dbminter

Memorex Mitsubishi 24x Ultra Speed CD-RW Audio CD write test passed. So, I'm fairly confident this drive is FINALLY read to become my new go to BD drive after 3.11 firmware was released. I still need to perform the above mentioned playback tests to be sure, though. And there are a few other read tests I haven't tried yet, but they're so uncommon I don't know when I'll even come across the possibility of testing those. I'll update my initial review of the drive to reflect these new tests results. And once all of the playback tests are done, I'll post those results here and in the drive review I made.

Branded Verbatim DataLife Plus/AZO Audio CD CD-R write test passed. Onto Memorex Mitsubishi 24x Ultra Speed CD-RW Audio CD write test. If this test passes, it will be the last test I should need to perform on this drive before declaring it ready for prime time. All that will be left will be the various DVD Video playback tests and Audio CD playback tests.

Inkjet Verbatim DataLife Plus/AZO Audio CD CD-R write test passed. Onto branded Verbatim DataLife Plus/AZO Audio CD CD-R write test.

Memorex branded CD-R Audio CD write test passed. Onto inkjet Verbatim DataLife Plus/AZO Audio CD CD-R write test.

Audio CD disc read test passed. Onto branded CD-R Audio CD write test.

Okay, CD data read and image copy test passed. Onto Audio CD disc read test.

16x branded MC DVD-R write test passed. Onto CD data read and image copy test.

Data BD-RE write test passed. Onto branded 16x MCC DVD-R write test.

Well, I forgot about the BD-RE and went to inkjet 16x MCC DVD-R. Write test passed. Just need to perform playback test. NOW onto BD-RE test.

Data write to BD-R passed. I don't have any Blu-Ray Video to test with. On to BD-RE data write test.

The inkjet MKM 8x DVD+R DL write test passed. Just got to perform a read test on it a few days, when I can get around to watching it.

I also need to perform playback tests on DVD Video for 8x DVD+R DL and the 2 8x DVD+RW. Then, after the CD-R and CD-RW write tests, I need to perform playback tests on CD Audio written to them. The 2 8x DVD+R DL that were written will be playback tested next after the current disc I am watching is done, which will take about 2 hours. Then, I can watch those as I specifically chose discs I haven't watched yet so I can playback test those.

I started the MKM inkjet test. The ASUS writes slightly less efficiently to 8x DVD+R DL. The LG WH16NS60 writes them first at 4x for 2 and a half minutes, then at 8x for most of the rest of the time, the 4x for the last 2 minutes. The ASUS writes at 4x for the first 2 and a half minutes, then at 6x for another 2 and a half minutes, then at 8x for most of the rest of the time, then drops to 6x for some of the end time, before dropping to 4x for the last 2 minutes.

Okay, both types of 8x DVD+RW from Ritek, RICOH and the Imation ones, still are good in 3.11. 3.11 doesn't destroy the discs anymore. Onto 2x Memorex RITEK BD-RE and inkjet 8x MKM DVD+R DL.

Unfortunately, the drive cannot be placed on its side, in either a PC case or in a USB enclosure. 2 of 3 burns resulted in discs on the floor. I rearranged my real estate so the drive can be set flat, but it's not to my liking. My USB HDD now has to sit behind it so I have to move away from my desk in order to see the HDD activity and power indication light. But, it's doable and tolerable. Just not ideal for me.

The drive does appear to have one problem. It ejects discs too forcibly. Meaning if the drive is on its side, and I HAVE to have my USB drives on their side to fit the desktop real estate I have, this is a big issue because the discs fall out onto the floor!

Well, what do you know?! Firmware 3.11 fixed the MKM Verify failure at the Layer change! Still need to test inkjet MKM, though. Plus, 8x DVD+RW and 2x BD-RE next. I am bit concerned over the write rate. The max was 8.1x but the average was 6.3x. I did not actually watch this burn. I let it go while I was doing something else. So, I don't know for how long 8x was actually written. I've seen some drives that get to 8x but only for like 2 minutes of the total burn. Need to watch another burn from beginning to end to be sure.

Okay, I've received it and connected it up. ImgBurn DOES return that the firmware is 3.11! I 15:31:17 -> Drive 5 - Info: ASUS BW-16D1HT 3.11 (D:) (USB 3.0) So, ASUS was, as usual, just flat out wrong! 3.10 may have been the last firmware update PACKAGE released, but ASUS DID develop a 3.11 firmware that is ONLY available on models that ship from the factory. So, I'm just now burning a Verbatim MKM branded 8x DVD+R DL. IF it passes Verify, that's a good sign and I can continue on with the other tests, starting with 8x Ritek DVD+RW and then 2x Memorex RITEK BD-RE. I'll report back with the results. And, if all tests eventually pass, I'll update my original review of this drive to reflect this.

It's out for delivery. Estimated time within the next 2 hours.

ASUS probably just meant for that discontinued model. IF ASUS makes a new model, I would be pretty sure they'd update the firmware for it, if necessary. The big question being if ASUS makes a new model.

If it is encrypted firmware, that's why there's no update package for it. ASUS doesn't want it out in the wild for anyone to reverse engineer.

Interesting. According to ASUS, there is NO 3.11 firmware! "The firmware 3.10 is the latest for this unit theres no 3.11 made for this product unfortunately." I can only think your 3.11 firmware is custom brew designed to workaround some copy protection features. Or ASUS could be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.

It's been shipped and should be delivered tomorrow.

Well, the "best" is really the best of the worst. The one with no deal killers was the LG WH6NS60, but they stopped manufacturing of that. So, the next best bet is the WH16NS40, but last time I used that years ago, it failed to properly write to BD-R DL and BD-RE DL. However, firmware updates have been released since then which may have addressed the issue. Also, both the NS40 and NS60 only wrote to 12x BD-R even when it said it would write at 16x. The Pioneer BDR-213 MIGHT have the potential to be the next go to drive IF they fix the current issues with the firmware and DON"T regress the 8x DVD+RW borking like they did 2 firmware revisions ago. 8x DVD+RW resumed writing okay, BUT after writing to one at 8x, all subsequent writes to the same disc were only at 6x. And 8x DVD+R DL only write at 2.4x. IF Pioneer can address these issues and DON'T regress the 8x DVD+RW firmware so it doesn't bork writing again, then the 213 has the potential to be my next BD go to drive. I'm waiting for the next firmware update. Pioneer generally releases the 213 updates every 6 months, and the last one was September 20th. So, if Pioneer updates the firmware, I'll get another 213, update the firmware, and put it through the usual battery of tests.

ASUS didn't inform me of anything else beyond that single sentence I copied and pasted. So, I don't know if ASUS has a new BD model coming out, but I would doubt it, given how little demand there is for optical discs anymore. I can't guarantee I'll get a 3.11 drive. The good thing about Amazon is they have very good return policies for drives where the firmware borks something. And, if I get a 3.10 drive, it does go back to Amazon, of course.