The drive also includes a 2MB buffer and a SuperLink feature to help prevent any buffer underrun errors. Although we've seen larger buffers on CD-RW drives of this speed, the drive performed well without any recording problems.

LG Electronics includes Ahead Software's excellent Nero Burning ROM package for handling CD-writes. The Ahead InCD software and Mt. Rainier support mean that rewrites to this drive can be handled via drag and drop--just take whatever file or folder you'd like to back up over to the drive icon and Windows will automatically write it to disc.

Installation of the drive didn't take long--we popped open our system, took out our old CD-RW drive, and replaced it with the GCE-8523B. The manual walked us through the entire process, including setting the jumpers (which we didn't have to do) and connecting the cables.

LG Electronics also includes manuals for the Ahead Software programs, which are more detailed than those for average CD writing applications.

With the 52X write speeds, the GCE-8523B can burn a full 650MB CD-R in less than three minutes. The front of the drive includes a jack for headphones and a volume control dial for this jack. There's only a single LED that flashes when the drive is reading or writing.

The GCE-8523B supports almost every rewriteable format, from Video CD and Photo CD to CD-Text and high-speed disc media. And the drive is firmware upgradeable, with downloadable upgrades available at the LG Electronics Web site.

But one of the best features of this LG Electronics drive is its price. It is a veritable bargain for a 52X CD-RW drive.

If you're still burning with a less than 10X CD-RW drive, it's time for an upgrade. You won't find a better deal in terms of price and performance than the LG Electronics GCE-8523B CD-RW drive.

Pro: Great price, high speeds.

Con: Only 2MB buffer.