AOpen 4850 (48x12x50x) CDRW

Thursday, 09 September 2004 09:59 Last Updated on Saturday, 19 April 2008 16:35 Written by Benjamin "Zeus" Heide
Article Index
AOpen 4850 (48x12x50x) CDRW
Test Setup, Info and Read Performance
Media Compatibility and Write Performance
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
Page 1 of 4

First off, I would like to thanks Dallmann Computers for setting me up with another piece of hardware to review. Not only did he send down the AOpen 4850, he also chipped in and set me up with all of the CD-R's I needed for this review. I appreciate your support. Now on with some goods.

The full list of product specs can be found at AOpens site right here, but for those of us with Dial-Up connections here is a summary:

 

Specifications:

  • Interface: E-IDE/ATAPI (SFF8080 Rev 1.2&8020I Rev 2.6), ATA-33 (33MB/sec), DMA (16.7MB/sec), PIO Mode 4 (16.7MB/sec)
  • Data Buffer Memory: 2MB
  • Data Transfer Rate:
  • CD-R Write: (CAV) 8X, 12X, 16X, 20X, 24X, 32X, 40X , 48X (CD-R);
  • CD-RW Write: (CLV) 4X, 8X, 10X, 12X (CD-RW)
  • CD Read: Up to 50X
  • Average Access Time: 120ms
  • Supported Formats: CD-Audio,CD-ROM (mode 1 and 2), CD-ROM XA (mode2, from 1 and from 2), CD-I, Photo-CD (single and multiple sessions), Video CD, CD Extra, I-Trax CD, CD Text, and High Density (80-min) CD.

Inside the Box:

  • 1 - AOpen 4850 CDRW Drive
  • 1 - Blank 48x CD-R
  • 1 - Blank 12x CD-RW
  • 1 - Copy of Nero 5.5.8.3
  • 1 - Audio Cable
  • 1 - Bag of Screws
  • 1 - CDRW Installation Guide
  • 1 - AOpen "Speed Boost" Information Sheet.

Here's a quick shot of the AOpen 4850 specs according to Nero Info Tool:

 

Out of the box this drive will burn CD's at 48x, but only read at 40x. AOpen says they do this to help keep the drive quiet, as well as to prolong motor life. To enable the drive to read at 50x, you simply press the eject button for 5-7 seconds. After the light blinks slowly two times, it's boosted. It will stay at 50x until you reboot the computer. If you demand a 50x Read ability, you will have to enable the speed boost each time you turn on your computer.

This drive uses Justlink to prevent buffer under runs, and JustSpeed for media detection. These technologies are widely used by AOpen and have a proven track record. Nothing new or exciting here. The drives firmware is the 1.00 firmware, which I flashed up to 1.01, which currently is the latest firmware from AOpen.

Now on to the Test Setup, and some Read Tests!


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