ASUS DVD-E608

Accessories: user manual, fastening bolts, CD audio cable, a diskette with drivers, a CD with drivers and a soft-DVD player (WinDVD). DDSS2 (Double Dynamic Suspension System) supported. The front panel has two buttons for Audio CD playback - Open/Close/Stop and Play/Skip. These buttons can also change the drive's speed: 40x-32x-24x-8x. You should just press and hold Play. To return to the maximum speed press Open twice.

Test results

The following information on the drive is obtained with the Drive check utility:

A list of speed modes is really striking, though there are only 4 intermediate speeds given in the specification.

	ASUS DVD-E608
Average Speed	28.37x
Start Speed	16.46x
End Speed	37.62x
Random Seek	96 ms
1/3 Seek	102 ms
Full Seek	151 ms
Reading type	CAV
CPU usage 1x	4%
Accurate stream	No
DAE quality Score	10
SpinUp Time	6.34 sec
SpinDown Time	5.59 sec
Disc Recognition Time	5.82 sec

Offset	344 bytes (86 samples)
Sequential Read Test	Average Speed: 13.24 X Data Errors: 0 Sync Errors: 0
Harmonica Read Test	Average Access Time: 149 ms Data Errors: 0 Sync Errors: 0 Total Data Errors: 0 Total Sync Errors: 0 Quality Score: 100.0
On The Fly Copying Simulation	Copying at 1 X OK Copying at 2 X OK Copying at 4 X OK Copying at 6 X OK Copying at 8 X OK Copying at 10 X too slow Copying at 12 X too slow Copying at 16 X too slow
CD Text	Drive is capable of reading CD Text information
Subchannel Data	Test 1 Track (01): 01 Relative position (01:05.00): 01:05.00 Absolute position (01:07.00): 01:07.00 Index (5): 5 Test 2 Track (17): 17 Relative position (01:33.00): 01:33.01 -> incorrect! Absolute position (33:35.00): 33:35.01 -> incorrect! Index (1): 1 Test 3 Track (36): 36 Relative position (00:00.00): 00:00.01 -> incorrect! Absolute position (70:02.00): 70:02.01 -> incorrect! Index (1): 1
Leadin	Drive cannot read data from the Leadin
Leadout	Drive cannot read data from the Leadout

	Licensed CD	Pirated CD
Average extraction speed	13.2x	10.4x
Total errors	0.00%	0.00%

The drive read the 780 MBytes disc very good. The time of full copying is 4 min. 47 sec.

	ASUS DVD-E608
Average Speed	5.55x
Start Speed	3.03x
End Speed	3.90x
Random Seek	147 ms
1/3 Seek	149 ms
Full Seek	235 ms
Reading type	CAV
CPU usage 1x	16%
SpinUp Time	5.51 sec
SpinDown Time	5.64 sec
Layer Change Time	65 ms
Disc Recognition Time	10.15 sec

At the maximum speed the noise level was acceptable. Unfortunately, there is no anymore a possibility to reduce a speed of operation with CDs with the Play button, though it is possible with the help of external programs (however, not all, for example, CDBremse doesn't suit it). The Nero DriveSpeed can't determine speed parameters of the drive but it can work blindly with it. It is even better as when using the PLAY button you will have to implement this operation again every time the computer boots. In case of external programs you can also set the required speed in course of booting.

The DVD-Video was played without any problems; no artifacts were noticed. Changing of the layer didn't affect the quality of reproduction.

The drive is equipped with the DDSS2 system. When working with badly balanced CDs the drive shined. The vibration wasn't noticeable, even at a high speed.

There are no any complains about its thermal conditions. The data were read after an intensive 2-hour operation:

T inside the case - 36°C
T of the upper surface - 38°C
T of the lower surface - 39°C