04x 6.58x 16.11x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
125ms 129ms 211ms |
128ms 143ms 209ms |
114ms 132ms 202ms |
127ms 162ms 244ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
13% 11% 20% 34% |
28% 9% 17% n/a |
12% 6% 11% 23% |
6% 10% 19% 37% |
Verbatim DVD+RW
| Samsung SH-S203N |
Lite-On DH-20A3H |
Samsung SH-S203B |
LG GSA-H55L |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
9.03x 4.98x 12.07x |
9.03x 5.01x 12.07x |
9.03x 5.00x 12.08x |
9.13x 5.04x 12.20x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
124ms 134ms 202ms |
136ms 148ms 221ms |
122ms 137ms 205ms |
138ms 184ms 268ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
9% 6% 11% 19% |
19% 9% 17% 96% |
9% 6% 11% 21% |
6% 10% 19% 36% |
Verbatim DVD+R DL
| Samsung SH-S203N |
Lite-On DH-20A3H |
Samsung SH-S203B |
LG GSA-H55L |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
9.22x 5.12x 12.30x |
9.02x 5.01x 12.02x |
9.23x 5.12x 12.30x |
9.09x 5.02x 12.11x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
131ms 146ms 213ms |
136ms 146ms 206ms |
122ms 134ms 204ms |
153ms 186ms 273ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: |
12% 8% 15% |
23% 12% 98% |
12% 8% 15% |
5% 10% 18% |
The SH-S203N'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 v4.7.7.7 - 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.
| Samsung SH-S203N |
Lite-On DH-20A3H |
Samsung SH-S203B |
LG GSA-H55L |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
12.00x 6.63x 16.04x |
12.00x 6.67x 16.04x |
12.00x 6.65x 16.05x |
6.03x 3.33x 8.07x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
95ms 112ms 183ms |
104ms 122ms 174ms |
95ms 112ms 181ms |
126ms 153ms 217ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
9% 6% 10% 21% |
13% 9% 15% n/a |
9% 5% 11% 22% |
5% 9% 18% 38% |
The SH-S203N didn't slow down very much when reading single layer DVD videos. It started out at about 6.63x and reached a maximum read speed of 16.04x. 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 SH-S203N 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.
