Combo drive DVD ripping speed on new PowerMacs

[Mr Zippy]

I am planning to buy a new PowerMac Dual 1.25 GHz.

What speed does the current internal combo drive rip DVDs?

I intend to get a SuperDrive Fitted which I know is an Pioneer 105 which rips DVDs a 2x speed, I need a fast DVD ripping drive is the current combo drive any good?

My other option is to put my PC Lite-on LTD163 in a firewire case.

Thanks

Neil

[galactica]

Please read further into the posts here. I know i posted a reply to your earlier question on this subject specifically.

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=156605&highlight=dvd+ripping+speed+software

the answer is in there

[galactica]

Sorry if I sounded a little rough, it was early in the morning when I saw this, and now that I read it I am like WOAH what a rough reply!

ALSO! the 2x speed of that drive is not the rip speed, but the BURN SPEED! DVD ripping relies on the read ability of the drive itself. Thus, an 8x dvd read speed is decent for dvd ripping. However, the 12x DVD read speed of the combo drive is better! Thats why those who rip with a superdrive it takes longer!

Here you go: For current 2003 machines. Those in 2002 are slightly slower (particualry important is dvd read speed of 6x for machines of 2002)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Superdrive specs
writes dvd-r at 4x
Reads dvd at 8x
writes cd-r at 16x
writes cd-rw at 8x
reads cd at 32x

Combodrive specs
Reads dvd at 12x
writes cd-r at 32x
writes cd-rw at 10x
reads cd at 32x

Notice the slower dvd read speed for the superdrive!. Thats why it takes so much longer to rip a dvd from the super drives. (also note now almost everything else is slower than the combo drive??)
For that reason I had apple install both! because having only just the one superdrive will limit your read speeds and cd-r burning speeds.

For those who are stuck with only 1 drive and its a superdrive, purchase an external firewire combodrive (or if you are content with burning speeds and just want to increase your dvd ripping, purchase an external firewire dvd-rom (ensuring its faster than 8x dvd read)

[Mr Zippy]

As a mainly PC user until now I can only talk from the point of view of PC DVD Rom drives, but you will find that most manufacturers cap the rip speed of DVD Video - Lite-on is one of the exceptions.

My Sony DRU-500A writer is capped at 2x and so is the Pioneer DVR105/A05, although on both drives the actual DVD read speed is much higher.

This is why I ask what speed does the current combo drive actually rip CCS Encrypted DVD video - I can see the data read speed, but this is usually very different compared to DVD Video rip speed.

Basically I want to know if it's worth adding a combo drive on a build to order system, I think I may anyway as the 16x CD write of the superdrive is very slow.


Cheers

Neil

[galactica]

Basically I want to know if it's worth adding a combo drive on a build to order system, I think I may anyway as the 16x CD write of the superdrive is very slow.
Cheers
Neil

VERY MUCH WORTH IT!

My combo drive will do a dvd back up (ripped totally to full copy usually 9 gigs) in about 20 min.

My super drive it takes about 40 min for a back up (dvdbackup)

Likewise, a dvd riped to elemental or progressive streams takes about 10 to 15 min with the combo drive where as it takes 20-30 min with the super drive.

Its highly recommended (by me) to have something other than a super drive for dvd ripping (be it a 2nd internal combo drive, an external fast combo drive or even a fast internal or external dvd-rom drive!)

Anything is better than the superdrive dvd rip speed really.

Its the price you pay for having a multifunctional drive. There are lots of post in here about peopel who see the speeds for dvd to dvd posted by some people and say HOW CAN YOU BACK IT UP SO FAST! and the answer is most of those who have fast backup speeds were not using the super drive for the dvd reading.

Hope that makes since.

MY recommendation if you are getting a new Mac G4. Get it with the combo drive and opt for the super drive also (if yours doesnt come std with the super drive) If it does, also get the combo drive!

-Galactica

[Mr Zippy]

Thanks for that, thats what I wanted to know. I was worried the combo drive might be capped to 2x dvd rip.... The fast rip speed and 32x cd write make it worth it then.

I cannot wait to get my new mac, I purchased a 2nd hand G400 AGP just to test, it's obviously a touch slow but OS X makes Windows look rubbish.

My PC is really annoying me, shame the superdrive is not a Sony mind you as they are 24x CD write / 4x dvd write.

Neil