New DVD Drive recommendations

[Charlie]

I am in the middle of my computer build and wanted some experts or experienced ( I have One ) users to help me out on getting 2 new drives. I have narrowed it down to these three:

1. Samsung

2. ASUS

3. Poineer

Of course my selection of choice isn't in that order. Let me add also I want fast quality burns and fast quality reads too, plus my drives must be an SATA drive on top of that. This will go on till the middle of the month and will look into the recommendations unless you can tell me why this / these drive(s) in detail. I then will be making my purchase(s).

[zebadee]

Hi :)
A dilema here as the fastest is the Asus. But inconsistant quality.
The Samsung is niether fast or outstanding in terms of quality. In short will not set the world alight. But probably a consitant perfomer.
The Pioneer is without doubt the star herem not only for compatability but performance too.
Speed however is it's achilles heel. Can be a tad slow compared to the opposition.
Of the SATA drives around the Pioneer & LG are the only real contenders if quality is a consideration.

[Charlie]

I'll add this doesn't need to be an all in one. Recommend a good reader to rip and or recommend a good burner for quality, both must be fast and like I said quality is an issue too for me. If not these drives recommend one and what it is best at.

[McstylisT]

I have never been a fan of the mediatek chipset what are commonly found in lite-on and the newer Samsung and Sony drives. They are pretty average at both reading and writing.

The pioneers is a pretty ok reader ,, and a awesome burner. Its optimal when used with excellent media.:agree:

Have had no experience with Asus, but i am sure they are just a re brand of another drive.

As Zebs mentioned the pioneer excels in this comparison.:wink:

[zebadee]

Hi :)
For reader only then Lite-On has to be considered. Despite poor quality control. With a collapsed market in terms of manufacturering. There is less choice.
For writing Pioneer.
With LG if a thrid drive is installed.
Lite-On are poor alrounders & are only acceptable if third party f/w is intorduced to compensate for long long leadins. (Does allow for scanning of burns for comparisons, something that may be useful.)
Pioneer with buffalo f/w enables bitsetting. (Not sure if this is possible at present with SATA.)
LG are a bit like Samsung, not going to set the world alight, but with quality too boot. Can be very fast as a writer given the right media. (Verbatim +)

[Charlie]

So as for an SATA Burner you say Pioneer hands down out of what is out there then? Of course I won't use fastest burns for my quality collection just to have some fun.

[Robert]

I'm too in need of a recommendation for a DVD Burner that will allow boot typing. I've looked all over the internet and cannot find one or get any reseller to suggest one so, I can start burning DVD ROM DL

Please help this type of info needs to come from someone who has a lot of knowledge about these things

[Charlie]

What current dvd rw drive(s) do you have?

[Charlie]

Try to use Nero CD / DVD speed you can bit set the drive(s) with it most of the time. you can download it here.

Nero CD-DVD Speed website (http://www.cdspeed2000.com/download.html)

How to use it is easy and to how to use it click the ulr below.

Bitsetting with Nero CD/DVDSpeed - DVD neXt COPY Support Forum (http://www.dvdnextcopynews.com/showthread.php?t=1418)

Bitsetting is only allow on +R and +RW or +DL R media only by the way.

[Robert]

What current dvd rw drive(s) do you have?

I have a HP DVD 940 LightScripe and Sony -830A according to Nero Rom both come up N/A for "Book Typing."

[Microburn]

I have a HP DVD 940 LightScripe and Sony -830A according to Nero Rom both come up N/A for "Book Typing."

we will see if one of our other mods that use book typing can help you out it won't be until tomorrow sorry for any inconvince.:)

[Charlie]

I have a HP DVD 940 LightScripe and Sony -830A according to Nero Rom both come up N/A for "Book Typing."

Can the Nero Tool be set for the drive(s) or is it grayed out?

The Sony DRU-830A is a rebadged Samsung SH-S182D.Give one of our skilled mods some time to post as they might be able to help you crossflash the drive as it is a Sony and it can be recognized as a Samsung. Although this will void your warranty as well. So it's at your own risk. This drive is one heck of a great reader and their may even be a speed patch to unlock it to read even faster too. Of course this isn't recommended if you're not pretty PC literate too. Anyways this is a great drive so I would keep it for a reader drive. I'll do some more search this morning to see about the HP drive for you. Is your HP drive a 940 or a 940e?

