Results
Folder Copy : (209MB Test Folder)
SW-212: 1:05
ZipCD: 1:09
In the folder copy test the Samsung drive came out above the Iomega by four seconds.
CD-R Write : (530MB folder)
SW-212: 4:57
ZipCD: 4:47
In the CD-R section, the SW-212 comes in at 4:57, which is a good ten seconds slower than the Iomega drive, but places it in the middle of the pack with respect to the CD burners evaluated here at Neoseeker.
CD-RW Write : (530MB folder)
SW-212: 9:33
CD-RW Format
SW-212: 15:45
CD-RW Erase
SW-212: 0:29
For an 8x CDBurner the SW-212 had about the expected times, however it's good to note that it's CD-RW formatting times are particularily fast, beating even the 10x ZipCD by a fair margin.
Conclusion
The Samsung SW-212 is a solid drive, standing in the middle of the 12x pack. However I am worried about the lack of coaster-prevention technologies: apparently the SW-212's 8MB buffer still wasn't even enough to handle a game loading. I struggle reccomending this drive to anyone because newer, eqivalent drives will give the same speed with much less hasle. The SW-212 seems like a drive that missed it's prime and can't truly compete in the new CD-Writer marketplace.
Bottom Line
Box Contents: 83%
10X CD-RW
Audio cable
Manual insert
IDE cable
Features: 79%
Whiny CD-RW drive
No BURN-Proof
Performance: 78%
At 12x the SW-212 generates costers faster than UPN generates crappy sitcoms
Solid CD read times
Value: 78%
Same price, less features. But still, not bad all around.
Overall Score: 79%
Plunges into depths of Buffer Underrun hell.
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