PIONEER DVD-500M

Interface: ATAPI, UDMA/66 supported.

Formats supported:

DVD-ROM : DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD-R, DVD-RW
CD-ROM : CD-ROM (Mode 1), CD-R, CD-RW (Supports AM2), CD-ROM XA Mode2 (form 1, form 2), Photo-CD, (Single or Multi-session), CD-Extra, CD-DA

Reads discs of 8 and 12 cm in diameter

Data buffer: 512 KBytes

Data rate:

DVD Transfer Rate 16x ( 21.6 MBytes/s)
CD Transfer Rate 40x ( 6.0 MBytes/s)

Access time:

DVD 85 ms
CD 85 ms

Installation: horizontal and vertical

Weight: 1.1 Kg

The drive arrived in the OEM package. The front panel has a Load/Eject button and a rubber layer which eliminates noise and protects from dust. The drive supports UDMA/66 interface and when the drive installed the BIOS reminds that it would be better to use the corresponding cable.

Test results

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

According to these data the drive supports all functions necessary for accurate capture of audio tracks. Besides, the drive has a twice larger memory cache than specified.

	PIONEER DVD-500M
Average Speed	29.52x
Start Speed	17.33x
End Speed	39.02x
Random Seek	85 ms
1/3 Seek	94 ms
Full Seek	160 ms
Reading type	CAV
CPU usage 1x	0%
Accurate stream	Yes
DAE quality Score	10
SpinUp Time	N/A
SpinDown Time	N/A
Disc Recognition Time	0.13 sec

Offset	2256 bytes ( 564 samples)
Sequential Read Test	Average Speed: 30.23 X Data Errors: 0 Sync Errors: 0
Harmonica Read Test	Average Access Time: 115 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 OK Copying at 12 X OK 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): 01:05.40 -> incorrect! Absolute position (01:07.00): 01:07.40 -> incorrect! Index (5): 5 Test 2 Track (17): 23 incorrect! Relative position (01:33.00): 01:51.40 -> incorrect! Absolute position (33:35.00): 51:53.40 -> incorrect! Index (1): 1 Test 3 Track (36): 53 incorrect! Relative position (00:00.00): 02:30.40 -> incorrect! Absolute position (70:02.00): 112:02.40 -> 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	29.6x	29.3x
Total errors	0.00%	0.00%

The drive read the 780 MBytes disc successfully. The time of full copying is 4 min. 40 sec.

	PIONEER DVD-500M
Average Speed	5.95x
Start Speed	3.29x
End Speed	3.98x
Random Seek	90 ms
1/3 Seek	99 ms
Full Seek	164 ms
Reading type	CAV
CPU usage 1x	16%
SpinUp Time	0.23 sec
SpinDown Time	1.90 sec
Layer Change Time	85 ms
Disc Recognition Time	0.10 sec

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

At the maximum speed the noise level wasn't quite high. Speed reduction is impossible even with external programs (CDBremse, Nero DriveSpeed).

When working with badly balanced CDs the drive didn't shine. It vibrated quite much. However, vibration didn't prevent from reading discs 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 - 40°C
T of the lower surface - 41°C

According to www.firmware.fr.st, at present it is impossible to make the drive region free.