[Robert]

HP is a 940 not e. "e" meaning external...

[Charlie]

OK it was early when I typed the last post and the brain wasn't fully functioning just yet. So are you able to use nerocdspeed to booktype any of those 2 drives or are they grayed out?

[Robert]

they are grayed out with N/A in the Book Typing Column

[Charlie]

I assume this is for either drive. All I can say is that those 2 drive are not able to be booktyped with +R media. Although give my other 2 mods a few hours as they live in the U.K. and they might be of assistance. As for a drive recomendation I used cdspeed to booktype my drives. I use a LG H42L. Lite on drives are great drives but mainly for reading and ripping and scanning. Get ahold of a BenQ and they have their own software to booktype as well. I am learning this as we go as well so like I said before you really do anything wait a few hours and let my booktyping mods see if they can assist you a bit better.

[zebadee]

Hi :)
Both these drives should bitset with CD/DVDSpeed.
Make sure you have a blank disc inserted in the drive concerned.
This should then mean that CD/DVDSpeed bitsetting is no longer greyed out.
The setting is temporal. (In other words will need to be redone with each disc).
Keep CD/DVDSpeed running, just minimise whilst using DNC.

[zebadee]

Hi :)
A dilema here as the fastest is the Asus. But inconsistant quality.
The Samsung is niether fast or outstanding in terms of quality. In short will not set the world alight. But probably a consitant perfomer.
The Pioneer is without doubt the star herem not only for compatability but performance too.
Speed however is it's achilles heel. Can be a tad slow compared to the opposition.
Of the SATA drives around the Pioneer & LG are the only real contenders if quality is a consideration.

Hi :)
Just an update really, the Samsung SH-S203B (SATA) is a stunning new contender. As such a must be considered regardless of your requirements.
(In other words if you don't have SATA, get a PCI SATA controller card & 203 now:giggle:).
No seriously this drive has got to a contender for anyone looking for a SATA DVDRW.

[Robert]

Hi :)
Both these drives should bitset with CD/DVDSpeed.
Make sure you have a blank disc inserted in the drive concerned.
This should then mean that CD/DVDSpeed bitsetting is no longer greyed out.
The setting is temporal. (In other words will need to be redone with each disc).
Keep CD/DVDSpeed running, just minimise whilst using DNC.

Not ture
See attached file

[zebadee]

Hi :)
Well it works with the Samsung 182, so must be a f/w thing.(I don't have the Sony so haven't any direct experience of this drive).
How about the HP? That is based on a Lite-On.

[McstylisT]

Hey all. :tounge:


This drive mentioned is a real pain to set to book-typing. I have the Sony DRU830a and the drive " WILL NOT SET ANY SORT OF BOOK-TYPE WHATSOEVER " !! what is a real pain for me too.
I bought this unit as i though it was an improvement on the Sammy 182, in which it is in my opinion but it does not seems as changeable in this department as the Sammy.
Whenever i tried to set book-type with any program this error displayed shows " feature not supported by drive " so after time i sort of gave up trying to do it. It just does not support it currently.
It makes it even more strange as Zebadee kindly pointed out these drives are all " lite-on " based with the mediatek chipset so in theory they should be very compatible in this field. :question_mark:

But apart from this the drive is a good burner. Reasonably fast and good quality.

Sorry there was not a more positive answer. I am still in search of one myself. :speak_cool:

[Robert]

The Hp gives the same results with Nero

But somehow and somewhere I pickup a file for Bitstreaming the HP it saws when trying to use it I need HP's Software which I did not get when buying this unit and going onto there web site the drive goes not show any software for it. I'll keep researching this it maybe a possiblity.

What's this DNC?

[Charlie]

DNC is short for DVD neXt COPY. Keep us informed. Maybe zebadee or McT can assist you on that program you're trying to find.

[Robert]

I found it it's called HP Recorder it's for their old stuff. The program does not even reconize the HP DVD 940 Recorder.

