DVD Writer recommendation

[chewie8008]

Could you guys recommend me a good reliable/fast dvd writer for my PC. I don't know about all the technicalities. I'm on a relatively tight budget. From what i've seen there are a lot of really cheap ones, but I also don't want to totally waste my $$$ on a piece of @#%!.

I'm not really sure what qualities to look for in a writer. I was looking on newegg.com and pricewatch.com. I'm not sure which is better to have, -R/-RW or +R/+RW. I guess it would be better to have one that would write both, but not sacrificing price difference too much.

I'd appreciate the help very much. And I apologize if this has been asked a million times. I know all the information is on here, but i'm just not sure what qualities i'm looking for in a writer.

Thanks guys.

[budz]

purchase a dual format dvd burner, one that can record/playback both -/+ media. take a look at the different forums that cdfreaks has on different brands of burners. they forums for plextor, pioneer, nec, philips, liteon, & lg. buy what you can afford. i like the plextor drives the most because the writing quality is great. this is based on my own experience with the plextor 708a drive. pioneer 107d is another good drive and liteon is good because there are many firmware hacks for their drives. Plextor and Pioneer don't have bitsetting capabilities. bitsetting means the dvd+R media is burned in the DVD-ROM mode thus it is able to playback on standalone dvd players that don't have the capability to playback dvd+r media such as PANASONIC DVD PLAYERS which only playback DVD-R media. liteon and nec have bitsetting abilities with applying firmware hacks to their drives. I suggest you take a look at the forums at www.cdfreaks.com. I also suggest you purchase a dvdrom to do the dvd ripping of dvd files. that way you don't burn out the dvd burner.

The brands of DVD media is important too. If you use dvd media that's not recommended by the dvd burner manufacturer then you can end up burning coasters. In my experience there are too many variables in authoring and burning dvds, with the software you use to the way your drive is set up in your pc & brand of dvd media.

Don't bother with getting a DUAL LAYER DVD BURNER because the dvd media for it will be so expensive & it may not work on some standalone dvd players. I'd wait on DUAL LAYER until the media becomes cheaper.
Good Luck! Hope I didn't overwhelm you with too much information!!!!

[chewie8008]

So you think i'd be set w/ this one...

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-129-138&depa=1

Seems to be the one you mentioned above. I think i'll be using DVDxCopy, in which case you suggest I have two DVD writers so that I don't burn up one? This kinda sucks, as I am on a budget. I might just buy one for now, and take it easy on it, and then get the 2nd when I can...

What sort of media is good w/ this writer? I don't even know what a firmware hack is. I'm not looking to get too indepth w/ this just yet. I'll probably get a lot more indept once I have one, but for now, I am beyond lost. Would I be alright w/ the above mentioned one w/o having to do any special things to it(IE Firmware Hack)?

I'd MUCH MUCH rather be 'overwhelmed' w/ information then to have too little or none at all.

THANKS!

[richdvd]

I have the Pioneer 107 burner and it's been great.
Using Maxell -R media all the time and have went through hundreds with no problems at all. I've also used some Fuji -R that were perfect too.
I don't use the hacked firmware, as I have no need to.

[budz]

I think i'll be using DVDxCopy, in which case you suggest I have two DVD writers so that I don't burn up one?

DVDXCOPY is crappy software to use because it will cause conflicts with other software and hardware. I would suggest you use DVD DECRYPTER & DVD SHRINK to make backup copies of your dvds. Both programs are FREEWARE!

I didn't suggest you get 2 dvd writers. I suggested you purchase a DVD-ROM which is a dvd reader, it can not burn dvds. By using a DVD-ROM to rip the dvd files is better to use so you don't wear out the DVD BURNER.
If you can buy a DVD-ROM (READER) to rip the DVD FILES & purchase a DVD BURNER like the PIONEER 107D. If you are not interested in hacking your dvd burner then no problem the PIONEER 107D drive is fine without the hacked firmware.

