dvd burner vs. dvd rom?

[spiritgumm]

Have had disc-compatibility issues when trying to read on a NEC and Benq (using dvds burned from other drives). It's a real issue, so that's not debatable. So far the problems haven't overlapped between those two brands, so it seems to me it's good to have 2 different-brand dvd drives. My question is should they both be writers, or should one be a dvd-rom? If dvd-rom, is there a list of them on this site? I only see writers.

[Bodysurf]

Have had disc-compatibility issues when trying to read on a NEC and Benq (using dvds burned from other drives). It's a real issue, so that's not debatable. So far the problems haven't overlapped between those two brands, so it seems to me it's good to have 2 different-brand dvd drives. My question is should they both be writers, or should one be a dvd-rom? If dvd-rom, is there a list of them on this site? I only see writers.

They should both be burners.

I think, for the vast majority of people, buying a DVD-ROM drive is just plain silly. When DVD-burners were $400 and DVD-ROM drives were $50, it made a lot of sense. Now, with 16X burners costing ~$40.00, it doesn't.

[hech54]

Have had disc-compatibility issues when trying to read on a NEC and Benq (using dvds burned from other drives). It's a real issue, so that's not debatable. So far the problems haven't overlapped between those two brands, so it seems to me it's good to have 2 different-brand dvd drives. My question is should they both be writers, or should one be a dvd-rom? If dvd-rom, is there a list of them on this site? I only see writers.

I thought you said the BenQ could read them?

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?p=1439171#1439171

I have two different NEC drives(2500 & 3530) and can't read dvd-R made on an HL-DT-ST brand drive. A Philips/BenQ drive (with same specs as the NEC 3530) could read them, so it's not the dvds themselves

[spiritgumm]

BenQ can't read -RW burned on a stand-alone dvd recorders (but NEC can). It could read -R, but I'm editing on pc and don't want to waste -R's.

NEC can't read -R burned on the GWA-4161B drive (but BenQ can). It could read +RW but my friend is making me permanent recordings(-R) with that drive.

So it seems one drive cannot do it all.

The situation is I got a new Dell computer equipped with BenQ. I had described problem and had Dell swap BenQ for NEC; NEC has it own issues, so I'm trying to decide what to do. Dell also uses Sony, but I don't know if they'd swap drives again.

Not that I'm limited to either brand, but I see a BenQ ROM for $20 at Newegg. I'll probably go for the 2-burner setup, though, unless I hear otherwise.

[yoda313]

I use a rom and a burner (single layer 4x) only because my emachine came with a rom and not a burner when I bought. But the rom is dvd-rom/cdrw unit so I use that for burning my cds and ripping my discs and save the dvd burning as the only thing that my dvd burner does. I've had it for years now without a problem.

I'd say go for the dual burner set since they're so cheap now. No reason not to.

[budz]

I use dvdroms to do the ripping for me unless I come across a disc that is unreadable or has scratches I'll use my dvd burners. I've bought most of my dvdroms off of ebay. Toshiba 1612 & 1712 are great rippers when using hijackers readspeed hack. You can find those old Toshiba dvdrom models off of ebay. Liteon dvdroms are also good and you can use readspeed hacks as well.

[hech54]

I still say it is a software/computer issue....not a drive issue. Both of my drives "do it all" and my computer is old and slow.....so are my burners now that I think of it.

[spiritgumm]

I've swapped NEC and BenQ drives between 2 computers, with consistent results when trying all the dvds that I've mentioned. Windows XP in all the computers. What software would be causing specific, repeated incompatibility?

[hech54]

The situation is I got a new Dell computer equipped with BenQ. I had described problem and had Dell swap BenQ for NEC; NEC has it own issues, so I'm trying to decide what to do. Dell also uses Sony, but I don't know if they'd swap drives again.

Hey man....I'm just going by what I read above and in your other thread. The story has changed....what....3 times now?
Now it is between two computers?
You are on your own.

[budz]

It's a known fact tha NEC drives are poor readers. Do yourself a favor and buy a dvdrom and install it on your dell pc. What is that BENQ model that you have? If I'm not mistaken DELL uses Philips dvd burners which can be flashed to a BENQ drive because they use the same chipset. Check out the BENQ FORUM at Cdfreaks.com for more information.

[spiritgumm]

Philips/BenQ1640 was originally in the Dell. I've read NEC 3500+up had improved reading skills. Can't get that BenQ retail anymore, but the NEC is available, so I'm thinking of having Dell swap back the BenQ and I'll buy an NEC or another brand if there really is something better. I was hoping to cover all my bases with those two (as we pessimists say, the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know).

[budz]

You can still get a BENQ 1640 by buying a COMPUSA 16x dvd burner or a SONY 810A or a PLEXTOR 740A they are all BENQ 1640's. You can crossflash those drives to the official BENQ FIRMWARE. I'm not a big fan of NEC products.

[lordsmurf]

BTC burners make the best readers.

[spiritgumm]

Dell will swap me back a BenQ, so I don't have to buy one. Now I gotta get a 2nd drive to read what the BenQ won't (-RW from dvd recorders). Any other good ones? BTC look alittle pricey.

[budz]

Dell will swap me back a BenQ, so I don't have to buy one. Now I gotta get a 2nd drive to read what the BenQ won't (-RW from dvd recorders). Any other good ones? BTC look alittle pricey.

Better make sure DELL is actually giving you a BENQ 1640 drive and not a BENQ DQ60 which is not as good as the 1640. The only benefit from the DQ60 is DVD-RAM. Take a look at the LITEON DVDROMS they are good readers and are reasonably priced.

[spiritgumm]

Thanks, Budz. Dell uses the Philips8701 which I've read is essentially the same as the BenQ1640. I just got it (again), and confirmed it's the Philips8701. I asked the tech who brought it and he also recommended Liteon, so I'll check them out.
On the Writer List, someone else complains they too have trouble using this drive specifically with -RW burned on a standalone dvd recorder (but it reads -RW burned in computers, go figure). Aside from that, it seems to work great.

[budz]

Good to hear you got a BENQ 1640 drive from DELL.

[classfour]

On a recent "problem DVD-R", I tried just about every drive and computer that I owned with no success - it reached about 75% and would go no further using DVDFab Decryptor, ISO Buster, and an Acard program - even tried to rip it in a standalone duplicator with an ASUS DVD-ROM.

I finally drug out an old Panasonic LFD-521 that I'd put into a USB enclosure (for a rainy day, I guess - and it was raining!), connected it to my laptop, and ripped it with Decryptor. I didn't even have to use DVDFab Decryptor.

Based on this (and some other "problem discs" that I've encountered since), my vote is for the old, outdated, unsupported Panny Multi-Drive for reading. I just won't burn with it anymore - I'm not even certain it could handle 8X media.