I'm throwing it away and I'm going to buy a BENQ DW2000 or DW2010
More in favor of the DW2000 I believe the lightscripe will not last that long from burning in the pictures it may cloud up the reader. Had problems with an earlier HP Lightscripe after 20 or so labels it could not read disk anymore

This new BenQ 2000 sounds impressive. They state no more software updates this thing learns and thinks! :dancing_b04:

[McstylisT]

I found it it's called HP Recorder it's for their old stuff. The program does not even reconize the HP DVD 940 Recorder.

I'm throwing it away and I'm going to buy a BENQ DW2000 or DW2010
More in favor of the DW2000 I believe the lightscripe will not last that long from burning in the pictures it may cloud up the reader. Had problems with an earlier HP Lightscripe after 20 or so labels it could not read disk anymore

This new BenQ 2000 sounds impressive. They state no more software updates this thing learns and thinks! :dancing_b04:


Hi Robert.

The DW2000 are just basically the Lite-on 201AP and 201AH clones as all Benq drives are now made by Lite-on.
Even though it has solid burn and lightscribe I personally think the better burner would be the HP or Sony DRU830a. For burning quality and reliability. But it is your choice mate. Its the older Benq's that are the golden drives but they are pretty much extinct now --- 1620,1640,1650,1655 :speak_cool:

[Charlie]

Yes I would go for a LG drive as far as a burner goes if you want a good solid burner and use the sony as a ripper.

[Robert]

No the HP 940 will not do it

I bought a New Lite On DVD Recorder through the internet for less than 40 bucks and asked for it to be shipped 2nd Day. Lets see if this one will allow book typing. If so, I'll buy another for a total of 4 DVD Burners.

I've spent a lot of time on the internet searching to convert Doble Layer DVD's to ROM by using book typing and no one seems to have done it for the Sony DRU-830A or HP 940 using Nero7 or another software.

Wounder if there is a large enough demand for a program to turn DVD's into DVD's ROM? I know I would buy it even if it voided the warrenty.

:off_topic:

Where can I get those cool looking pictures people are using when they post?

[Charlie]

Those are avatars. Look it up on google then when you see the one you like right mouse click on the picture and save to the desktop and then go into your user cp and edit avatar and add it to your profile. :) Lite ons are awesome readers but only ok writers so you should be good. After you learn all of this maybe then you can learn about crossflashing and such it voids the warranty but it can be a nice thing to do if done right. I have a Sony DRU 810a which the chipset in the drive is the same as a benq.

[Robert]

I did a search on crossflahing and came up with some info. Was hoping for a point and click type of soluation.

I see some writers are better than others when writing and ... BUT IF THE BOOK TYPING CANNOT BE CHANGED why even considder it?

That's what all the demand is for making back-up copies of DVD's. Most stores have a section full of cases and blank DVDs.

I sure hope I don't have the same problen with the Lite-On DVD Drive when it arrives. BenQ website make their drives look better with the technology, learn and burn. But if it's made by Lite-On than I'm assuming the Lite-On would be a better BURNER.

Sony cannot do Double Layer ROM therefore at a website like this why would anyone want one. To me BURNING DVDs to ROM is the Holy Grail!

[Charlie]

I'll gather you some links on crossflashing but I need the drive model to assist my search for you so I can provide you with detailed links. My Sony is crossflashed to a benq and it is much better since doing that.

[Vinman]

my HPdvd630 is crossflashed to a benq 1620 and is better for it as well!

[Charlie]

Hopfully he'll come back with the drive model so we can steer him to learning how to crossflash his drive if it booktypes well for him which it will.

[Robert]

I'll gather you some links on crossflashing but I need the drive model to assist my search for you so I can provide you with detailed links. My Sony is crossflashed to a benq and it is much better since doing that.


Sony DVD RW DRU-830A
HP DVD Writer 940d

Thanks
:thanks:

[Charlie]

I meant the lite on, as the sony is a samsung drive I'll see if it's crossflashable though.

[Charlie]

There is allot on this site on the sony and the samsung that it truly is. So I will just link you as there is pages upon pages of info for you there.

Review of the drive
Sony DRU-830A DVD Burner Review on CD Freaks.com - Reviews- Conclusion (http://www.cdfreaks.com/reviews/Sony-DRU-830A-DVD-Burner-Review)

Too much info that I personally care to read, Feel free to inherit all knowledge.
Samsung DVD Burner - Club CD Freaks - Worlds Largest CD/DVD Community (http://club.cdfreaks.com/forumdisplay.php?f=105)

Hope this will help you and it will if you read up. I used to live on this site.

