Haven't really checked these forums in awhile, but I ordered a BenQ 1640 late last week, and today in the mail I received a DQ60. Is this fairly odd, because last I heard the DQ60's hadn't really become that available yet in the US.

Also it came with firmware MRCC, and an old version of QSuite.

Anyone done any testing with different firmwares on this drive? Can't find a whole lot of information about it yet, and I can't even find the latest official firmware on BenQ's website.

Where did you order it?!?

From the reviews I've seen of this drive, which is actually just a rebadged TEAC, it's a POS.

I would demand an exchange for a 1640, personally. Reviews I've seen with PI/PIF scans show that it is nowhere near the quality of the 1640, 1620, etc.

I would prefer BenQ 1640 over DQ60.
Check this out: http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread....49#post1130249

I second that statement!!!

To the above poster, I ordered it from ewiz.com

Nice avatar.

Thanks, never heard of them. Now we know not to order from them

Ewiz is actually a pretty decent place to order stuff from. Their prices generally beat Newegg by a good margin and I've never had a problem with them in the past.

Im actually awaiting a call back from them now concerning this DQ60. Basically its a mixup because they ordered a batch of 1640's from their supplier, and instead got a shipment of DQ60's in and basically didn't pay attention and sent them out to everyone ordering the 1640's.

I see, good luck. Hopefully they take care of your order and pay for any shipping charges assuming you send the drive back.

Return the drive. No matter if it is called TEAC 516E, Benq DQ60 or Plextor 750, the test results are bad.

Do some quick burns first if you've installed it anyways just to see how it works for sure.

Is there a way to do quality scans with this drive? I could do some burns, but it doens't support Qscan I know, and its my only drive I currently have installed.

No. There is no known way to get quality scans from Panasonic chipsets.

You could do some informal tests with your Liteon 167, otherwise just sample a few different media codes on the drive if you are interested and then test the discs when you get your 1640.

[quote=jexx]Ewiz is actually a pretty decent place to order stuff from. Their prices generally beat Newegg by a good margin and I've never had a problem with them in the past.

Basically this good indication that you shouldn't trust them any more, since they never bother to inform you before shipping the wrong drive to find out you agree with drive replacement or not. As others have said send the unit back and demand either full refund or BenQ 1640 as you have ordered.

Just put the disks away till you get a 1640 so they dont get scratched up and test em when it gets there I spose. My 1640 is pretty damned good so that DQ 60 better be just as good and support all the normal BenQ qsuite functions or it's just not worth keeping though.

you can always get a HIVAL 16x drive from COMPUSA which is a rebadged BENQ 1640 if you can't find any online retailer. just my 2 cents!

CompUSA has also NEC 3550 retail for $49.99.

Well ewiz disappointed me, they were suppose to call me back Friday and let me know about this mixup and if they still had any 1640's in stock, but of course they never bothered to call back.

I did burn a couple discs though, I don't have anything setup currently to do a quality scan unfortunately, but I can do a transfer rate test on them.

One thing about this drive that does annoy me is that it is speed locked, it does not rip DVD's very fast

Here is a RicohR01 burnt at 4x (won't let me burn any faster)


And a TY T02 burnt at 8x (once again maximum speed allowed)


Still haven't decided what I'm going to do with this drive, I may hold out and see if any new firmwares come out that enable more of QSuite features if ewiz doesn't cooperate with me.

Hey jexx..... Make them cooperate with you. I'd be on them like stink on $h_t. By phone, e-mail or any other means you have to communicate with them. Drop a little note to them and ask them if they'd like to be reported for false advertisement. That usually gets a reaction from a company. It maybe a little on the dirty side but unfortunately there are times when one has to fight fire with fire.

This drive surely will never get the features and burn quality of a Benq 1640. Latest firmware is MRCD, btw..

The problem is finding a 1640 now. I don't think ewiz has any of them left, and Im not going to pay twice as much for a Plextor or Sony that is a rebadged BenQ.

What about the BenQ 1640 listed at Monarch Computers, now I'm starting to wonder about it because it says *new item*. Makes me curious if its not another DQ60 being sold as a 1640.

Newegg is sold out, Mwave is sold out, and ZipZoomFly is sold out, and those are the 3 main places I buy computer parts from.

Try. NCIX.COM i dont know how about you, but i ordered 1640 on firday recieved today. Very fast shipment and they didnt sell it as DQ60. Although they sell DQ60.

Driectron.com also has it in stock $40 plus shipping. I have never ordered from them

Circuit City sells the 1640 in its retail box from BenQ for $70.

I bought a few stuff from Directron before, and have had no problems with them.