- Uses Serial ATA Interface
- Large 8MB Buffer
- Includes White and Black Bezel
- Compatibility Issues With Some SATA Controllers
- Expensive
- DVD Speeds a Bit Below Specifications
- 16x DVD+R and DVD-R Recording Speeds
- 8x DVD+RW and 4x DVD-RW Recording Speeds
- 6x DVD+R Dual Layer Recoring Speed
- 16x DVD-ROM Reading Speed
- 48x CD-R and 24x CD-RW Recording Speeds
- 48x CD-ROM Reading Speed
- 100ms CD and 150ms DVD Access Times
- 8MB Buffer
- Serial ATA and Power Interface
- Roxio Easy Media Creator Basic, Roxio DVDMax Player 2.0, Plextools Burner Software
5/9/05 -While the Serial ATA interface has been out for a while and is heavily used for hard drives, there are still very few CD or DVD drives that use it. Plextor's PX-716SA is their latest high speed DVD burner that is one of the few to use Serial ATA.
The Plextor PX-716SA is a multiformat DVD burner that supports both the +R and -R media formats. Speeds are listed at 16x for both of the recordable media with 8x and 4x for the rewritable media respectively. With the latest 1.06 firmware version, it also supports up to a 6x recording speed for the new DVD+R DL media. CD reading and recording speeds are respectable with 48x.
Testing of the drive was done using Nero's CD/DVD Speed application with the manufacturer recommended media. For CD recording and playback, the numbers were dead on with the specifications. Access times were actually a bit better than the specifications. DVD media was a bit more dissapointing. During multiple tests on several platforms, the DVD speeds were below the 16x specifications. Discs still completed in a respectible time.
A word of caution for those looking at the drive, be sure to check with Plextor about compatbility with your Serial ATA controller. Some systems have reduced performance or do not work at all with the drive.
Overall, the Plextor PX-716SA is the best choice on the market currently for those looking to use a Serial ATA burner. For additional information, please be sure to check out the product tour.
