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What burner would you recommend?
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taboo
Member


Joined: 03 Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Post Posted: Nov 28, 2006 15:57 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
Hello People,

Its been a while since I have asked same question and I had an answer that time. It was BENQ DW1640 burner from www.Newegg.com suggested by ricoman.

Since looks like they no longer making BENQ DW1640

What burner would you recommend?

TIA
taboo

smitbret
Member


Joined: 28 Dec 2005
Location: United States
Post Posted: Nov 28, 2006 16:38 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
If you need bitsetting, probably best getting an NEC or a Benq 1650/1655. If you don't, get a Pioneer DVR-111.
-Brett

taboo
Member


Joined: 03 Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Post Posted: Nov 28, 2006 16:45 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
I would probably need something like BENQ DW1640.
Are BenQ 1650/1655 something like it?

smitbret
Member


Joined: 28 Dec 2005
Location: United States
Post Posted: Nov 28, 2006 18:57 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
You need it to be like the 1640 in what way? The 1650 is just the big brother to the 1640 with a really annoying 'WOPC' feature that slows down your burns unless you disable it everytime you reboot your system. The 1655 is the same but adds Litescribe. My Pioneer DVR-110 and DVR-109 burn fewer coasters and have better scans than the Benq or my Plextor 740A, which incidentally is a 1640 that has been rebadged by Plextor. Let me know what you mean by like and I could give more specifics.
-Brett

taboo
Member


Joined: 03 Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Post Posted: Nov 28, 2006 19:38 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
thanks smitbret,

I did not have any problems with BENQ DW1640. So i am considering it as reliable and at same time cheap burner.

Did the quality of BENQ burners become worse?
Did they just implement this 'WOPC' feature in 1650 or was it before in 1640?

TIA
taboo

taboo
Member


Joined: 03 Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Post Posted: Nov 28, 2006 19:52 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
in other words i need cheap and reliable burner

TIA
taboo

smitbret
Member


Joined: 28 Dec 2005
Location: United States
Post Posted: Nov 28, 2006 20:11 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
WOPC just reduces the speed of the burn when a bad sector (scratch, bad dye dispersion) of the disc is found. Don't use cheap media and it's a non factor, really. You just have to open Qsuite ever time you boot up and disable it otherwise your burns take about 50% longer. It's been a good drive, but I like Pioneers better than the Benqs. I keep the Benqs around in case I feel like I need to to booktype a DVD, Pioneer drives don't do that out of the box.
-Brett

taboo
Member


Joined: 03 Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Post Posted: Nov 28, 2006 20:17 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
I use good media. Its either VERBATIM DVD+R DL or TAIYO YUDEN. But I need cheap and reliable burner for my others PCs like this BenQ DW1640

smitbret
Member


Joined: 28 Dec 2005
Location: United States
Post Posted: Nov 28, 2006 20:23 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
smitbret
Member


Joined: 28 Dec 2005
Location: United States
Post Posted: Nov 28, 2006 20:23 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
Sorry... out of stock. This one will serve you well. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106019
or this Asus (Asus is usually just a rebadged Pioneer).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827135083
-Brett

LDinOR
Member


Joined: 05 Mar 2003
Location: Oregon, USA
Post Posted: Nov 28, 2006 20:40 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
Maybe out of stock now, but try later as I have had nothing but success with the NEC ND-3550A. Just got it this year and nearly 100 burns later I have not a single coaster.
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Capmaster
Dancin' Machine


Joined: 28 Feb 2004
Location: United States
Post Posted: Dec 02, 2006 16:13 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
Pioneer 111.
_________________
Looking for a few good posters .....


Super Warrior
Member


Joined: 29 Jun 2002
Location: United States
Post Posted: Dec 03, 2006 02:01 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
Pioneer is a good quality brand, usually you can't go wrong with it.

Second would be those other solid brands like Lite-On and NEC.

InXess
Banned


Joined: 10 Dec 2005
Location: Canada
Post Posted: Dec 03, 2006 02:07 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
is LG solid enough to be on the list as well?

budz
IGA Ninja


Joined: 11 Jan 2003
Location: In the shadows.....
Post Posted: Dec 03, 2006 02:15 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
Get a BENQ 1650/1655 from COMPUSA under the brand name NORWOOD MICRO (1650) & CONNECT COMPUTERS (1655). Those 2 brands aren't cheap at COMPUSA but they do go sale from time to time.

The LG H10 & H22 drive and PIONEER 111 are also good drives to consider. You don't have to use QSUITE to burn your dvds if you buy the BENQ 1650/1655. It's a option to use and everyones results will vary depending on the hardware in your pc. Check out all the different forums at CdFreaks.com. They have BENQ, PIONEER, LG, LITEON, NEC, BTC, & PLEXTOR forums over there. Do some research there to help you decide what burner to buy. smile.gif smile.gif smile.gif

taboo
Member


Joined: 03 Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Post Posted: Feb 16, 2008 01:34 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
Hello People,

Believe it or not, but its me again, with same damn question. This time I suspect that my BENQ DW1640 burner went down... It served me good 2 years. I bought it from www.Newegg.com and it was suggested by ricoman.

