DVD drives come in a variety of speeds and options. The original drive (1x) transferred data at 1.35MB per second. By doubling the spindle speed (RPMs) for 2x drives, the transfer rate increased to 2.7MB/sec and has been increasing ever since. Each DVD x speed is equivalent to nine CD x's because DVD 1x is 1.35MB and CD-ROM 1x is only 150KB.
Most DVD drives can play DVD movies (DVD Video) and music CDs as well as read DVD-ROMs and CD-ROMs. Other drives may also support all, or some combination of, DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD-R or CD-RW media.
Drives and media that use the dash or minus sign (DVD-R, DVD-RW) are endorsed by the DVD Forum. A competing technology uses a plus sign (DVD+R, DVD+RW). Many DVD drives support both formats. See CD-ROM drives, DVD+R/RW drive, DVD-RAM and DVD.
A Lotta X's
This is the label from a Memorex combo DVD and CD drive in 2005. Each "X" number means the speed for that format is X times 1.35MB for DVDs and 150KB for CDs.
Most DVD drives can play DVD movies (DVD Video) and music CDs as well as read DVD-ROMs and CD-ROMs. Other drives may also support all, or some combination of, DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD-R or CD-RW media.
Drives and media that use the dash or minus sign (DVD-R, DVD-RW) are endorsed by the DVD Forum. A competing technology uses a plus sign (DVD+R, DVD+RW). Many DVD drives support both formats. See CD-ROM drives, DVD+R/RW drive, DVD-RAM and DVD.
X Data Transfer
Rating Rate
1x 1.35 MBytes/sec
2x 2.70 MBytes/sec
2.4x 3.17 MBytes/sec
3x 4.05 MBytes/sec
4x 5.40 MBytes/sec
5x 6.75 MBytes/sec
8x 10.80 MBytes/sec
10x 13.50 MBytes/sec
12x 16.20 MBytes/sec
16x 21.60 MBytes/sec
24x 32.40 MBytes/sec
A Lotta X's
This is the label from a Memorex combo DVD and CD drive in 2005. Each "X" number means the speed for that format is X times 1.35MB for DVDs and 150KB for CDs.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Gateway DX4300-11
- Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores.Gateway hasn't fared well with its most recent round of DX-series mainstream retail PCs. Neither the DX4300-03 nor the DX4822-01 received positive marks, and...
- Product reviews 2009-11-25
- Maingear Shift
- With its new Shift gaming desktop, Maingear joins the ranks of Alienware, Falcon Northwest, and Velocity Micro in providing its customers a distinctive-looking case you can't get anywhere else. And despite a misstep with the build and a questionable processor choice both of which should be easily remedied, we found...
- Product reviews 2009-11-25
- Recover My Files 4.2.4.495 (Windows)
- Recover My Files is an advanced data recovery software made to recover deleted files and formatted or corrupt drives. Recover My Files works with all forms of digital media, including hard drives, USB media, Compact Flash, Smart Media, memory sticks and other forms of storage. A standard license of Recover...
- Software downloads 2009-11-25
- BurnAware Professional 2.4.2 (Windows)
- BurnAware Professional is the professional's choice for complete CD and DVD duplication and disc burning. Apart from standard features, such as data, audio and video burning, BurnAware Professional offers a wide scope of advanced functionality, allowing you to duplicate CDs and DVDs, make exact copies of discs on your hard...
- Software downloads 2009-11-25
- HP Pavilion dv4-2045dx
- Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores.The HP Pavilion dv4-2045dx offers more multitasking muscle than many of the other mainstream budget retail laptops we've recently reviewed. Helped by a 7,200rpm...
- Product reviews 2009-11-24
- Asus Essentio CG5270-BP004
- Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores. The Asus Essentio CG5270-BP004 bears a striking resemblance to a young teenager trying too hard. With its oversized, canted case, it's easy to...
- Product reviews 2009-11-24
- Folder Lock 6.3.1 (Windows)
- Folder Lock is a fast file encryption software that can also password protect folders, lock files and protect USB Drives and lock CD/DVDs. Folder Lock creates encrypted storages called 'Lockers'. You can keep as many of your private files and folders in your Locker and password protect it with a...
- Software downloads 2009-11-24
- Backup4all Professional 4.3 build 175 (Windows)
- Backup4all protects your valuable data from partial or total loss by automating backup tasks, password protecting and compressing it to save storage space. Using Backup4all you can easily backup to any local or network drive, backup to FTP (with support for SSL encryption, proxy server, passive mode), backup to CD/DVD/Blu-ray,...
