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.
| Sony BWU-300S |
LG GGW-H20L |
Lite-On DH-4B1S |
LG GGW-H10N |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
12.27x 6.80x 16.40x |
12.28x 6.80x 16.42x |
9.33x 5.12x 12.49x |
9.09x 4.97x 12.16x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
153ms 158ms 291ms |
121ms 141ms 213ms |
138ms 158ms 209ms |
183ms 214ms 298ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
4% 6% 9% 18% |
4% 8% 14% 23% |
5% 9% 17% 32% |
5% 9% 16% 30% |
The BWU-300S was fairly quick when reading single layer DVD-ROM's. In our tests it started reading at 6.80x and reached a maximum transfer speed of 16.40x. Unfortunately, its seek times were not as low as some of the other drives.
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 4x DVD-RW media from Verbatim and then ran our usual DVD read tests with CD Speed. The results are below.
Verbatim DVD-R
| Sony BWU-300S |
LG GGW-H20L |
Lite-On DH-4B1S |
LG GGW-H10N |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
12.28x 6.80x 16.42x |
9.23x 5.12x 12.33x |
9.35x 5.14x 12.49x |
7.62x 4.17x 10.19x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
166ms 170ms 317ms |
102ms 125ms 183ms |
139ms 158ms 212ms |
193ms 238ms 366ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
4% 6% 10% 18% |
3% 6% 12% 22% |
5% 9% 17% 32% |
6% 9% 16% 31% |
Verbatim DVD-RW
| Sony BWU-300S |
LG GGW-H20L |
Lite-On DH-4B1S |
LG GGW-H10N |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
6.15x 3.41x 8.23x |
7.69x 4.23x 10.29x |
9.37x 5.13x 12.54x |
6.26x 3.42x 8.37x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
156ms 228ms 352ms |
110ms 136ms 206ms |
138ms 159ms 212ms |
213ms 258ms 402ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
4% 6% 10% 18% |
4% 7% 13% 24% |
5% 10% 17% 32% |
6% 9% 16% 31% |
Verbatim DVD-R DL
| Sony BWU-300S |
LG GGW-H20L |
Lite-On DH-4B1S |
LG GGW-H10N |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
6.17x 3.43x 8.22x |
6.16x 3.42x 8.21x |
6.04x 3.35x 8.05x |
4.64x 2.56x 6.18x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
161ms 175ms 321ms |
155ms 186ms 283ms |
152ms 171ms 225ms |
212ms 260ms 409ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: |
3% 27% n/a |
4% 8% n/a |
7% 15% 93% |
5% 9% n/a |
The BWU-300S 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
| Sony BWU-300S |
LG GGW-H20L |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
4.99x 4.96x 5.00x |
4.62x 3.00x 5.00x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
327ms 472ms 1135ms |
139ms 156ms 206ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: |
18% 14% 74% |
17% 27% 42% |
The BWU-300S 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.
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 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
| Sony BWU-300S |
LG GGW-H20L |
Lite-On DH-4B1S |
LG GGW-H10N |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
12.29x 6.78x 16.43x |
9.22x 5.10x 12.33x |
9.35x 5.13x 12.51x |
7.63x 4.17x 10.20x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
165ms 171ms 303ms |
100ms 130ms 196ms |
137ms 162ms 213ms |
190ms 240ms 382ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
4% 6% 10% 18% |
3% 7% 15% 24% |
5% 9% 17% 32% |
6% 9% 17% 31% |
Verbatim DVD+RW
| Sony BWU-300S |
LG GGW-H20L |
Lite-On DH-4B1S |
LG GGW-H10N |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
6.15x 3.41x 8.22x |
7.69x 4.24x 10.29x |
9.36x 5.13x 12.50x |
6.25x 3.42x 8.36x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
156ms 169ms 330ms |
110ms 129ms 191ms |
138ms 161ms 213ms |
214ms 263ms 402ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
4% 6% 10% 18% |
4% 7% 12% 23% |
5% 10% 17% 32% |
6% 9% 16% 31% |
The BWU-300S's performance with DVD+R and DVD+RW media was very similar to what we saw with DVD-R and DVD-RW. The drive read DVD+R discs at 16x and DVD+RW media at 12x.
Verbatim DVD+R DL
| Sony BWU-300S |
LG GGW-H20L |
Lite-On DH-4B1S |
LG GGW-H10N |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
6.17x 3.43x 8.23x |
6.17x 3.42x 8.22x |
6.04x 3.35x 8.05x |
4.64x 2.56x 6.18x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
159ms 169ms 316ms |
154ms 189ms 284ms |
151ms 174ms 225ms |
212ms 260ms 409ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: |
3% 29% n/a |
4% 8% n/a |
7% 14% 94% |
5% 9% n/a |
Reading Verbatim's double layer DVD+R media wasn't an issue for Sony's new drive either. The BWU-300S started reading at 3.43x and reached a maximum transfer speed of 8.23x.
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.
| Sony BWU-300S |
LG GGW-H20L |
Lite-On DH-4B1S |
LG GGW-H10N |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
4.55x 2.52x 6.09x |
6.06x 3.36x 8.10x |
9.24x 5.05x 12.35x |
9.01x 4.92x 12.05x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
149ms 163ms 311ms |
191ms 231ms 333ms |
138ms 160ms 208ms |
185ms 224ms 303ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
4% 6% 10% n/a |
4% 6% 18% 24% |
5% 9% 17% 32% |
7% 9% 27% 31% |
The BWU-300S didn't do as well as the other drives when reading DVD videos. In our tests, it reached a maximum speed of only 6x when reading both single and dual layer discs.
To see how well Sony'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 BWU-300S had no problems playing back either movie and was fairly quiet.