As for DVD-R media MAXELL & FUJI are good brands to use. Make sure the MAXELL & FUJI's say MADE IN JAPAN on the outside of the spindle. FUJI DVD-R media is manufactured by TAIYO YUDEN. I suggest you take a look at the media section in this website look to the left of this website<<<<<and also at the guides on how to back up dvd movies<<<<<Good luck! the pioneer drive is fine but in my opinion the Plextor dvd burners have better writing quality. I backed up 1 of my movies using both the plextor and pioneer & used the same dvd media and the pioneer one couldn't be read in some of my standalone dvd players but the plextor one could be read by all my standalone dvd players. PLEXTOR RULES!!! Again that's based on my experience!!!!!
Good luck and Happy DVD burning to you!

[chobo321321]

Highly recommend Pioneer 107D. I use it with cheap media, and have had no problems with it. It's also a very fast drive.

[dvdx_925]

i would go for the liteon 812s. I recently got one and is pretty good. Plus, it can be hacked to burn dl discs, for more info, visit
http://codeguys.rpc1.org/oc.html.

[vitualis]

I've got that Lite-On drive as well... excellent results.

Regards.

[pchan]

Just avoid Benq. They don't tell you this or that '-RW' media users must avoid until users pay a trip to their service center.

[fmctm1sw]

I had a tough experience with Plextor. You can see many of my related rants on the subject.

[cbsmooney]

I would stick to the retail versions, OEM firmware updates can be a bear.

[chewie8008]

DVDXCOPY is crappy software to use because it will cause conflicts with other software and hardware. I would suggest you use DVD DECRYPTER & DVD SHRINK to make backup copies of your dvds. Both programs are FREEWARE!

I didn't suggest you get 2 dvd writers. I suggested you purchase a DVD-ROM which is a dvd reader, it can not burn dvds. By using a DVD-ROM to rip the dvd files is better to use so you don't wear out the DVD BURNER.
If you can buy a DVD-ROM (READER) to rip the DVD FILES & purchase a DVD BURNER like the PIONEER 107D. If you are not interested in hacking your dvd burner then no problem the PIONEER 107D drive is fine without the hacked firmware.

As for DVD-R media MAXELL & FUJI are good brands to use. Make sure the MAXELL & FUJI's say MADE IN JAPAN on the outside of the spindle. FUJI DVD-R media is manufactured by TAIYO YUDEN. I suggest you take a look at the media section in this website look to the left of this website<<<<<and also at the guides on how to back up dvd movies<<<<<Good luck! the pioneer drive is fine but in my opinion the Plextor dvd burners have better writing quality. I backed up 1 of my movies using both the plextor and pioneer & used the same dvd media and the pioneer one couldn't be read in some of my standalone dvd players but the plextor one could be read by all my standalone dvd players. PLEXTOR RULES!!! Again that's based on my experience!!!!!
Good luck and Happy DVD burning to you!

I see what you're saying now. However, my computer came w/ a DVD-ROM...so i'm already set there! The reason I said DVDx is because my friend uses that and hasn't mentioned any problems(doesn't mean they don't exist tho). I think i'm going to go ahead and order the Pioneer 107D, and check out the software you mentioned above. I just don't want to get this too complicated. I'm gonna go w/ the Pioneer over the Plextor for money reasons. So i'm just going to take out my CD-RW drive and replace it w/ the Pioneer.

If i'm making a wrong move, say something quick, cause i'm ordering it very soon from newegg.com and I can only send it back for the same thing, no $$$ refund.

Thanks again guys!

[chobo321321]

It's an awesome drive. You won't be disappointed.

[Shocker Milwaukee]

Ditto

[chewie8008]

Ok, one last thing to clarify before I order this thing. I went to order it just a few seconds ago and realized it's white, and my drives are black. Which isn't a big deal at all, but I figured I would get black if I could. So, is this a completely different writer...?

The black one I just found that seems to be nearly the same one...
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-129-139&depa=1

Original one I was going to get...
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-129-138&depa=1

The only difference that I see listed is, the white one listed as 107d has "Supports Buffer Under Run protection, Precision Recording Technology" and then black one listed as just 107 has only "Precision Recording Technology" under the features section.