- Software downloads 2009-11-24
- Backup4all Lite 4.3 build 175 (Windows)
- Backup4all is an award-winning backup software for Windows. Backup4all protects your valuable data from partial or total loss by automating backup tasks, password protecting and compressing it to save storage space. Using Backup4all you can easily backup to any local or network drive, backup to FTP (with support for SSL...
- Software downloads 2009-11-24
- Backup4all Standard 4.3 build 175 (Windows)
- Backup4all is an award-winning backup software for Windows. Backup4all protects your valuable data from partial or total loss by automating backup tasks, password protecting and compressing it to save storage space. Using Backup4all you can easily backup to any local or network drive, backup to FTP (with support for SSL...
- Software downloads 2009-11-24
- HP Pavilion P6230y
- Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores.The $680 Pavilion P6230y is another midrange HP desktop PC that looks good on paper, but can't keep up with the competition in...
- Product reviews 2009-11-23
- Archivarius 3000 4.26 (Windows)
- Archivarius 3000 is a full-featured application to search documents and e-mail on computer, local network and removable drives (CD, DVD and others). The program will extract and save full information about documents, which allows users to search and overview documents even if they're not physically accessible.Key features include:Instant full-text search...
- Software downloads 2009-11-23
- Macrium Reflect 4.2 build 2097 (Windows)
- Macrium Reflect is an award winning backup and disk imaging solution for Vista, XP and Server 2003. Reflect can backup files and folders into a compressed mountable archive file or your entire PC into a single image. Using this image you can restore the entire disk, partition or individual files...
- Software downloads 2009-11-23
- Macrium Reflect Free Edition 4.2 build 2097 (Windows)
- Macrium Reflect Free Edition. An award winning disk imaging solution for free. A complete disaster recovery solution for your home and office. Protect your personal documents, photos, music and e-mails. Upgrade your hard disk or try new operating systems in the safe knowledge that everything is securely saved in an...
- Software downloads 2009-11-23
- Gateway One ZX4800-02
- Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores.The good news about the Gateway One ZX4800-02: it's not a Nettop. Nope, instead this is a full-fledged, $750 all-in-one desktop, complete with a...
- Product reviews 2009-11-20
- Gateway DX4822-01
- Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores.Although we weren't fans of Gateway's midrange Gateway DX4300-03, the $520 DX4822-01 makes a more convincing argument with budget-minded features like a spacious hard...
- Product reviews 2009-11-20
- Asus Essentio CM5570-AP003
- Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores.The $480 Asus Essentio CM5570-AP003 is a stripped-down version of the CM5570-AP006 we reviewed in July. It uses the same basic tower but replaces...
- Product reviews 2009-11-20
- Accord CD Ripper Standard 6.1.6 (Windows)
- Rip audio CD tracks to WAV, MP3, WMA, OGG, APE, FLAC, MP2, VQF. Incredibly fast cd ripping. Fully optimized for SSE/Hyper thread technology and get extra speed boost on multiprocessor systems. Flexible output mode: rip audio CDs to divided files one file per track or to CD images (one file...
- Software downloads 2009-11-20
- Accord CD Ripper Professional 6.1.6 (Windows)
- Rip audio CD tracks to WAV, MP3, WMA, OGG, APE, FLAC, MP2, VQF, AIFF, AIFC, AIF, 3GP, AAC, M4A, M4B, MP4, MPC, MP+, MPP, WV. Incredibly fast cd ripping. Fully optimized for SSE/Hyper thread technology and get extra speed boost on multiprocessor systems. Flexible output mode: rip audio CDs to...
- Software downloads 2009-11-20
- HP Envy 15-1050nr
- A big brother to HP's 13-inch Envy 13, this upscale 15-inch model crams more computing power into a midsize laptop than anyone outside of Alienware's m15x. And while that system is a 10-pound monster, the Envy 15 manages to be both slim and reasonably lightweight, partially by ditching the internal...
- Product reviews 2009-11-19
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
- New Online Dashboard for IT Leaders
-
Read about top issues IT decision-makers face every day, plus get cost-effective solutions to real-life IT problems.
- Learn more >>
- Keep Up With The Latest In Document Management with The DocuMentor.
-
Doc delivers the scoop on today's enterprise content management, printer maintenance, and all other issues related to document management. It's the DocuMentor Blog.
- Learn more >>
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online - Free Six-Month Trial for Eligible Organizations
-
Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online provides fast online access, simple contact management and better sales performance for a low monthly cost - the best value on the market today.
- Learn more about the free, six-month trial offer>>
-
-
Smart Tech
Expert advice on innovations in healthcare and the green technologies that make it happen.
Find out more
-
Smart Business
Discussion and advice on management issues that revolve around making your world smarter and more useful.
More Smart Advice
-
Smart People
The best and worst moves in the management and strategy trenches.
Learn More
