Sony breaks DVD read-write speed frontier

By Simon Aughton

Posted on 31 Aug 2006 at 12:06

Sony has unveiled a DVD drive boasting the fastest read-write speed yet, up to 18x for DVD+/-R discs.

The drive is a product of Sony's optical drive partnership with NEC - announced in February - and incorporated new features designed to compensate for unbalanced discs and to minimise the effects of shock and vibration.

As well as the 18x write speeds on ostensibly 16x single-layer discs, the AG170A also provides 12x DVD-RAM burning, 8x recording of both DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL double/dual layer discs and 8x DVD+RW and 6x DVD-RW recording. It also supports CD-R writing/reading of 48x Speed.

The AWG170A is an Ultra DMA66 Mode 4 ATAPI device and will be available in four colours. The drive has yet to be listed on Sony website; more information can be gleaned from the press release.