UHD capable drive - UK based

Discussion of LibreDrive mode, compatible drives and firmwares
Billycar11
Posts: 5249
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2014 5:49 am

Re: UHD capable drive - UK based

Post by Billycar11 »

Headbanger wrote:
Tue Jan 20, 2026 11:48 am
Thanks Coopervid.
What drive(s) are the 212T and 212V variants of? So confusing!

HB
212dbk ubk s12 whatever all the same
Buy a drive from the guide and video maker: https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... 20&t=17831
UHD Drive Guide: https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... 16&t=19634
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Coopervid
Posts: 4151
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2019 10:32 pm

Re: UHD capable drive - UK based

Post by Coopervid »

Headbanger wrote:
Tue Jan 20, 2026 11:48 am
Coopervid wrote:
Tue Jan 20, 2026 11:29 am
Headbanger wrote:
Tue Jan 20, 2026 7:11 am
I found this article on the Pioneer 12 series (although not all variants are listed). Looks like they all have an identical drive with differing externals but with different capabilities enabled. Makes sense because as long as they don’t have Pioneer’s latest firmwares installed, they can all be cross flashed.

https://www.cdrinfo.pl/artykuly/artykul ... 12English/

I ordered another pro version from Scan to keep as my last resort backup should both my current 2 fail. It again came with a Pionner 212T drive now flashed as the UHD variant.

HB
The 212BK and 212DBK have a plastic laser lens instead of a glass lens. Not important for reading UHDs when crossflashed but writing performance on 3 and 4 layer discs is worse according to asmcom who performed tests for comparison.
Thanks Coopervid.
What drive(s) are the 212T and 212V variants of? So confusing!

HB
Like said the BK and DBK use a plastic laser lens. The Vinpower 212V has some reinforced gears compared to the others as the purpose is to duplicate discs on a large scale.
Headbanger
Posts: 16
Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2024 5:52 am

Re: UHD capable drive - UK based

Post by Headbanger »

Coopervid wrote:
Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:54 am
Headbanger wrote:
Tue Jan 20, 2026 11:48 am
Coopervid wrote:
Tue Jan 20, 2026 11:29 am


The 212BK and 212DBK have a plastic laser lens instead of a glass lens. Not important for reading UHDs when crossflashed but writing performance on 3 and 4 layer discs is worse according to asmcom who performed tests for comparison.
Thanks Coopervid.
What drive(s) are the 212T and 212V variants of? So confusing!

HB
Like said the BK and DBK use a plastic laser lens. The Vinpower 212V has some reinforced gears compared to the others as the purpose is to duplicate discs on a large scale.
Thanks so are the 212T and 212V variants of the BK/DBK and therefore also have the plastic lens or do these have a glass laser lens?

As you say won’t matter for reading discs but it may be a consideration for some who are also burning discs.

HB
Coopervid
Posts: 4151
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2019 10:32 pm

Re: UHD capable drive - UK based

Post by Coopervid »

I haven't analyzed which drives show as 212T. Are the ASUS limited to burn 50GB discs like the 209DBK? That would be an indication.
Headbanger
Posts: 16
Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2024 5:52 am

Re: UHD capable drive - UK based

Post by Headbanger »

Coopervid wrote:
Wed Jan 21, 2026 12:37 pm
I haven't analyzed which drives show as 212T. Are the ASUS limited to burn 50GB discs like the 209DBK? That would be an indication.
Not sure tbh - specs don’t state max disc size.
Are you able to tell from the specs?:
https://www.asus.com/uk/motherboards-co ... /techspec/

Edit - actually they do state quadruple layer 128GB

Write Speed (max)
BD-R : 16X
BD-R(SL, M-DISC) : 4X
BD-R(DL) : 12X
BD-R(TL) : 8X
BD-R(QL) : 6X
BD-RE : 2X
DVD+R : 16X
DVD-R : 16X
DVD+R(SL, M-DISC) : 4X
DVD+RW : 8X
DVD-RW : 6X
DVD+R(DL) : 8X
DVD-R(DL) : 8X
DVD-RAM : 5X
CD-R : 40X
CD-RW : 24X

Whereas for the 212V it is limited to DL/50GB https://www.vinpowerdigital.com/product ... r-bdr-212v

So looking at the drive variant details on cdrinfo, it looks like the 212V is likely a variant of BDR-212DBK (plastic lens) and 212T is likely a variant of BDR-S12XLT (glass lens).

HB
Coopervid
Posts: 4151
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2019 10:32 pm

Re: UHD capable drive - UK based

Post by Coopervid »

Headbanger wrote:
Wed Jan 21, 2026 12:56 pm
Coopervid wrote:
Wed Jan 21, 2026 12:37 pm
I haven't analyzed which drives show as 212T. Are the ASUS limited to burn 50GB discs like the 209DBK? That would be an indication.
Not sure tbh - specs don’t state max disc size.
Are you able to tell from the specs?:
https://www.asus.com/uk/motherboards-co ... /techspec/

Edit - actually they do state quadruple layer 128GB

Write Speed (max)
BD-R : 16X
BD-R(SL, M-DISC) : 4X
BD-R(DL) : 12X
BD-R(TL) : 8X
BD-R(QL) : 6X
BD-RE : 2X
DVD+R : 16X
DVD-R : 16X
DVD+R(SL, M-DISC) : 4X
DVD+RW : 8X
DVD-RW : 6X
DVD+R(DL) : 8X
DVD-R(DL) : 8X
DVD-RAM : 5X
CD-R : 40X
CD-RW : 24X

Whereas for the 212V it is limited to DL/50GB https://www.vinpowerdigital.com/product ... r-bdr-212v

So looking at the drive variant details on cdrinfo, it looks like the 212V is likely a variant of BDR-212DBK (plastic lens) and 212T is likely a variant of BDR-S12XLT (glass lens).

HB
Don't bother and don't burn discs. Save the laser for reading as long as you can and store to HDD.
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