Nero DiscSpeed

Check box Transfer rate	Adds the test to the standard test series. The Transfer rate test measures the read speed of data, i.e. the speed at which data is read from a disc. If the disc inserted is blank, the test measures the write speed.
Check box DAE quality	Adds the test to the standard test series. The DAE quality test comprises two partial measurements.
Check box Access/Seek Times	Adds the test to the standard test series. The Access/seek times test measures the access or seek times of optical drives for discs inserted in the drive in three partial measurements.
Check box CPU usage	Adds the test to the standard test series. The CPU usage test measures the percentage utilization of the CPU (central processing unit) at various speeds (1x, 2x, 4x, and 8x).
Check box Burst Rate	Adds the test to the standard test series. The Burst rate test measures the maximum possible transmission rate from the optical drive to the computer.
Check box Spin up/down	Adds the test to the standard test series. The Spin down test measures how long it takes an optical drive to stop, while the Spin up test measures how long it takes before the optical drive can read data again after stopping.
Check box Load/Eject	Adds the test to the standard test series. The Load/eject test measures the time that an optical drive needs to load, detect, and eject a disc.
Check box Extra read tests	Adds the test to the standard test series. The Extra read tests test series consists of three tests. One or more sectors on the disc are read with defined test samples.
Check box Create data disc	Adds the test to the standard test series. The Create data disc test is available in its classic version on the Benchmark tab and as an advanced version on the Create Disc tab. You can use the classic test to analyze the write speed and the rotational speed. You can use the advanced test to also measure the buffer level and the CPU usage caused by the optical drive.
Check box Verify data	Checks the data that was written on the disc during the Create data disc test.

Option button Maximum	Selects the maximum speed that an optical drive can achieve.
Option button Current	Selects the current speed of the optical drive. This speed is not influenced, and can be affected by other system settings, e.g. other software or the firmware settings.
Option button Selected	Selects the speed manually. Enter the desired value in the input field.

Spin-up time

Defines the spin-up time. In order to stabilize the disc and the optical drive, Nero DiscSpeed starts spinning the disc before the actual test starts. The default setting here is 10 seconds.

Write Speed

The write speed indicates the speed at which a drive can write data to the optical storage medium, e.g. 8x or 16x speed.

DAE quality

DAE (Digital Audio Extraction) refers to the process of reading audio files with a drive. DAE quality indicates how well a drive reads data on a CD.

Access Time

The access time is the time a drive needs to move the read head to a specific position on the disc that is inserted in the drive and to additionally read an area of the disc. In other words, the access time encompasses the seek time and in addition the period of time for reading a specific area.

Search Time

The seek time is the time the drive needs to move the read head to a specific position on the disc that is inserted in the drive. In other words, the seek time encompasses the period of time between the arrival of a write or read command and commencement of the actual write or read process.

Rotational speed

Discs can be read and/or burned in different ways. As a general rule, the reading process in optical drives starts at the radius of the disc and moves from the center outwards. The two standards used to define the types of rotational speed are linear velocity and angular velocity. With constant angular velocity, the tracks at the center of the disc always travel at the slowest linear velocity. The linear velocity increases as you move away from the center towards the outer edge. Angular velocity (also called rotational speed) describes the change in the rotation angle over time independently of the radius of the disc, i.e. the velocity at which an object loops a sector.

Buffer

A buffer refers to temporary memory that records and delivers data that cannot be processed immediately as required. The buffer also allows for continuous data flow.

CPU usage

The central processing unit processes a computer’s processes. The higher the computing performance, the higher the load of the CPU and its performance.

Read Speed

The read speed of a drive is a factor of the speed that the laser needs in order to read the data on an optical storage medium, e.g. 8x or 16x speed.

Firmware

Firmware is software that has been installed on hardware during production (e.g. recorder, USB device, etc.). It is used for communication between the respective hardware and other software, e.g. when a USB device is connected to a PC.

Sector

A sector is the smallest addressable information unit on a CD-ROM. A sector is composed of 2,352 bytes, of which – depending on the type of CD used – different amounts are available as user data. A sector generally consists of a header, synchronization bits and user data. It may also have error recognition and correction data.