Nero CD Speed: Data Discs	Source: Ahead Software

CD Speed is a CD-ROM benchmark which can test the most important features of a CD-ROM drive. In this particular test we use a pressed CD-ROM with about 640MB of data as the test disk. Using a CDR or CDRW as the test disk may (or may not) impact the results slightly, so the pressed disk is the de facto standard.

Nero CD Speed: Data

Nero CD Speed: Data Benchmark Results
Optical Drive	MSI X48	AOpen 52x32x52x	Samsung SW-252B	MSI CR52A-A2	Plextor W4012TA		LG 32x10x40
Disc Type	Data	Data	Data	Data	Data		Data
Avg Speed	29.26	28.98x	35.08x	35.38x	29.05x		30.46x
Random Seek Time	84ms	84ms	99ms	91ms	121ms		101ms
1/3 Seek Time	88ms	89ms	108ms	95ms	140ms		112ms
Full Seek Time	155ms	142ms	170ms	153ms	212ms		184ms
CPU Use: 1x	0%	1%	3%	0%	0%		1%
CPU Use: 2x	1%	1%	4%	1%	1%		2%
CPU Use: 4x	1%	3%	5%	2%	2%		20%
CPU Use: 8x	3%	6%	8%	5%	5%		9%
Disc recognition Time	7.68s	4.33s	4.77s	0.73s	9.37s		7.08s
Disc Eject Time	4.61s	1.47s	1.42s	2.74s	1.64s		1.55s
Disc Load Time	0.98s	0.91s	1.11s	7.9s	0.08s		1.27x

Access times with the MSI X48 are pretty good, and it maintains the average in respect to transfer speeds. Disk recognition is a bit on the high side, but in line with other DVD drives.

Nero CD Speed: Audio Discs	Source: Ahead Software

CD Speed is a CD-ROM benchmark which can test the most important features of a CD-ROM drive. In this particular test we use a pressed Audio CD with about 65 minutes of audio on it as the test disk. CDROM's in general have a harder time processing audio data, and hence the results can be drastically slower than that of data tests alone.

Nero CD Speed: Audio

Nero CD Speed: Audio Benchmark Results
Optical Drive	MSI X48	AOpen 52x32x52x	Samsung SW-252B	MSI CR52A-A2	Plextor W4012TA		LG 32x10x40
Disc Type	Audio	Audio	Audio	Audio	Audio		Audio
Avg Speed	28.67	8.37	28.29x	31.09x	8.03x		27.51x
Random Seek Time	92ms	168ms	104ms	89ms	121ms		105ms
1/3 Seek Time	95ms	144ms	111ms	90ms	140ms		119ms
Full Seek Time	315ms	235ms	117ms	309ms	212ms		172ms
DAE Quality	10	10	10	10	10		10
CPU Use: 1x	0%	1%	1%	2%	0%		1%
CPU Use: 2x	1%	2%	2%	1%	1%		3%
CPU Use: 4x	2%	4%	4%	3%	2%		5%
CPU Use: 8x	4%	10%	9%	69%	3%		10%
Disc recognition Time	6.53s	3.64s	4s	0.08s	9.37s		6.99s
Disc Eject Time	4.62s	1.51s	1.44s	1.66s	1.64s		1.55s
Disc Load Time	0.96s	0.92s	1.13s	19.25s	0.08s		1.28s

Transfer rates are fast, as is access time. Disc Recognition time is high, as is disc ejection time with Audio media.