NEC AD-7170S-01 SATA 18x DVD ±RW/RAM DL. It’s a long name for this short drive. This arrived as an OEM. No cables, software, box or manual. This was for one reason. My main investigation was the SATA interface. Most drives are the same, and will do the same thing.

I remember the SATA interface being used a couple of years back and concluded that it wasn't time for SATA optical drives. I am here to find out if this drive, making no big claims, can stand over its IDE granddad.

Specifications

General    

• Device Type   DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM drive
• Enclosure Type   Internal
• Enclosure Colour   Ivory
• Interface   Serial ATA
• Width   14.8 cm
• Depth   17.5 cm
• Height   4.2 cm
• Weight   0.71 kg

• Type   DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM - 5.25" x 1/2H
• Read Speed   48x (CD) / 16x (DVD)
• Write Speed   48x (CD) / 18x (DVD±R) / 8x (DVD±R DL)
• CD / DVD Rewrite Speed   32x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW) / 12x (DVD-RAM)
• Supported Recording Modes   Multisession, disc-at-once, track-at-once, session-at-once
• Supported Formats   CD Text, CD Extra, CD-I, CD-ROM XA, Photo CD, Video CD, DVD-Video
• Supported Media CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL
• Media Load Type   Tray
• Access Time   160 ms (DVD), 140 ms (CD)
• Features   Horizontal/vertical mountable, emergency disc eject hole
• Interfaces   1 x Serial ATA-150
• Compatible Bays   1 x front accessible - 5.25" x 1/2H

It’s pretty anonymous really. It just looks like any other drive. It’s not until you look at the rear, when at least one benefit already creeps in.