Installation
We used the TEKRAM
DC-390U2W SCSI controller, sold at 165$ retail. Thanks to Azzo
Computers for the supply, we can always count on them! Of course such an expensive
and high quality card is not required for a CDR-W drive to operate, unless
you run a good branded, fast SCSI hard-drive and plan to use it at the same
time. If you plan to buy one for use with a CDR-W/CD-ROM drive such as the
SANYO, we don't recommend you dump all of your pocket money and go for the
top branded SCSI card. Basically any SCSI card will do the job great. We recommend
the TEKRAM DC390F Sold at 89$ at Azzo.
We inserted the drive
in the Aqua Blue Case, which I reviewed
not too long ago. We leaved the default SCSI ID to 4. On the boot, the BIOS
detected the drive as SANYO CRD-BP2. Mission completed. On the windows boot,
everything was detected and ready to run without any hassle.
Test
system
|
Test System
|
|
CPU(s)
|
Intel Pentium III 550E
|
|
|
| Motherboard(s) |
ASUS
P3V4X |
|
|
|
| Memory |
128MB
PC133 Mushkin
|
|
|
|
| Hard
Drive |
Maxtor
Diamond 10.2GB 7200 RPM Ultra ATA 66
|
| CDROM(s) |
Sanyo CRD-BP2 w/Tekram
DC-390U2W SCSI
controller
|
| Video
Card(s) |
Matrox Millenium G400
|
|
Operating System
|
|
Name(s)
|
Windows 2000 Professional, Windows
98 SE
|
|
Benchmarking/Burning
|
| Names(s) |
NERO BURNING ROM 4.0.9.1, NTI
CD-Maker Pro
|
Conclusion
Sanyo has put up a very
interesting and appealing product. Being the first drive with the BURN-Proof
technology to eliminate Buffer under runs and offering the fastest recording
speeds to date! This drive is not available just yet, but when it isl, it
unfortunately won't be available for the end user nor in retail versions in
the store near you. But again, this doesn't mean you couldn't get a hand on
one. I would say, about 2 weeks after the official release, some stores should
have them already in stock, and Azzo Computers
should be one of the first. Lacie already
announced their CDR-(W) product line to be available in MARCH/APRIL 2000 and
several other companies should fallow.
As
we already gave a brief description and introduction to BURN-Proof, it ends
up being a very interesting and promising technology, especially for fast
drives. If you are planning to buy one of these 12x CDR beasts, we highly
recommend you to invest the extra buck.
Currently the drive doesn't
support over-burning, and misses the MMC RAW Feature. Our buddy John Makos
at CDRINFO let us know that the upcoming
firmware will have MMC RAW support. Hopefully in the final version of the
unit a firmware update will be available to enable over-burning. We didn't
have any special details or estimates on prices because the product hasn't
been released just yet, but expect slightly higher prices than regular 12x
burners.
Update 00/04/13: Sanyo let us know
that the drive is now available for OEM sales. Check their BURN-Proof
site for details.
Oleg
Mitskaniouk
00/04/14
