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Drives Get Faster, Pack More Features

All seven new drives we tested made our chart. Pioneer's DVR-R100 and LG's external Super-Multi GSA-2166D earn Best Buys.

Jon L. Jacobi and Melissa J. Perenson

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Pioneer DVR-R100 PCW Rating: 79.0PCW Rating: 79.0PCW Rating: 79.0

Last Rated:

1. Pioneer DVR-R100

16X DVD+R, 16X DVD-R, 8X DVD+R DL, 8X DVD-R DL, 8X DVD+RW, 6X DVD-RW write speeds, 48X CD-R, 32X CD-RW write speeds, 2MB buffer, Internal IDE drive, Price when ranked: $90, Ulead DVD MovieFactory 4SE software,

Bottom Line: Drive's value is enhanced by its robust software bundle. Will need a firmware update to write at 8X DVD+R DL.

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Sony DRU-810A PCW Rating: 89.0PCW Rating: 89.0PCW Rating: 89.0

Last Rated:

2. Sony DRU-810A

16X DVD+R, 16X DVD-R, 8X DVD+R DL, 4X DVD-R DL, 8X DVD+RW, 6X DVD-RW write speeds, 48X CD-R, 32X CD-RW write speeds, 2MB buffer, Internal IDE drive, Price when ranked: $100, Nero Express 6.6 software,

Bottom Line: Speediest writer, by a hair, at single-layer +R; but it needed a rest to cool down between DL writes.

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Plextor PX-740A PCW Rating: 84.0PCW Rating: 84.0PCW Rating: 84.0

Last Rated:

3. Plextor PX-740A

16X DVD+R, 16X DVD-R, 8X DVD+R DL, 4X DVD-R DL, 8X DVD+RW, 6X DVD-RW write speeds, 48X CD-R, 32X CD-RW write speeds, 2MB buffer, Internal IDE drive, Price when ranked: $105, Nero Express 6.6 software,

Bottom Line: Just edged out the Sony for top honors on our DVD+R DL tests; otherwise, performance was practically identical.

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Plextor PX-716AL PCW Rating: 73.0PCW Rating: 73.0PCW Rating: 73.0

Last Rated:

4. Plextor PX-716AL

16X DVD+R, 16X DVD-R, 6X DVD+R DL, 6X DVD-R DL, 8X DVD+RW, 4X DVD-RW write speeds, 48X CD-R, 24X CD-RW write speeds, 8MB buffer, Internal IDE drive, Price when ranked: $155, Roxio Easy Media Creator Basic 7.1 software,

Bottom Line: Unique slot-loading mechanism, flexible disc-writing options, and speedy packet writing are pluses, but you'll pay for the design.

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Lite-On SHW-1635S PCW Rating: 81.0PCW Rating: 81.0PCW Rating: 81.0

Last Rated:

5. Lite-On SHW-1635S

16X DVD+R, 16X DVD-R, 8X DVD+R DL, 4X DVD-R DL, 8X DVD+RW, 6X DVD-RW write speeds, 48X CD-R, 24X CD-RW write speeds, 2MB buffer, Internal IDE drive, Price when ranked: $75, Nero Express 6.6 software,

Bottom Line: Manuals are mediocre, and the drive didn't burn to our 2.4X-rated +R DL media as fast as other models.

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Asus DRW-1608P PCW Rating: 79.0PCW Rating: 79.0PCW Rating: 79.0

Last Rated:

6. Asus DRW-1608P

16X DVD+R, 16X DVD-R, 6X DVD+R DL, 6X DVD-R DL, 8X DVD+RW, 6X DVD-RW write speeds, 40X CD-R, 24X CD-RW write speeds, 2MB buffer, Internal IDE drive, Price when ranked: $60, Nero Express 6.3 software,

Bottom Line: Great overall performer with top specs at a terrific price. However, its older Nero bundle lacks some components.

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Samsung TS-H552U PCW Rating: 78.0PCW Rating: 78.0PCW Rating: 78.0

Last Rated:

7. Samsung TS-H552U

16X DVD+R, 16X DVD-R, 5X DVD+R DL, 4X DVD-RW, 4X DVD+RW write speeds, 40X CD-R, 32X CD-RW write speeds, 2MB buffer, Internal IDE drive, Price when ranked: $50, Nero Express 6.3 software,

Bottom Line: Bargain-priced drive proved a fast +R writer, but it lagged on double-layer burns and lacks the flexibility to write to DVD-R DL.

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LG Electronics Super-Multi GSA-2166D PCW Rating: 84.0PCW Rating: 84.0PCW Rating: 84.0

Last Rated:

8. LG Electronics Super-Multi GSA-2166D

16X DVD+R, 16X DVD-R, 8X DVD+R DL, 4X DVD-R DL, 8X DVD+RW, 6X DVD-RW, 5X DVD-RAM write speeds, 48X CD-R, 32X CD-RW write speeds, 2MB buffer, External USB 2.0 drive, Price when ranked: $180, Nero Express 6.6 software,

Bottom Line: In a class by itself, this high performer is packed with features including DVD-RAM and LightScribe labeling.

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Plextor PX-716UF PCW Rating: 79.0PCW Rating: 79.0PCW Rating: 79.0

Last Rated:

9. Plextor PX-716UF

16X DVD+R, 16X DVD-R, 6X DVD+R DL, 6X DVD-R DL, 8X DVD+RW, 4X DVD-RW write speeds, 48X CD-R, 24X CD-RW write speeds, 8MB buffer, External FireWire and USB 2.0 drive, Price when ranked: $220, Roxio Easy Media Creator Basic 7.1 and Toast Lite 6.1 software,

Bottom Line: Drive is distinguished by its stylish curves, Mac and PC software, and strong performance. Comes in candy-bright colors.

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Samsung WriteMaster SE-W164C PCW Rating: 79.0PCW Rating: 79.0PCW Rating: 79.0

Last Rated:

10. Samsung WriteMaster SE-W164C

16X DVD+R, 16X DVD-R, 5X DVD+R DL, 4X DVD-R DL, 8X DVD+RW, 6X DVD-RW write speeds, 48X CD-R, 32X CD-RW write speeds, 2MB buffer, External USB 2.0 drive, Price when ranked: $200, Nero Express 6.6 software,

Bottom Line: Samsung touts this great writer as being made without lead, but it lacks the LightScribe labeling of the less pricey LG.

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HOW WE TEST: We test drives under Windows XP Home on a PC with a 1.67-GHz Athlon XP 2000+ CPU and 512MB of SDRAM, using media supplied by the vendor or by Verbatim. We test the drives with the format specified by the vendor at review time. Some vendors may change drive suppliers without changing their model designations; our results reflect the configuration tested at review time. Write speed is the time (in minutes:seconds) required to write 7.9GB to double-layer DVD+R, 4.35GB to DVD using the drive's bundled mastering software, to format a blank rewritable DVD, and copy 2.64GB of data to that disc.

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