The answer is a resounding YES! Take for example that you are using 18X duplication speed to duplicate a DVD master disc. Based on comprehensive testing, the differential in speed between the fastest and slowest drives on a DVD duplicator averages to 8 seconds. At 18X speed, it will typically take 6 minutes (360 seconds) to completely duplicate a single run of DVD discs. All electronic products allow a 5% tolerance in performance and since 8 seconds is within that range at 2.2% speed differential, the drive manufacturers are satisfied with those results. If you do the calculations, with an 8 seconds differential, at 18X speed, there will be a difference of 128MB of data between the fastest and the slowest drives upon completion. If the duplicators buffer does not have enough memory, then the faster drives will have to pause while the slower drive(s) catch up. Most duplicators provide only a mere 16MB or 32MB memory for their DVD duplicator buffers which will cause the drives to pause at least 4 ~ 8 times. When the drives need to pause to allow the slower drives to catch up, that will negatively affect the final performance quality of the duplicated discs. Whereas, using this case as an example, with a minimum of 128MB buffer memory, the unit will not have to pause at all and will not adversely affect the duplicated disc(s) quality or performance.