Verdict: No software bundle, but it's a speedy ripper and dual-layer writer

From Laser Disc to DVD and next-generation standards such as Blu-Ray, Pioneer has always been a market leader when it comes to optical disc technology, so you expect the company's DVD writers to be good.

On the surface, the DVR-111BK looks to be a fairly standard EIDE DVD writer. Like the Asus, it claims to be able to write DVD-R9s at 8x, while all the other drives are rated at 4x or 6x. Unlike the Asus, though, the DVR-111BK was able to burn a DVD-R9 at 8x, making it far quicker than any of the other drives tested; in fact, it was a good three-and-a-half minutes faster than the next fastest drive, the Plextor PX-760A. The DVR-111BK was also very fast at burning DVD+R9s, but less speedy at burning the more commonly used (and cheaper) DVD-Rs and DVD+Rs. That said, it's the fastest ripper we've tested, ripping the entire DVD in just over eight-and-a-half minutes.

In the UK, Pioneer drives are sold without a software or accessory bundle. This won't be an issue for many CPC readers, though, since most upgraders have lots of spare EIDE cables and screws, and there are plenty of freeware disc burning utilities available on the Internet.

The DVR-111BK is a super-fast ripper and offers great burning performance, particularly with dual-layer DVDs, making it the best drive to buy if performance is your main priority. If Pioneer bundled case screws and software in the box too, then it would be a near-perfect package.

• Cases - 21st November 2008
• Motherboards - 24th October 2008
• Gaming Headsets - 26th September 2008
• Dream PCs - 24th September 2008
• Headphones - 12th September 2008
• Media PC components - 22nd August 2008
• PSUs - 14th July 2008

• AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition - Processors
• Shuttle XPC SX48P2 Deluxe - Desktop PCs
• SilverStone Raven - Peripherals
• Raptor Gaming M3 Platinum - Peripherals
• Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 - Processors
• ATI Radeon HD 4670 - Graphics cards
• DFI Lanparty JR P45-T2RS - Motherboards