I don't want to give up any performance or reliability at all, so if there is a difference, please let me know. I don't care about the looks near as much as performance or realibility.

Thanks!!

[budz]

they are both the same drives. only difference is one is beige and the other is black, they are both OEM drives. i wouldn't worry about what the specs say at newegg.com. if that worries you so much then purchase the pioneer 107d drive from mwave.com which sells the drive for $82.00. i got mine from mwave.com. actually purchased 3 of them to build new pcs.

http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=AA26490

[chewie8008]

Ordered it... Anticipation mode...

THANKS guys!!!!

[chas0039]

I have put a couple of these drives in for friends and myself and you will not be disappointed. Strongly recommend Prodisc DVD-R S03 media at Rima.com or Supermediastore.com. Another user here has burned 5000 discs of Prodisc and is sold.

[chobo321321]

ignore that. Wrong hardware.

[chewie8008]

Ok, I gotta do it...

What's the difference between the DVD-R and DVD+R...?

[chewie8008]

Ok, maybe if I put it this way....

Whenever I get my Pioneer 107D, which should I buy, 100 pack of DVD+R or 100 pack of DVD-R?

[zak_swan]

Ok, maybe if I put it this way....

Whenever I get my Pioneer 107D, which should I buy, 100 pack of DVD+R or 100 pack of DVD-R?

oh no! flame war alert!
DVD-R

[Capmaster]

Ok, maybe if I put it this way....

Whenever I get my Pioneer 107D, which should I buy, 100 pack of DVD+R or 100 pack of DVD-R?

Get 50 of each

[zak_swan]

Get 50 of each

very diplomatic old bean

[DVD_Ripper]

You may find a slight compatibility increase with the -R's, especially on older DVD players.

[Capmaster]

Get 50 of each

very diplomatic old bean

Best not to fan the flames of a "+ versus -" war again

[chewie8008]

I think i'll just do that, buy 50 of each. There seems to be some sort of minimial difference between the two, but I don't know what it is. Other than the above mentioned compatibility issue.

Wasn't looking to start any word wars here, lol. Looking like, Prodisc from rima.com. Still waiting on my burner.

Thanks guys!

[djKale]

Just a warning about DVD+Rs, I haven't been able to burn DVD+R with DVD Shrink in my Pioneer 107. I get an error when DVD Shrink is about to close the disc. Last time I tried was with the stock 1.09 firmware so it may have been addressed in one of the updates. My current firmware version is 1.16, but I haven't tried burning DVD+Rs yet..

I've used about 50 of the Prodisc DVD-R discs without a hitch

Kale

[Nilfennasion]

This might be a little late, but I am the proud owner of an LG GSA-4120B, and it is the proverbial shiz-nit.

Cons:

* Cannot bitset

Pros:

* Reads/writes any format you care to throw at it, including DVD-RAM and DVD+R DL. Although the latter is still hampered by software incompatibilities.
* 12X Maximum write speed on DVD+R.
* Comes with PowerDVD (at least in the country I am in), which is unquestionably the best DVD playback software available on the Wintel platform.
* Is so easy to flash to RPC-1 status that even my grandmother could do it with a little prompting.

With this many plusses, it's going to take an extreme blunder on LG's part, or an extreme miracle, to get me to switch to another brand of DVD burner.

About the difficulty with burning DVD+R, perhaps switching to another program might work. I've never had a problem burning them under DVDDecrypter.

[chas0039]

Ok, maybe if I put it this way....

Whenever I get my Pioneer 107D, which should I buy, 100 pack of DVD+R or 100 pack of DVD-R?

I have gotten very good burns with both +R and -R. The S03s give PI errors in the 60s, the Ritek G03s give errors in the teens and the Ritek R03s I have give errors in the teens as well AS LONG AS I STICK TO 4X.

I will stick to the S03s as they are cheaper, more consistent, easy to find in a matte finish, and there is not a significant difference in the error rate over the Riteks. Also I have seen no other disc, including TY, that will give a straight line every time in the CDSpeed transfer test all the way to 14X.