Dual-Layer DVD Duel

Read speed tests

The Pioneer drive is faster here by just a smidgen, but not enough to make a tangible difference to use.

We found that at 8x read speed, as shown above, both drives utilised around 40% of the CPU time, giving no significant advantage to either.

Value and Conclusions

The DVD writer market has had more twists & turns thana hot lap of the Nürburgring. Two years ago, a 4x Pioneer DVD burner would have set you back £199. That price rapidly tumbled through the sub-£100 barrier, past £65 down to as low as £40. Fast forward to today, and you can buy any number of 16x drives for less than £30! The Pioneer DVR-110D is in this bracket, priced at a scarcely believeable £28.53. Boy, how times have changed!

Things get more complicated when it comes to the Plextor, which has always positioned itself at the "premium" end of the market, going back to the days of SCSI drives. There is no escaping the fact that it costs £84.54 inc vat - three times that of the Pioneer.

We've found that the Plextor was slower in almost every test - it's one thing to be faster and more expensive, but it's rather another to be more expensive and slower. The one thing the Plextor has going for it is the SATA connection. This connection is undoubtedly more stylish and practical than IDE, but does it justify worse performance and a higher price? We don't think so, unfortunately for Plextor. The Pioneer has great performance, and an astounding price - we wouldn't recommed you look anywhere else.