MSI MS-8212

• Interface: Enhanced IDE (ATAPI) bus interface (UDMA/33)
• Formats supported:
• DVD family: Single or double side / 1 or 2 layers, DVD-R,DVD-Video
• CD family: Audio CD, CD-ROM, Mode 1 and Mode 2, Mixed Mode CD (Audio combined data), CD-R,CD-RW,Video CD, CD-Extra, Photo CD
• Reading of discs of 8 and 12 cm in diameter
• Data buffer: 512 KBytes
• Data rate:
• DVD Transfer Rate 12X max ~ 16200 KBytes/s max
• CD Transfer Rate 40X max ~ 6000 KBytes/s max
• Access time:
• 12X DVD: 110 ms typical
• 40X CD: 100 ms typical
• Installation: horizontal
• Weight: 1.1 kg

Accessories: User Manual, fastening bolts, CD-audio cable, and a diskette with drivers. The Low Vibration Mechanism is used to reduce vibrations. For convenient Audio CD playback the front panel has Load/Eject and Play/Next buttons.

Test results

Tests of quality of operation with CDs

CD WinBench 99

• CDWinMark99 - 1440
• CD-ROM Transfer Rate
• Inside - 2300 KBytes/s
• Outside - 4570 KBytes/s
• CPU utilization - 7.98%
• CD-ROM Access Time - 97.7 ms

Nero CD Speed

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

• Vendor: ATAPI
• Product: DVD-ROM 12X
• Firmware version: 612A
• Buffer size: 512 KBytes
• Maximum read speed: 7040 KBytes/sec (40X)
• CDDA accurate: yes
• C2 pointers: no
• Speed settings: 4-40X
• Read RAW mode: yes

The drive doesn't support error correction of the C2 standard. It means that it can't detect and correct group errors. Usually, this standard is used by programs for accurate extraction of audio tracks.

Tests of the drive with a standard CD

	MSI MS-8212
Average Speed	28.03x
Start Speed	15.68x
End Speed	37.27x
Random Seek	104 ms
1/3 Seek	117 ms
Full Seek	157 ms
Reading type	CAV
CPU usage 1x	0%
Accurate stream	Yes
DAE quality Score	10
SpinUp Time	2.62 sec
SpinDown Time	4.06 sec
Disc Recognition Time	8.74 sec

CD-ROM Drive Analyzer

CD-R reading

CD-RW reading

Reading of a scratched CD

Advanced DAE Quality (Nero CD Speed)

Soundtrack extraction from audio CDs (CD DAE 99)

	Licensed CD	Pirated CD
Average extraction speed	18.7X	17.4X
Total errors	0.00%	0.00%

Direct copying of data from a 780 MBytes CD-R onto a hard disc

The drive has copied successfully a 780 MBytes disc without any problems. The time it spent for the copying was 5 min. 3 sec.

Tests of quality of operation with DVD discs

Nero DVD Speed

Testing with a two-layer DVD disc

	MSI MS-8212
Average Speed	7.61x
Start Speed	4.10x
End Speed	5.35x
Random Seek	119 ms
1/3 Seek	140 ms
Full Seek	183 ms
Reading type	CAV
CPU usage 1x	11%
SpinUp Time	1.19 sec
SpinDown Time	3.88 sec
Layer Change Time	188 ms
Disc Recognition Time	12.43 sec

DVD-Video playback with the Cyberlink PowerDVD 2.55

The DVD-Video was played without any problems; no artifacts were noticed. During changing the layer the DVD quality didn't get worse.

Noise characteristics

• Tray - 7/10
• CD
• Seek - 5/10
• Total noise - 5/10
• DVD
• Seek - 6/10
• Total noise - 7/10

The drive makes quite a lot of noise when working at the highest speed. Speed can be decreased only with external programs (CD Bremse, Nero DriveSpeed). But the programs don't define precisely possible speeds, that is why we had to set them by guess. At a reduced speed the noise gets acceptable.

Vibration

As you know the drive is supported by the Low Vibration Mechanism. When working with a badly balanced CD the drive hardly trembled, as well as when reading CDs at quite a high speed.

Thermal conditions

Well, the thermal conditions are good, though I don't recommend you to install other devices close to its lower surface. The data were read after an intensive 2-hour operation:

• T inside the case - 36°C
• T of the upper surface - 42°C
• T of the lower surface - 45°C

Possibility to make a multizone drive (RPC-1)

According to the CDVDinfo 1.32 the drive is originally RPC-1.