Hello,

does someone know the differences between Sony DWU10A, DRU-500A, DRU-500AX? Sony drives me crazy!

What are the hardware differences?
What are the firmware differences?

I heard DWU10A is the bulk version of either DRU-500A or DRU-500AX.

Would be glad about some info...

Thx
:confused:

DRU500a is the one that you will find most in stores. The DWU10A is apparently the OEM version of this drive (Bare drive no cables, programs, ect.). I have never heard of the DRU500AX so I can't help you there.

x is the external dvd writer

External are you sure?

Take a look at:

http://www.dvdirect.com/shop/product.asp?sku=SON5008

or here: http://www.digitalproducer.com/2003/01_jan/news/01_06/sony0109.htm

Key Specifications

Sony DRU-500AX DVD/CD Rewritable Drive
·ATAPI (EIDE) internal interface
·2.4X (max.) writing (DVD+RW)
4X (max.) writing (DVD+R)
2X (max.) writing (DVD-RW)
4X (max.) writing (DVD-R)
8X (max.) reading (DVD-ROM)
24X (max.) writing (CD-R), 32X (max.) reading
10X (max.) writing (CD-RW), 32X (max.) reading
·Dimensions: 5.75 x 1.63 x 7.56 inches (W x H x L)
·Platform support: Windows 98SE/2000/Me/XP
·Burst data transfer rate: 33.3 Mbit/s max.
·Random access time: 160 ms (CD-ROM), 200 ms (DVD-ROM)
·Buffer memory: 8 MB
·Recording method (CD): disc at once, track at once, session at once,
packet writing(DVD): Random Access Write (DVD+RW/DVD-RW), Sequential Write
(DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW)
·Compatible disc format: DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD-R,
CD-ROM, CD-DA, Video CD, Photo CD (multi-session), CD TEXT, CD Extra and
others
·Estimated Selling Price - Under $350

DWU10A is +R/W only (i think thats right)

where as the

DRU-500A is +R/W and -R/W

DWU10A is +R/W and -R/W

There is a hacked f/w about as well that will turn the DWU10A back into a bona fide DRU500A. So in essence they are exactly the same baby :-)

where can i learn more about this hack m8?

They are ALL the same hardware.Warranties and firmware are differant.You can hack the 10a into a 500a but warranty is through the seller,not Sony as is the case with the 500a.The AX is an INTERNAL drive with the firmware upgrade already applied!

Are you sure that 500a and 500ax are the same hardware?

on the 10a, do i need to have the firmware updated and where can i get it from thanks

You dont "NEED" it SnAKe, as mine is working sweet. But if you want it mail me. I have it though I havent used it yet as it will void the warranty. Quite frankly I will only use it if I run into any problems, which I havent done yet.

cool m8,

I just bought the AX from bestbuy. I didn't even know it. I wanted the 500A and they handed me an AX. I was reading something about the fact that the A when shipped could only do 2.4x dvd+r, but AX shippedwith ability to do 4x +r out the box.

Also I think it reads cd's slightly faster then the 500a. I think the A read speed is 24, while Ax read speed is 32. Basically its a newer model.

I just found this article that might help some.

Wednesday, January 8th, 2003
Sony Announces Next Generation Dual RW Drives
8:02 PM CST Posted By: Ian
If you haven't been able to find a DRU-500A at your local computer store, relief is on the way. Sony will start shipping their next generation "Dual RW" drives next month.
The internal DRU-500AX and the external DRX-500ULX drives are capable of recording to both 4X compatible DVD+R and DVD-R discs at up to 4X speeds, offer enhanced software for mastering and drag-and-drop file management, and playback DVD recordable media faster than before.

Like their first-generation predecessors, the new Dual RW drives encompass four DVD recording formats for recording functionality and playback compatibility. By supporting all the popular DVD recordable/rewritable formats, the Dual RW drives allow computer users to transfer home movies from tape to DVD discs, customize and edit them for a personal touch, and then play them back in nearly all consumer DVD players and DVD-ROM drives without worrying about format variations.

Sony’s DRU-500AX and DRX-500ULX models are also the industry’s first to support both up to 4X DVD+R and DVD-R recording when using 4X speed media, making them among the fastest on the market. Users can now create write-once discs in approximately half the time of drives writing at 2X speeds.
The question now is whether or not the DRU-500AX is just a DRU-500A with the new firmware or something else. If we can find out more info, I'll let you know. Until then, more information can be found here.
[discuss this in the forum]

Yes,it is the same hardware as the 500A! The firmware can be upgraded to do everything the AX does.My nephew is a tech with Sony.I posted about the A and AX the first part of november.Sony played a little game,and pulled back stock of the A series to upgrade the firmware and repackage it!

By the way,the read speed for the 500a is also 32x!

In any documentation I have seen it is listed as 24x. Maybe they upgraded the speed via firmware?

My drive was purchased in october.It says right on the box CD-ROM(read)32x.It WRITES cdrs at 24x.That may be your confusion!I have my box right here!

Curious, what firmware did your drive ship with? I will have to go back and see, but I was certain that it read and wrote at 24x according to some spec sheets I have seen. Not that its really important or anything. I'm just curious.

It was shipped with C or D firmware.I really can't remember the online specs,but I know they are wrong about 1/3 of the time.But all this aside,it has been a very dependable drive.I think the 8 meg buffer is a big plus over the Pioneers 2 megs.As for the battle of the formats,I believe both will be around for a couple of years.I do find the RW+ media more versitile than the RW-.The R- media is cheaper than R+,but not better in my trials. It is also nice to see Sony supporting their drive the way they are.

Latest firmware is 1.0g Use it cause you can then use 1x disks @ 2x speed......

When you use the update software, free from sony, it lets you know what your version is BEFORE you run the update.

I have been using the F firmware since early december.It too allows 2x burns on 1x media.I never went to G,because I have had no troubles with F.You never know if they might notice they enabled something they didn't mean to,and disable it with an"upgrade".After I am sure of the upgrade,I will probably do it.So far I am over 600 burns.Most at 2x on Accu and Lead Data 1x media.My Pioneer is just the reverse,2x media burns at 1x.
I just read where Sony and LiteOn are teaming up on a new dual format drive.You get those two together,and Pioneer may have some big trouble!

No Sony support with the oem version

btw, I use accu media, its 1x but my 500a with 1.0g firmware shows it 2x.... this media is $50 for 50......white top, purple bottom.

Question: How much cheaper is the U10 compared to the 500A\X?

Answer : In the UK the difference is about £30 ( $50 ).