TX Uranus CDRW522452Plus

When the Asus CRW-4816A was originally reviewed (see Labs, issue 97), it was criticised for being slow when compared with Mitsumi's CR-485CTE and LG's GCE-8400B. We also had to perform our tests using 40x-rated media as 48x-rated media was unavailable at the time. Now we have 48x-rated media and, following a firmware update, we decided to retest the Asus' claimed speeds of 48x/16x/48x. That said, 52-speed writing is now upon us, so we also put the Asus up against the TX Uranus with its 52x/24x/52x ratings.

The Asus features FlextraLink for preventing buffer under-runs and FlextraSpeed, which aims to optimally adjust the write speed as the burn progresses. A second-generation suspension system is also incorporated to keep discs spinning smoothly at high speeds. As you'd expect, Mount Rainier is supported and you can extract digital audio at up to 48x.

In spite of the low price, the Asus retail kit comes with cables, screws, an eject pin, the latest version of Nero Burning ROM and one each of CD-R and CD-RW media. The TX has a similar feature set, including Smart Burn, equivalent to Asus' FlextraLink, and Mount Rainier. It's also bundled with Nero, but as the kit reviewed is an OEM bundle the box lacks any extras. That said, TX does offer a two-year, next-day swap-out warranty.

Our thanks go to first4media.com for supplying 52x CD-Rs and 24x CD-RWs. We ran our usual suite of tests on the two drives, which included writing 644MB of files to CD-R and CD-RW using the latest Nero patch. The TX was able to successfully burn the files to CD-R in three minutes, 22 seconds, including the lead-in and lead-out times. This averages to 21x, with the claimed 52x only achieved at the outer part of the CD. The TX finished the CD-RW test in four minutes, 52 seconds, equating to 15x - a disappointing figure considering its 24x spec. Amazingly, the lower specified Asus drive beat the TX in the CD-R tests. Writing 644MB of files took three minutes, five seconds, or an average of 24x. Writing the same files to a CD-RW took five minutes, ten seconds. This was slower than the TX at an average of 14x, but much closer to Asus' claimed 16x rating.

We also tested both drives' read capabilities using the 644MB file. The Asus managed this in two minutes, 24 seconds, beating the TX by three seconds. For both drives, this averages to 30x - a long way from the claimed specs, but again these are only applicable to the outer edge.

Overall, the two drives' performance is virtually inseparable. The last battle is fought and won on features and price. With just £4 between them, Asus triumphs by including more accessories and burning faster to CD-R. With stocks of our previously A-Listed Mitsumi CR-485CTE drying up, recommending the Asus CRW-4816A as its substitute may seem timely, but these new results would have seen it promoted over the Mitsumi anyway.