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-500S |
Lite-On iHBS112 |
LG WH10LS30 |
Plextor PX-B940SA |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
12.11x 6.74x 16.19x |
12.11x 6.74x 16.19x |
12.30x 6.81x 16.43x |
11.93x 6.65x 15.96x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
118ms 131ms 212ms |
114ms 130ms 199ms |
113ms 126ms 192ms |
155ms 189ms 339ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
44% 38% 25% 38% |
5% 10% 16% 29% |
4% 6% 12% 61% |
14% 13% 25% 46% |
The BWU-500S was fairly quick when reading single layer DVD-ROM's. In our tests it started reading at 6.74x and reached a maximum transfer speed of 16.19x. Looking at the other scores, you can see that the drive's access times were also quite good.
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 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
| Sony BWU-500S |
Lite-On iHBS112 |
LG WH10LS30 |
Plextor PX-B940SA |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
12.05x 6.72x 16.11x |
12.05x 6.73x 16.11x |
12.33x 6.84x 16.46x |
11.94x 6.64x 16.00x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
119ms 132ms 221ms |
119ms 131ms 224ms |
122ms 126ms 195ms |
165ms 196ms 353ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
6% 11% 17% 29% |
6% 11% 17% 29% |
4% 6% 12% 61% |
14% 14% 25% 47% |
Verbatim DVD-RW
| Sony BWU-500S |
Lite-On iHBS112 |
LG WH10LS30 |
Plextor PX-B940SA |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
9.17x 5.10x 12.26x |
9.17x 5.08x 12.26x |
9.28x 5.13x 12.41x |
9.36x 5.21x 12.50x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
125ms 146ms 228ms |
118ms 148ms 225ms |
114ms 150ms 216ms |
167ms 378ms 388ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
6% 11% 18% 31% |
5% 11% 16% 30% |
4% 6% 12% n/a |
14% 14% 25% n/a |
Verbatim DVD-R DL
| Sony BWU-500S |
Lite-On iHBS112 |
LG WH10LS30 |
Plextor PX-B940SA |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
9.07x 5.05x 12.08x |
9.07x 5.06x 12.08x |
9.28x 5.17x 12.37x |
9.47x 5.29x 12.64x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
124ms 136ms 244ms |
137ms 136ms 247ms |
135ms 145ms 233ms |
176ms 206ms 364ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: |
5% 10% 15% |
5% 9% 18% |
3% 18% n/a |
13% 13% n/a |
The BWU-500S 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
| Sony BWU-500S |
Lite-On iHBS112 |
LG WH10LS30 |
Plextor PX-B940SA |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
10.27x 6.01x 12.05x |
10.27x 5.98x 12.40x |
9.73x 6.12x 12.24x |
4.77x 3.13x 5.00x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
136ms 158ms 213ms |
116ms 133ms 190ms |
168ms 171ms 224ms |
206ms 4ms 1ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
4% 9% 15% 28% |
4% 8% 13% 25% |
5% 8% 13% n/a |
23% 40% 71% n/a |
The BWU-500S 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 5.98x and quickly 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 disk using some 16x 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
| Sony BWU-500S |
Lite-On iHBS112 |
LG WH10LS30 |
Plextor PX-B940SA |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
12.06x 6.72x 16.12x |
12.06x 6.71x 16.12x |
12.33x 6.83x 16.49x |
11.95x 6.62x 16.02x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
120ms 130ms 222ms |
120ms 125ms 227ms |
121ms 128ms 197ms |
167ms 201ms 357ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
8% 11% 17% 30% |
7% 11% 16% 29% |
4% 6% 12% 62% |
14% 14% 25% 46% |
Verbatim DVD+RW
| Sony BWU-500S |
Lite-On iHBS112 |
LG WH10LS30 |
Plextor PX-B940SA |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
9.19x 5.12x 12.28x |
9.19x 5.11x 12.28x |
9.30x 5.16x 12.42x |
9.38x 5.20x 12.55x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
117ms 128ms 233ms |
114ms 130ms 219ms |
114ms 129ms 197ms |
167ms 200ms 352ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
6% 11% 17% 30% |
5% 11% 16% 29% |
4% 7% 12% 60% |
15% 14% 25% n/a |
Verbatim DVD+R DL
| Sony BWU-500S |
Lite-On iHBS112 |
LG WH10LS30 |
Plextor PX-B940SA |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
9.07x 5.06x 12.09x |
9.07x 5.05x 12.09x |
9.28x 5.17x 12.37x |
9.48x 5.27x 12.63x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
121ms 128ms 220ms |
121ms 129ms 217ms |
136ms 148ms 228ms |
177ms 205ms 362ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: |
5% 9% 15% |
5% 9% 14% |
3% 13% n/a |
13% 12% n/a |
The BWU-500S'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.
| Sony BWU-500S |
Lite-On iHBS112 |
LG WH10LS30 |
Plextor PX-B940SA |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
11.99x 6.66x 16.04x |
11.99x 6.67x 16.03x |
9.12x 5.04x 12.20x |
11.81x 6.57x 15.82x |
| Access Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
119ms 132ms 222ms |
115ms 134ms 212ms |
124ms 143ms 224ms |
157ms 192ms 341ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
44% 41% 31% 37% |
5% 10% 16% 28% |
4% 6% 12% 60% |
14% 13% 25% 46% |
The BWU-500S didn't slow down very much when reading single layer DVD videos. It started out at about 6.66x and reached a maximum read speed of 16.04x. Sony'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 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-500S had no problems playing back either movie and was fairly quiet.
