Product Reviews

As DVD writing technology improvements lead to constantly increasing speeds, it can be hard to pick a burner that delivers a balanced performance. These three drives are all likely candidates, offering at least 8X writing to DVD+R and DVD-R media - allowing them to create a full 4.5GB disc in around 10 minutes - plus 4X writing to DVD+RW and DVD-RW media.

Plextor's PX-712A has the highest specification, with an 8MB cache to the others' 2MB and the fastest CD-R (48X) and CD-RW (24X) burn speeds here. It can burn to Plextor's own DVD+R media at a record-breaking 12X speed, which gives it an untouchable 4.5GB DVD+R write time of six minutes and 26 seconds.

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Even when burning DVD+Rs at 8X, it outpaced the other drives by almost two minutes, filling a disc in seven minutes 48 seconds. The comprehensive software bundle includes Ahead's Nero 6 SE and Pinnacle Studio 9 SE.

The Ricoh MP5308D has similar specifications, though users will have to settle for a 2MB cache, 8X DVD+R burning and slower CD-R writing. Nero 6 SE and a host of other Ahead software comes bundled, and it delivered marginally the quickest results in all DVD write tests bar DVD+R. However, it is overpriced at almost £100.

The LG GSA-4082B is the clear winner. It is less than half the price of the Plextor and undercuts the Ricoh by over £30, yet it almost matches the Ricoh's specification and performance. Its only weaknesses are a lacklustre 24X CD-R burning speed and the replacement of the Nero suite with the inferior B's software. It's also the only drive here to support non-cartridge DVD-RAM.

Ricoh's MP5308D is a solid drive with good performance but fails to excel in either price or features. The PX-712A is technically the best product here, but the imminent availability of dual-layer drives suggests this is not the time to invest in a premium model, particularly when the LG delivers so much for so little.