[McstylisT]

Sony DVD RW DRU-830A
HP DVD Writer 940d

Thanks
:thanks:


Hi Robert.

As stated you will not be able to enable book-type on this drive .. Sorry :o

Or as crossflashing these drive have different eeproms and there is no utility to read them or set them as of yet.

All lite-on brand burners should allow book-typing to DVD ROM. When you get the drive please click this link, or in my signature for " ZEBADEE'S CD/DVD SPEED BITSETTING GUIDE (http://www.dvdnextcopynews.com/showthread.php?t=1418) " This will work for the lite-on drives. :agree::agree:

Good luck. :tounge:

[Robert]

I found something about book typing the Sony can you take a look at it and see if it's helpful?

Book Type Problem:biggrin:

[Vinman]

I found something about book typing the Sony can you take a look at it and see if it's helpful?

Book Type Problem:biggrin:
I dont think that the setting holds for more then one burn so it has to be set each time from what I see,
Robert please donot post live links to other burning software sites as this site is dedicated to DNC software issues only
Thanks
Vinman

[Robert]

Not a problem. Thought the guy was changing his system.ini file or something of that nature. Wasn't trying to step on toes, sorry...
It looked like a fourm for code writers, I thought. Should have looked closer...

Please delete this and previous post, to avoid confussion.

[Vinman]

Not a problem. Thought the guy was changing his system.ini file or something of that nature. Wasn't trying to step on toes, sorry...
It looked like a fourm for code writers, I thought. Should have looked closer...

Please delete this and previous post, to avoid confussion.
Na dont sweat it Im not that familiar with that sony drive myself but will look into it for you and see if I can offer you some help with it!

[Robert]

Thanks:speak_cool:

[alan1476]

If you can just get the new Samsumg 203 SATA drive, it is suppposed to be the "cats Meow" of drives. I will get one soon but from what I have heard its not equaled.:Bow:

[McstylisT]

If you can just get the new Samsumg 203 SATA drive, it is suppposed to be the "cats Meow" of drives. I will get one soon but from what I have heard its not equaled.:Bow:


I agree Alan, from what i have seen from the drive so far its got everything one needs in a fast and all-round burner. :agree::agree: And has good transfer rates as its a SATA drive.:agree: The reading is a little slow but what the hell.:speak_cool:

[Robert]

Thought this might be of interest to some, SONY DVD RW DRU-830A Vs.
LITE-ON DVD RW L-20A1H

I have not been real happy with the HP or Sony Writer. The Sony will not Book Type 4GB DVDs and when I burn 4GB or 8GB DL DVDs there are not real compatible with most Home and Portable DVD Players.

Let me tell you about the Lite-On with Smart Burn! It is the best of all 3 DVD Writers I have! It will take a blank Verbatim, DVD +R DL, 2.4x and burn it at more than 4x, Wow. Now get a load of this my Verbatim, 4.7GB, 16x Certified Disk will burn at 16x but sometimes Lite-On Smart Burn decreases the burn speed down to 2x. That's impressive! Give me the best copy possible. Also it will Book Type 4.7GB and 8GB DVDs where as the Sony will not. With the new Lite-On DVD I have increased the compatibility of my DVDs and I'm very happy with it!

If I had DVD ROM Disk and a burner things maybe different, which I cannot find or purchase.

Happy Burning

[alan1476]

Thought this might be of interest to some, SONY DVD RW DRU-830A Vs.
LITE-ON DVD RW L-20A1H

I have not been real happy with the HP or Sony Writer. The Sony will not Book Type 4GB DVDs and when I burn 4GB or 8GB DL DVDs there are not real compatible with most Home and Portable DVD Players.

Let me tell you about the Lite-On with Smart Burn! It is the best of all 3 DVD Writers I have! It will take a blank Verbatim, DVD +R DL, 2.4x and burn it at more than 4x, Wow. Now get a load of this my Verbatim, 4.7GB, 16x Certified Disk will burn at 16x but sometimes Lite-On Smart Burn decreases the burn speed down to 2x. That's impressive! Give me the best copy possible. Also it will Book Type 4.7GB and 8GB DVDs where as the Sony will not. With the new Lite-On DVD I have increased the compatibility of my DVDs and I'm very happy with it!

