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BenQ releases the latest DW1640 with specs as below:



with this lastest release its specs is on par with the current competitors in the market giving NEC and the ASUS 1608 a run for the money...so since right now officially have and this weekend i got more time....lets do a review...

Price is currently $116 - $129 ( at SLS )

How the box look :

Front


Back


Package :



Label :



Current Firmware avaliable is : BSGB

Release Notes:
1. Improve the writing performance for DVD+R DL media at 8x speed.
2. Fix Windows only detect master drive when 2 same firmware drives are connected.
3. Add solution to avoid OPU failure caused by coil loose issue.

A new Firmware Check Tool tryit..

The Tray is black and the in out movement is smoother/quieter than the 1620Pro. Definietly the tray has been redesigned for smoother/quieter operation. The tray of the 1640 and 1620 is different so ...the black bezel from the 1620 cant be fitted on the 1640...



the overall lenght of the 1640 is shorter than the 1620....which is good for those ppl who like short drives...



Something new that is seen in the 1640 is BenQs exclusive Dual Cooling System (DCS) which features Anti Dust Cooling system (ADCS) and Air Flow Cooling System (AFCS).



Some Personel thoughts :
*LED design has been change to light green..no more flashing red when burning..( i actually luv the flashing red LED )
*current firmware cant do any Qscan on Qsuite
*Limited overspeeding on current firmware ...

Will only do a couple of burns on official firmware...

MID: MCC003
Brand: Verbatim 8x LightScribe Media
Type: DVD+R 8x rated
Burned with: Nero CD-DVD Speed
Burned at: 8x speed
Burn time: 8:03
Booktype: DVD+R
Firmware: BSGB
Burn : 01



current firmware has limited overspeeding...

MID: TDK003
Brand: TDK 16x Media (White Printable )
Type: DVD+R 16x rated
Burned with: Nero CD-DVD Speed
Burned at: 16x speed
Burn time: 5:52
Booktype: DVD+R
Firmware: BSGB
Burn : 02



MID: YUDEN000T02
Brand: ACCA OEM TY 8X +R WHITE PRINTABLE
Type: DVD+R 8x rated
Burned with: Nero CD-DVD Speed
Burned at: 8x speed
Burn time: 7:57
Booktype: DVD+R
Firmware: BSGB
Burn : 03

Thanks eleewhm

Have you been able to write to any 8x media at 16x? I hope BenQ doesn't remove that feature. That's one reason why I really like my DW1620.

I think I'm gonna have to pick one of these up when they hit the States.

I'm happy to say that BenQ has just told me they are just about ready to send me my test unit! Which means I won't have to go buy one myself

So far it looks like people will be dissapointed with the overspeeding, but the quality is inarguably there!

I wonder if the support for Prodisc media will be there or not? From BenQ's reply to my question about the problems on the DW1620, I'm not sure they can, or are interested in fixing it

BenQ wrote:Regarding your question one (the big one), I think the characteristic of Prodisc media is not fully compatible with DW1620. From experience, only modify the firmware of drive or the dye formula of the media is not possible to achieve the best result. One exception is related to the physical limitation, which is difficult to have perfect match.

No matter what, I'm looking forward to playing with this new drive!!

current firmware will be limited overspeeding on 8x media...but as you can see from the 1620Pro..its inital firmware was not very outstanding and with BenQ's huge RD dept...we do not have to worry much.....it will be released soon..i have tested a beta firmware with all the overspeeding similarly to the 1620..and its good..

i might have a bad disc or media...below...with the TYG02 GG000102 at inner ring

here's a interesting one...

MID: TYG02
Brand: THAT's 8x -R ( GG000102 at inner ring )
Type: DVD-R 8x rated
Burned with: Nero CD-DVD Speed
Burned at: 12x speed
Burn time: 6:34
Booktype: DVD+R
Firmware: BSGB
Burn : 04



MID: TYG02
Brand: ACCA OEM TY 8x -R ( GG000095 at inner ring )
Type: DVD-R 8x rated
Burned with: Nero CD-DVD Speed
Burned at: 12x speed
Burn time: 6:32
Booktype: DVD+R
Firmware: BSGB
Burn : 05



two different TY batches.....different results.... GG000095 is better.. ..burn no5 has a small scratch mark at the outer ring....


