In House Review - PX-740UF 16x FireWire/USB 2.0 DVD±RW

[Ian]

Today CDRLabs takes a long overdue look at Plextor's external 16x DVD±RW, the PX-740UF. Based on the BenQ DW1640, this drive is capable of 16x DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 8x DVD+R DL and 4x DVD-R DL writing speeds and a maximum DVD read speed of 16x. The PX-740UF also features 48x CD reading and writing speeds, 32x rewriting speeds andsupport for both FireWire and USB 2.0.

In this review we'll take a look at some of the features found on the PX-740UF and see how it compares to some of the 16x DVD±RW drives from the competition. Does Plextor's external writer have what it takes? You'll have to read the review to find out.

[url=http://www.cdrlabs.com/reviews/index.php?reviewid=281]
Plextor PX-740UF 16x FireWire/USB 2.0 DVD±RW[/url]

If you have any comments or questions about this review or the Plextor PX-740UF, please post them in the forum by clicking the link below.

[Ian]

This review was delayed due to the problems I had getting the PX-740UF to read and write to DVD's at 16x. As I mentioned in the review, I was not able to get it to work using the VIA and Intel based motherboards I had in the 'Labs. However, Plextor USA was able to get it to work on a ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe, which uses an nVidia chipset.

Personally, I think this is due to the Initio USB/FireWire bridge controller (1530) they're using in the new case. Sadly, it appears that they're using the same case on their other external DVD writers.

[dodecahedron]

the older enclosures looked nicer.

[Ian]

Yes, they did. These are obviously cheaper.

[Scour]

Hello!

Just a bit disappointed with the writing-quality

Many +R don´t looks nice, the Plextor produced high PIF-spikes beginning at the 3GB-mark (Benq-Scan).

Did Plextor use own FW or do they modify the Benq-FW?

[Ian]

Many +R don´t looks nice, the Plextor produced high PIF-spikes beginning at the 3GB-mark (Benq-Scan).

Yeah, I've seen the same thing with the BenQ DW1640. It doesn't really seem to have any effect on readability though.

[Scour]

Yeah, I've seen the same thing with the BenQ DW1640. It doesn't really seem to have any effect on readability though.

So this are these 16x-spikes that some guys talking about, when tehy burn a +R 16x, ok

Never had it, burned almost only 8x-media and don´t use overspeeding

[Gen-An]

Personally, I think this is due to the Initio USB/FireWire bridge controller (1530) they're using in the new case. Sadly, it appears that they're using the same case on their other external DVD writers.

I've never heard of Initio, and that's too bad they changed to a chipset that doesn't seem to have wide compatibility. All of the older UF drives, to my knowledge, used NEC for USB2.0 and Epson for IEEE1394 in the enclosure.

[RaysMD]

I just got this drive (upgraded from a NEC 2500A).


I subsequently flashed it to a BENQ 1640. The burns are pretty good. very low PIFs. However, I tried to use cdspeed to check the disc quality and it won't work when connected to the USB port. I switched to firewire and it works fine.

[Pete7874]

Just curious, can this drive overburn DVD+/-R media? The in-house review doesn't say "NO", but other reviews I've seen says it can't.

I'm new to the DVD burning world and kind of bummed that a standard 4.7 GB media only really holds 4.3 GB and would like to increase it somewhat. In the CD-R world, if it said 700 MB, that is exactly what you got.

Anyway, I just got this drive - is it safe to try overburning? Up to what capacity is it safe? Any preferred media? I just got some Sony DVD+R from Circuit City that was on sale, but wasn't able to find much about its quality.

Thanks!

[Ian]

No, it doesn't support overburning.

[Ian]

Tiger Direct has the drive for $49.99 after a $90 MIR

http://promo.tigeronline.com/t/9790322/8853352/746/0/

[Pete7874]

After only a month's use, mine seems to be crapping out... it takes a very long time to burn media that it had no problem with just last week (Philips DVD+R), and of course a million read errors when trying to verify written data. During writing, it sounds like the head keeps moving in an out like mad. All that for $130. Not sure if the BENQ 1655 would have been better, but at least it would have been cheaper.

[RaysMD]

yea, mine will be on eBay shortly.

I replaced it with the Sony external version which is much better. Quieter too. I remember Plextor from their SCSI days. No more plextor for me.