I just started discovering that wierd rewind problem I am describing in another post, as I did once couple years ago, and it just suddenly came to my mind - may be its a sign to buy new one.

I just did the Discovery test and tried to burn something with ImgBurn and they both failed... I am doing Discovery test on my laptop right this minute to see maybe its a media's fault...

...no its not media (Verbatim DVD+R DL) since I have Operation Successfully Completed! on my laptop.

So my question:

What burner would you recommend?

is sitll open!

What would you recommend?
Something not really pricey, but reliable.

For example, I got my previous BENQ DW1640 burner for $40.

TIA
taboo

budz
IGA Ninja


Joined: 11 Jan 2003
Location: In the shadows.....
Post Posted: Feb 16, 2008 01:45 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
What firmware are you using with your BENQ 1640? Some say using the last firmware that BENQ had for the 1640 is the best to use for DL media.

If you want a new dvd burner get a PIONEER 115 from Newegg, it's only $29.99.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129018

taboo
Member


Joined: 03 Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Post Posted: Feb 16, 2008 01:58 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
Hello budz,
Thanks for super fast reply!

Honestly, I have no idea what firmware.
I never installed it. Just plug-n-played it...

Is there any way to find out?

Can it cause the problem with my BenQ 1640? If it was not installed or was installed but not properly during my recent re-installation of Windows XP?

TIA
taboo

PS. Idea of getting a new DVD burner for only $29.99 is kinda exciting!

budz
IGA Ninja


Joined: 11 Jan 2003
Location: In the shadows.....
Post Posted: Feb 16, 2008 02:58 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
Use discinfo to find out the firmware of your BENQ 1640 drive.

http://discinfo.rpc1.org/#Download

Or you can see the firmware on your drive by using IMGBURN or DVD DECRYPTER.

Here's a snapshot of one of my BENQ 1640 drives. On the drive I'm actually using a the external 1640 drive firmware on my internal 1640. I believe the last firmware for the 1640 is BSRB.





taboo
Member


Joined: 03 Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Post Posted: Feb 16, 2008 11:18 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
Here is mine.



Let me know if its good or bad?

TIA
taboo

taboo
Member


Joined: 03 Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Post Posted: Feb 16, 2008 17:05 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
I have already downloaded and installed BSRB firmware update. Right now I am doing Discovery test with ImgBurn. Let me see if it will give me some good news...

taboo

budz
IGA Ninja


Joined: 11 Jan 2003
Location: In the shadows.....
Post Posted: Feb 16, 2008 17:11 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
taboo wrote:
I have already downloaded and installed BSRB firmware update. Right now I am doing Discovery test with ImgBurn. Let me see if it will give me some good news...

taboo


smile.gif Good luck! Hopefully you'll be able to continue using your BENQ 1640 for a bit longer. If not then buying a new dvd burner is always exciting! wink.gif

taboo
Member


Joined: 03 Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Post Posted: Feb 16, 2008 17:25 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
thanks budz,

I have a question though.

The BEFB that you have - is it External BEFB Firmware?
Are you using it on Internal 1640?

TIA
taboo

PS. ...And by the way Operation Successfully Completed!

taboo
Member


Joined: 03 Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Post Posted: Feb 16, 2008 17:49 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
I also did the search on net and found out from another forum that "using Verbatim discs with the latest (then) firmware BSHB has been a complete disaster!"

TIA
taboo

budz
IGA Ninja


Joined: 11 Jan 2003
Location: In the shadows.....
Post Posted: Feb 16, 2008 18:29 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
smile.gif your welx taboo!

Glad to hear the BENQ 1640 is still working for you. Yes, I am using the external firmware BEFB on one of my internal BENQ 1640 drives. In fact I think I have another one with it but it's on the shelf as I have way too many dvd burners but not enough computers! laugh.gif It burns well with certain brands of dvd media depending on the media id.

taboo
Member


Joined: 03 Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Post Posted: Feb 16, 2008 21:44 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
I might need one soon...

Just bought 3rd 160GB HD for my 3rd PC where I am planning to upgrade Windows 98 with Windows XP Pro.
It will replace 2 drives (DVD-ROM and CD-RW)

BenQ is a nice drive, especially for $40.
My first one (Sony 710U or something) I bought for approx $300. And it failed badly...

Thanks again,
taboo

archaeo
Member


Joined: 18 Mar 2004
Location: mountains
Post Posted: Feb 17, 2008 16:27 Posts Comp View users profile Send private message Reply with quote
Pioneer DVR 112
Purchased one just recently, and have nothing but superb burns.