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<AOPEN CD 940E> <ASUS CDS-400> <NEC CDR-3000A>

CLASH OF THE 40X CDROMS
Reviewed by Jackie Lee Choon Yau (27/09/98)

 

Introduction

      40X CD-ROMs has been introduced into the market in Singapore for a few months now. But strangely, there isn't a lot of 40X drives around. Today's comparison will focus very closely to the three 40X CD-ROMs (pictures above). The picture on the left features the famous AOpen and ASUS CDROMs and the innocent looking OEM NEC 40X CD-ROM. These drives are the fastest EIDE CD-ROMs available in Singapore. For your information, there are also other 40X CDROMs out there like the Kenwood/Zen TrueX 40X, the rumoured Creative 40X and the up and previewed in COMEX 98, ECS Ultra40X which failed to reach the Hardware Labs in time. But still the test has to go on.....let's start the spin!!!

<AOPEN CD 940E> <ASUS CDS-400> <NEC CDR-3000A>

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The Test Bed

Test Configuration

Processor(s): Intel Pentium II 450 Mhz oc 504 Mhz
RAM: 192 MB Hyundai PC100 SDRAM DIMMs
Motherboard: ABIT BH6-BX V1.01
Hard Drive(s): IBM DeskStar 14GXP 14.4 GB
Video Card(s): ASUS AGP V3000ZXTV
Bus Master Drivers: Windows 98 Bus Mastering Drivers
DMA Checked Positive for All CD-ROMs
Operation System(s): Windows 98 (build 4.10.1998)

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ASUS CD-S400

ASUS CD-S400

     ASUS has established her name in the hardware arena with its high grade of computer peripherals. The production of their 40X CD-ROM has proven this point. The drive is selling at Sim Lim Square, Singapore at S$ 122. They have recognized that with increasing needs in massive storage installation, a fast, effective and accurate CD-ROM is totally necessary. With features like a maximum of 6000KB/sec data access rate, 75 ms average disc seek time, UDMA 33 support, 8900 rpm spindle rotation, 128K Data Buffer and its fexibility to be compatible with audio/video cd, CD-I, photo cd, cd-r, cd-rw, I-Trax, cd-rom/xa, cd extra. This drive is stablise by their Double Dynamic Suspension System which includes several layers like Anti-Vibration Inner Double Layer, Anti-Vibration Outer Double Layer and Dynamic Damper. (see picture below)


     The pick-up head can access data at higher speed with more stability and readibility with the implementation of the DDSS. For a more detailed specifications listing, please check out ASUS Website for they have already did a very good job.Perhaps, you already knew the specifications of this CD-ROM. So, here's the exciting results from WinBench 98.

WinBench 98 Result for ASUS CD-S400

Weighted Suite ASUS CD-S400 Unit
CD-ROM WinMark 98 2200 123 Thousand Bytes/sec

Test

CD-ROM PlayBack / Bus 2200 123 Thousand Bytes/sec
CD-ROM / Transfer Rate 123
Inside 3240 Thousand Bytes/sec
Outside 6040 Thousand Bytes/sec
CD-ROM / Access Time 76.1 123  
CD-ROM / CPU Utilization 6.71 12345 % Percent

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<AOPEN CD 940E> <ASUS CDS-400> <NEC CDR-3000A>


AOPEN CD 940E

AOpen 40X CD940E

     AOpen has provided another optical device solution to meet the demands of the modern age. They have claiimed that they offer models at every speed and budget requirement. They have patented their drive mechanism to ensure that they live up to the expectations of their supporters.....including myself. This drive is offered at the lowest of the three drives at S$ 119 in Sim Lim Square, Singapore. The thing that is special to this drive is the fact that this AOPEN CD-ROM allows the users to select manually UDMA Mode or standard mode.

     Spinning the spindle at a high of 8700 rpm requires a good damping system to firstly stablising the vibrations and also to reduce the noise produce by the drive during spin ups. The Dynamic Damping System (DDS) is AOpen solution to the problem and this so happen becomes one of their great selling point.(see picture below) To can check out the specifications of the above @ AOPEN Website.Next, we will find out about how this CD-ROM pars up in the Winbench 98 Test.

WinBench 98 Result for AOPEN CD 940E

Weighted Suite AOpen CD 940E Unit
CD-ROM WinMark 98 1770 123 Thousand Bytes/sec

Test

CD-ROM PlayBack / Bus 1770 123 Thousand Bytes/sec
CD-ROM / Transfer Rate 123
Inside 3220 Thousand Bytes/sec
Outside 6090 Thousand Bytes/sec
CD-ROM / Access Time 94.8 123  
CD-ROM / CPU Utilization 6.12 12345 % Percent

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<AOPEN CD 940E> <ASUS CDS-400> <NEC CDR-3000A>


NEC CDR-3000A

NEC CDR-3000A

     NEC CDR-3000A is a low profile 40X CD-ROM. The above does not comes in a box beautifully packaged like the above two CD-ROMs. Instead, the price is the highest of them all at S$ 138. There isn't much information for the above OEM product; not even NEC Website contains information on this drive.This drive is MADE IN JAPAN and manufactured in July 1998. This is the 1st "Made In Japan" 40X CD-ROM in Singapore by the way. The drive unfortunately spins at the highest DeciBels. The noise produced is rather annoying from my experience. But this drive is no poor performer Check out the results obtained.

WinBench 98 Result for NEC CDR-3000A

Weighted Suite NEC CDR-3000A Unit
CD-ROM WinMark 98 2050 123 Thousand Bytes/sec

Test

CD-ROM PlayBack / Bus 2050 123 Thousand Bytes/sec
CD-ROM / Transfer Rate 123
Inside 3140 Thousand Bytes/sec
Outside 6120 Thousand Bytes/sec
CD-ROM / Access Time 77.4 123  
CD-ROM / CPU Utilization 4.65 12345 % Percent

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<AOPEN CD 940E> <ASUS CDS-400> <NEC CDR-3000A>


The Comparison Charts

The following are pictorial representations.

      The above chart shows the performance of the various CD-ROMs in terms of the transfer capabilities. The ASUS CDS-400 scores the highest sustained speed and inside spin speed. The NEC CDR-3000A has the highest outside spin speed followed by AOPEN CD940E. Guess ASUS can't win in all catagories. But the ASUS CDS-400 manages to edge out the other two drives by a statistically observable result.

      The above is an illustration of the access time, CPU utilisation in % and the price of the various CD-ROMS. The results reflected that the ASUS CDS-400 happens to be slightly more efficient in time, resources and dollar/performance.

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Conclusion

      It can be observed that the among the three 40X CDROMs, ASUS CDS-400 has emerged as a better drive under the CD Win Mark 98 Tests. But, if you have bought or plan to get a non-ASUS  CDS-400 drive, please do not feel uncertain about the drive of your choice because I stressed again that the magnitude of the lead factors are only observable in statistics not physical felt. The performance and efficiency of the above drives are comparable, but if you have to be very critical (like me...hee hee), I will have to agree that ASUS CDS-400 will be a better choice.


This Product is provided courtesy of,

Fairland (AOPEN Distributor in Singapore),
Ai-En (ASUS Distributor) and 
B&H Trading

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