CDRLabs.com

Posted: **Wed Jul 12, 2006 11:55 am**

I-O DATA Japan has announced a series of drives based on Sony NEC Optiarc's new 18x "Super-Multi" drive, the AD-7173A.

http://www.iodata.jp/prod/storage/dvd/2006/dvr-an18gl/

Full list of specs can be found here:

http://www.iodata.jp/prod/storage/dvd/2 ... index5.htm

Writing Speeds:
DVD±R: 18x
DVD±R DL: 8x
DVD+RW: 8x
DVD+R DL: 8x
DVD-RW: 6x
DVD-RAM: 12x
CD-R: 48x
CD-RW: 32x

Read Speeds:
DVD-ROM (Single): 16x Max
DVD-ROM (Dual): 12x Max
DVD±R: 16x Max
DVD±RW: 13x Max
DVD±R DL: 12x Max
DVD-RAM: 12X Max
CD-R/ROM: 48x Max
CD-RW: 40x Max

Posted: **Wed Jul 12, 2006 11:57 am**

Physically, the drive seems to be very similar to NEC's previous drives. Since Mediatek doesn't support Labelflash (I think), its most likely an NEC chipset.

Posted: **Wed Jul 12, 2006 4:08 pm**

damn! that's a sweet-looking external drive!

Posted: **Wed Jul 12, 2006 6:31 pm**

SONY NEC?

They own NEC?

Posted: **Wed Jul 12, 2006 6:36 pm**

No, its a joint venture between the two companies.

Posted: **Wed Jul 12, 2006 6:39 pm**

Ahh...hope they didn't have too much involement...my Sony products always seem to die fairly rapidly...

Posted: **Fri Aug 04, 2006 11:44 am**

I came across a sort of a review the other day..

http://www.3dnews.ru/storage/sony_nec_optiarc_ad_7173a/

it's in Russian but you get the idea.

CDRLabs.com

I-O DATA DVR-AN18GL (Sony NEC Optiarc AD-7173A) Specs

I-O DATA DVR-AN18GL (Sony NEC Optiarc AD-7173A) Specs