Nero DiscSpeed 4 - DVD-ROM:
For this test I used a single layer, single sided data DVD-ROM disc that is 4.37GB in size.
| LG GGC-H20L |
ASUS BC-1205PT |
LG GGW-H20L |
Sony BWU-100A |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
12.29x 6.79x 16.43x |
9.44x 5.24x 12.62x |
12.28x 6.80x 16.42x |
6.15x 3.41x 8.22x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
122ms 142ms 220ms |
152ms 184ms 337ms |
121ms 141ms 213ms |
140ms 156ms 296ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
5% 8% 15% 23% |
7% 12% 22% 42% |
4% 8% 14% 23% |
6% 9% 17% 32% |
The GGC-H20L performed very well when reading single layer DVD-ROM's. In our tests it started reading at 6.79x and reached a maximum transfer speed of 16.43x.Looking at the other scores, you can see that the drive's seek times and CPU usage were also quite good.
Nero DiscSpeed 4 - 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 8x DVD-R and 2x DVD-RW media from Verbatim and then ran our usual DVD read tests with DiscSpeed. The results are below.
Verbatim DVD-R
| LG GGC-H20L |
ASUS BC-1205PT |
LG GGW-H20L |
Sony BWU-100A |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
9.24x 5.11x 12.35x |
9.46x 5.26x 12.65x |
9.23x 5.12x 12.33x |
6.15x 3.40x 8.22x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
99ms 124ms 185ms |
168ms 199ms 351ms |
102ms 125ms 183ms |
152ms 166ms 305ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
3% 7% 13% 24% |
7% 13% 23% 45% |
3% 6% 12% 22% |
6% 9% 17% 31% |
Verbatim DVD-RW
| LG GGC-H20L |
ASUS BC-1205PT |
LG GGW-H20L |
Sony BWU-100A |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
7.69x 4.24x 10.29x |
6.31x 3.49x 8.44x |
7.69x 4.23x 10.29x |
6.16x 3.41x 8.25x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
114ms 141ms 209ms |
176ms 418ms 378ms |
110ms 136ms 206ms |
153ms 219ms 355ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
5% 8% 15% 24% |
7% 13% 23% 42% |
4% 7% 13% 24% |
6% 9% 17% 31% |
The GGC-H20L performed very well when reading DVD-R and DVD-RW media. In our tests, the drive read DVD-R discs at 12x and DVD-RW media at a respectable 10x
Verbatim DVD-R DL
| LG GGC-H20L |
ASUS BC-1205PT |
LG GGW-H20L |
Sony BWU-100A |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
6.17x 3.43x 8.22x |
6.32x 3.52x 8.43x |
6.16x 3.42x 8.21x |
6.17x 3.43x 8.22x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
160ms 199ms 294ms |
183ms 211ms 366ms |
155ms 186ms 283ms |
158ms 172ms 310ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: |
5% 9% |
7% 12% |
4% 8% |
4% 8% |
LG's new drive had no problems reading Verbatim's 4x DVD-R DL media. The GGC-H20L started reading at 3.43x and reached a maximum transfer speed of 8.22x.
Maxell 5x DVD-RAM
| LG GGC-H20L |
ASUS BC-1205PT |
LG GGW-H20L |
Sony BWU-100A |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
4.62x 3.00x 5.02x |
4.93x 4.84x 4.88x |
4.62x 3.00x 5.00x |
4.99x 4.97x 5.00x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
138ms 156ms 209ms |
175ms 3ms 1ms |
139ms 156ms 206ms |
354ms 529ms 1126ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: |
17% 27% 44% |
16% 30% 55% |
17% 27% 42% |
13% 26% 22% |
The GGC-H20L has a maximum transfer speed of 5x when reading DVD-RAM discs. By looking at the screenshot you can see that it starts reading at 3.00x and accelerates, reaching 5x at the 1.6GB mark.
Nero DiscSpeed 4 - 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 8x DVD+R and 2.4x DVD+RW media from Verbatim. I then ran our usual DVD read tests with DiscSpeed. The results are below.
Verbatim DVD+R
| LG GGC-H20L |
ASUS BC-1205PT |
LG GGW-H20L |
Sony BWU-100A |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
9.22x 5.10x 12.33x |
9.45x 5.25x 12.64x |
9.22x 5.10x 12.33x |
6.15x 3.41x 8.22x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
99ms 129ms 194ms |
168ms 202ms 353ms |
100ms 130ms 196ms |
156ms 169ms 313ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
3% 7% 15% 25% |
7% 12% 23% 43% |
3% 7% 15% 24% |
6% 10% 17% 32% |
Verbatim DVD+RW
| LG GGC-H20L |
ASUS BC-1205PT |
LG GGW-H20L |
Sony BWU-100A |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
7.70x 4.25x 10.29x |
6.31x 3.49x 8.44x |
7.69x 4.24x 10.29x |
6.15x 3.41x 8.22x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
114ms 136ms 196ms |
175ms 213ms 367ms |
110ms 129ms 191ms |
156ms 170ms 338ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
5% 8% 15% 25% |
7% 12% 22% 41% |
4% 7% 12% 23% |
6% 10% 17% 32% |
The GGC-H20L'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 12x and DVD+RW media at 10x.
Verbatim DVD+R DL
| LG GGC-H20L |
ASUS BC-1205PT |
LG GGW-H20L |
Sony BWU-100A |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
6.17x 3.41x 8.22x |
6.33x 3.52x 8.43x |
6.17x 3.42x 8.22x |
6.18x 3.44x 8.24x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
158ms 194ms 288ms |
181ms 207ms 363ms |
154ms 189ms 284ms |
159ms 170ms 310ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: |
5% 9% |
7% 12% |
4% 8% |
5% 9% |
Reading Verbatim's double layer DVD+R media wasn't an issue for the GGC-H20L either. The drive started reading at 3.41x and reached a maximum transfer speed of 8.22x.
Nero DiscSpeed 4 - 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.
| LG GGC-H20L |
ASUS BC-1205PT |
LG GGW-H20L |
Sony BWU-100A |
|
| Transfer Speed Average: Start: End: |
6.06x 3.36x 8.11x |
3.89x 2.15x 5.20x |
6.06x 3.36x 8.10x |
4.61x 2.56x 6.17x |
| Seek Times Random: 1/3: Full: |
194ms 237ms 330ms |
176ms 208ms 353ms |
191ms 231ms 333ms |
145ms 162ms 302ms |
| CPU Usage 1x: 2x: 4x: 8x: |
5% 7% 18% 25% |
7% 13% 26% n/a |
4% 6% 18% 24% |
6% 9% 17% n/a |
The GGC-H20L wasn't as fast when reading single layer DVD-Videos. In our tests, it reached a maximum speed of only 8x when reading both single and dual layer discs.
To see how well LG'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 GGC-H20L had no problems playing back either movie and was fairly quiet.