If I had DVD ROM Disk and a burner things maybe different, which I cannot find or purchase.

Happy Burning
In my personal opinion Liteon drives are only good for scanning, they are horrid otherwise. I have 2 and I will never buy another unless they change that chipset they use. :mad:

[McstylisT]

In my personal opinion Liteon drives are only good for scanning, they are horrid otherwise. I have 2 and I will never buy another unless they change that chipset they use. :mad:


I have to agree with Alan here for sure. The lite-on as a burner in my two experiences with them was horrid. They are good scanners but that is all.

But since you already have the drive you may as well use it to its potential. Here is the lite-on booktype utility. It just makes things easier.

http://www.liteonit.com/DOWNLOADS/utilities/BookType135.zip

[Charlie]

Let me add to this as well let's not forget that they are a pretty good reader as well so it is a good drive to use to rip the DVD to be able to burn.

[McstylisT]

Let me add to this as well let's not forget that they are a pretty good reader as well so it is a good drive to use to rip the DVD to be able to burn.

You are correct Charlie, how hasty of me to forget this. As a reader they are as good as they come in truth. :agree::agree::Bow:

[Robert]

I put it this way after using the SmartBurn with Lite-On and seeing Recording Speed double from that of the Sony (+R DL) and than slowing down when it ran across not so good of a Certified 16X DVD to give me a clean copy. I'm able to play move on various DVD Players. But then I'm only burning 20-30 DVD's a night. Have alot of catching up to do on back-up copies...:)
Maybe your burning more

[Charlie]

Actually Robert you are fine, Some of us here are high burning guru's just last week I burnt over 100 DVD's s. Most of us have been burning since the year 2000. Wow so as you see we have allot of experience with various drive and what would be the best at what. My first set of drives were liteons as they were cheap. Just like when DVD only had 4X or 8X out as the highest burn speed I used Memorex then but it was a better quality media in those days. I have a bunch of new media coming in this week and some is familiar from around the states and some not So it'll be nice to see how these new media name brands turn out on the end process.

[McstylisT]

I put it this way after using the SmartBurn with Lite-On and seeing Recording Speed double from that of the Sony (+R DL) and than slowing down when it ran across not so good of a Certified 16X DVD to give me a clean copy. I'm able to play move on various DVD Players. But then I'm only burning 20-30 DVD's a night. Have alot of catching up to do on back-up copies...:)
Maybe your burning more

Thats a fair comment Robert. :agree::agree: I can understand your reasoning and if i was getting good results too i would be happy. But for me personally when i had this drive no matter of the smart burn all my burns scanned terrible in quality using nero cd speed, but i admit the backups played ok in my players.

Dont forget to have a look at the lite-on booktype tool i posted. Its free and very handy !!!

20 - 30 DVD's a night...... :Bow::Bow: That is very high amounts in my opinion. I probably do on average 20 keepable backups a week. lol !!! maybe less.
But i do allot of testing ( 50+ ) with different drives so this would put the amount up a little but i dont keep any of them just bin them so they dont count.

Enjoy the drive Rob. :speak_cool:

[Charlie]

20 a week that sounds about right on average but I went through 150 last week but due to testing. :)

[Vinman]

I may do 15 in a week that would be alot for me and maybe three of those were not for testing purposes

[Robert]

I have to admit the first few weeks I was only getting an hour or two of sleep burning as many disk as I could until I had a trash bag full of DVD's. I have tappered off and now hope only to burn a few a week. It was taking a toll on me trying to write with one burner read with another, print labels and burn them onto the lightscripe disk was a task. As time progressed multitasking became easier but I did waste a few disk in the processes. Just trying to get a system down and ... Took a box full of DVD's down to my sister's house to watch while on vacation. I think she enjoyed them more than me. I was wore out from burning and the trip...

To get back to the subject at hand NEW DVD Writer Recom. it would be nice to see a list of the Drives you test to know which ones can burn DVDs 4GB and 8GB with Booktyping for both and any other special features to make DVDs more readable.