MID: TYG02
Brand: ACCA OEM TY 8x -R ( GG000095 at inner ring )
Type: DVD-R 8x rated
Burned with: Nero CD-DVD Speed
Burned at: 12x speed
Burn time: 6:36
Booktype: DVD+R
Firmware: BSGB
Burn : 06

MID: TDK003
Brand: TDK 16x Media (From Znix)
Type: DVD+R 16x rated
Burned with: Nero CD-DVD Speed
Burned at: 16x speed
Burn time: 5:46
Booktype: DVD+R
Firmware: BSGB
Burn : 07 definetly a bad disc...





MID: MCC 03RG20
Brand: VERBATIM 16x Media
Type: DVD-R 16x rated
Burned with: Nero CD-DVD Speed
Burned at: 16x speed
Burn time: 6:07
Booktype: DVD-R
Firmware: BSGB
Burn : 08
-R timing on 16x is a bit off...but scans looks good...


MID: RICOHJPN03
Brand: IMATION 16x Media
Type: DVD+R 16x rated
Burned with: Nero CD-DVD Speed
Burned at: 16x speed
Burn time: 5:47
Booktype: DVD+R
Firmware: BSGB
Burn : 09



RICOHJPN03 burns nice

Thanks eleewhm with this generous information you have provided to us about BenQ 1640. I personally not impressed by looking on these picture about the quality of this drive burning and burning speed that provides. At this time I think the upcoming NEC 3540 might be better choice.

BenQ wrote:Regarding your question one (the big one), I think the characteristic of Prodisc media is not fully compatible with DW1620. From experience, only modify the firmware of drive or the dye formula of the media is not possible to achieve the best result. One exception is related to the physical limitation, which is difficult to have perfect match.

Hmm really strange answer.

TCAS wrote:Thanks eleewhm with this generous information you have provided to us about BenQ 1640. I personally not impressed by looking on these picture about the quality of this drive burning and burning speed that provides. At this time I think the upcoming NEC 3540 might be better choice.

Hrm, give it about 2 weeks (roughly 3 firmware upgrades ) and I think we'll see some big changes... at least if things go the same way as they did with the BenQ DW1620

i would agree with dolphinius_rex...firmware upgrades will be avaliable soon.....do not be troubled with my burn quality as the bad burns are attributed to media quality...for the TYG02 ones...you can see that the batch with the "GG00102" code is not as good as the earlier batch of "GG00095"

the TDK003 is also the same case....so all in all...what makes a good burn would be media of acceptable mfg quality....

MID: TDK003
Brand: RDK 16x DVD+R
Type: DVD+R 16x rated
Burned with: Nero CD-DVD Speed
Burned at: 16x speed
Burn time: 5:38
Booktype: DVD+R
Firmware: BSGB
Burn : 11
can confirm that the fist TDK disc i burnt was of not good quality...this is a disc in the middle of the spindle...




MID: CMC MAG M01
Brand: CMC 16x DVD+R ( Silver )
Type: DVD+R 16x rated
Burned with: Nero CD-DVD Speed
Burned at: 16x Speed
Burn time: 5:48
Booktype: DVD+ROM
Firmware: BSGB
Burn : 13

[FONT=Arial]MID: TTH02
Brand: TDK 16x DVD-R ( Japan )
Type: DVD-R 16x rated
Burned with: Nero CD-DVD Speed
Burned at: 16x Speed
Burn time: 6:08
Booktype: DVD-R
Firmware: BSGB
Burn : 15 [/FONT]

MID: MKM 001
Brand: MIT DVD+R DL
Type: DVD+R DL 2.4x rated
Burned with: Nero CD-DVD Speed
Burned at: 8x DL
Burn time: 15:06
Booktype: DVD+ROM
Firmware: BSGB
Burn : 17

well quality of disc so so... =:p ..but time is 15:06..mine's a full 8.150GB disc...
fisrt layer was consistent abou 99% score till the burn into the second layer...

MID: RICOHJPN03
Brand: RICOH 16x Media
Type: DVD+R 16x rated
Burned with: Nero CD-DVD Speed
Burned at: 16x speed
Burn time: 5:44
Booktype: DVD+ROM
Firmware: BSGB
Burn : 20

MID: BeAll000 PG0
Brand: BeAll DVD+R
Type: DVD+R 16x rated
Burned with: Nero CD-DVD Speed
Burned at: 16x
Burn time: 5:59
Booktype: DVD+ROM
Firmware: BSGB
Burn : 19

MID: BeAll G16001
Brand: BeAll DVD-R
Type: DVD-R 16x rated
Burned with: Nero CD-DVD Speed
Burned at: 16x
Burn time: 6:05
Booktype: DVD-R
Firmware: BSGB
Burn : 18