Home News Reviews Forums Shop


In House Review - MSI DR16-B Double Layer 16x DVD±RW

DVD-R/W, DVD+R/RW, DVD-RAM

In House Review - MSI DR16-B Double Layer 16x DVD±RW

Postby Ian on Wed Nov 10, 2004 12:35 pm

Today, CDRLabs takes an in depth look at MSI's new 16x DVD±RW, the DR16-B. While affordably priced, this BenQ based drive features some of the fastest DVD reading and writing speeds available. The DR16-B is capable of 16x DVD±R and 4x DVD±RW writing speeds and has a maximum DVD read speed of 16x. More importantly, it's the first drive from MSI to support the DVD+R DL format. The DR16-B also includes features like 40x CD reading and writing speeds, 24x rewriting speeds and support for Seamless Link buffer underrun protection.

In this review we'll take a look at some of the features found on the DR16-B and see how it compares to some of the 16x DVD±RW drives from the competition. Can the DR16-B deliver the features and performance we've come to expect from MSI? You'll have to read the review to find out.

[url=http://www.cdrlabs.com/reviews/index.php?reviewid=247]Image
MSI DR16-B Double Layer 16x DVD±RW[/url]

If you have any comments or questions about this review or the MSI DR16-B, please post them in the forum using the link provided below.
"Blu-ray is just a bag of hurt." - Steve Jobs
User avatar
Ian
Grand Poobah
 
Posts: 15127
Joined: Sun Apr 08, 2001 2:34 pm
Location: Madison, WI

Postby raygay27 on Thu Nov 11, 2004 1:22 am

i just hope MSI can quickly release new f/w.
benq now is fast
raygay27
CD-RW Thug
 
Posts: 67
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2003 3:28 am

Postby Ian on Thu Nov 11, 2004 7:16 pm

Me too.. they need to get the writing quality up to BenQ's level.
"Blu-ray is just a bag of hurt." - Steve Jobs
User avatar
Ian
Grand Poobah
 
Posts: 15127
Joined: Sun Apr 08, 2001 2:34 pm
Location: Madison, WI

Postby ramlin on Fri Nov 12, 2004 4:56 pm

..I'm a little bit lost..I had been reading many good things about the benq 1620 but this re-badged benq 1620 seems to be receiving lukewarm reviews - if they are one and the same drive why is this so?
Is it only because benq have updated their firmware? Is it a case that if the MSI could be/can be flashed with the latest Benq firmware, it would perform like the 1620?
"There was never a time when I did not exist, nor you. Nor will there be any future in which we shall cease to be."
ramlin
CD-RW Thug
 
Posts: 58
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2003 4:00 am
Location: Neither here nor there

Postby Ian on Fri Nov 12, 2004 5:31 pm

I think it is the firmware. Early BenQ firmwares were also a little "rough" but they quickly got better. It wouldn't be surprised if 1.4 was based on one of these.
"Blu-ray is just a bag of hurt." - Steve Jobs
User avatar
Ian
Grand Poobah
 
Posts: 15127
Joined: Sun Apr 08, 2001 2:34 pm
Location: Madison, WI

Postby dolphinius_rex on Fri Nov 12, 2004 6:08 pm

MSI would do well to ask for a firmware based off of B7P9 :D
Punch Cards -> Paper Tape -> Tape Drive -> 8" Floppy Diskette -> 5 1/4" Floppy Diskette -> 3 1/2" "Flippy" Diskette -> CD-R -> DVD±R -> BD-R

The Progression of Computer Media
User avatar
dolphinius_rex
CD-RW Player
 
Posts: 6923
Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2003 6:14 pm
Location: Vancouver B.C. Canada

Postby Scour on Sat Nov 13, 2004 6:24 pm

Hello!

Nice review :)

But I´m not really impresses about the performance and writing quality. The drives from LG, Pioneer and NEC are more to recommend, I think
Benq DW 1640 and 1650 , Plextor PX-755, Pioneer BDR-208 and 209D, LG GH24NSC0, LG BH16NS40 and 16NS55, Liteon ihas 124F and 324F, Pioneer DVR-215 and S21, Samsung SH-224DB and 224GB, and some more

cu
Scour
Scour
CD-RW Player
 
Posts: 1933
Joined: Wed Nov 07, 2001 8:00 pm
Location: Germany

Postby dolphinius_rex on Sat Nov 13, 2004 7:21 pm

Scour wrote:Hello!

Nice review :)

But I´m not really impresses about the performance and writing quality. The drives from LG, Pioneer and NEC are more to recommend, I think


The drive itself is not so much the problem, the problem comes in with the old firmware they are using. If MSI used the newer B7P9 firmware as it's base, the drive would be able to hold it's own against the NEC 3500 with little difficulty I believe.
Punch Cards -> Paper Tape -> Tape Drive -> 8" Floppy Diskette -> 5 1/4" Floppy Diskette -> 3 1/2" "Flippy" Diskette -> CD-R -> DVD±R -> BD-R

The Progression of Computer Media
User avatar
dolphinius_rex
CD-RW Player
 
Posts: 6923
Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2003 6:14 pm
Location: Vancouver B.C. Canada

Postby erdoke on Thu Dec 09, 2004 2:00 pm

Yes, the 1.60 FW (same as B7P9) did the trick.

I have a question on MSI firmwares. Is there an easy way to flash a BenQ FW on this MSI drive?
User avatar
erdoke
Buffer Underrun
 
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Dec 08, 2004 8:16 pm

Postby Ian on Thu Dec 09, 2004 2:05 pm

Anyone know if the DR16-B is upgradable to the DR16-B2?

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/ ... hp?UID=609

I'm guessing yes, but I figured I'd ask if anyone has done it.
"Blu-ray is just a bag of hurt." - Steve Jobs
User avatar
Ian
Grand Poobah
 
Posts: 15127
Joined: Sun Apr 08, 2001 2:34 pm
Location: Madison, WI

Postby erdoke on Thu Dec 09, 2004 2:17 pm

What is the difference between the two? I guess that the drives are identical, only the B2 comes with the latest firmware capable of 4X DL burning.
User avatar
erdoke
Buffer Underrun
 
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Dec 08, 2004 8:16 pm

Postby Ian on Thu Dec 09, 2004 3:12 pm

erdoke wrote:What is the difference between the two? I guess that the drives are identical, only the B2 comes with the latest firmware capable of 4X DL burning.


That looks like the only difference to me. Probably like the DW1620 and DW1620pro..
"Blu-ray is just a bag of hurt." - Steve Jobs
User avatar
Ian
Grand Poobah
 
Posts: 15127
Joined: Sun Apr 08, 2001 2:34 pm
Location: Madison, WI

Postby raygay27 on Sat Dec 11, 2004 1:20 pm

Ian wrote:Anyone know if the DR16-B is upgradable to the DR16-B2?

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/ ... hp?UID=609

I'm guessing yes, but I figured I'd ask if anyone has done it.


i have done it! it works
raygay27
CD-RW Thug
 
Posts: 67
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2003 3:28 am


Return to DVD Writers

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 15 guests

cron
All Content is Copyright (c) 2001-2024 CDRLabs Inc.