IT'S PROBABLY going to be a while before DVD writers really make a dent in the market, even among enthusiasts. Until then, CD-RW drives are pushing recording times lower and manufacturers are busting out combo drives that pack CD-RW and DVD technology in a single 5 1/4" inch package.

I remember being floored by recording speeds when I went from a lowly 2X Mitsumi to my current 8X Sony CD-RW drive, but these new drives are pushing 40X recording speeds. Just think how quickly you'll be able to burn audio CDs, VCDs, and ISO images. Don't forget all those personal backups; that's what everyone buys burners for these days, right?

A lot of optical drives may look very similar, but performance can vary quite a bit, despite advertised speeds. Today we're looking at two optical drives from Samsung, a screaming-fast 40X CD-RW, and an all-in-one CD-RW/DVD combo drive that's no slouch in the speed department, either. How do the drives compare? Which is faster where? Read on to find out.