Who manugfactures HP's Dual Layered Writers (530i/630i)?

[Denvers Dawgs]

Where can I find out who makes hps writers? And if there are more than one company can you tell who made itwhile its still in sore/package?

I've heard BenQ as well as Lite-on, but those were just peoples guesses

[MOVIEGEEK]

530 is a Lite-On 832
630 is a BenQ 1620 or Lite-On 1633
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdwriters.php?DVDname=hp&cdrs=&cdrws=&dvdrs=&dvdrws=&dvdprs=...&Search=Search

It's cheaper to buy them retail instead of OEM(HP):Retail=$80,OEM(HP)=$130.

[Denvers Dawgs]

Benq is better right? And if I buy the benq it would be the same as the one from HP, just not with the HP badge?

I recently saw a sticker on the HP 630i at Wal-mart and it said 630iv. Who makes that, can't find it anywhere

[MOVIEGEEK]

The firmware with BenQ OEM are slightly different and you can flash it to a BenQ Retail but the process is risky.
If you have a credit card order a BenQ 1620 from www.newegg.com or www.zipzoomfly.com ,newegg accepts checks.

[Denvers Dawgs]

thannx...question about the firmware? Whats the purpose of flashhing it? And any info you can provide on the firmware topic, I don't know much about it. All I know is it is what/how writer works

[MOVIEGEEK]

Upgrading the firmware usually(not always) improves performance and allows you to use more media.For instance:the latest 1620 f/w allows 4x DL writing.
Here's a thread on the BenQ conversion:
http://club.cdfreaks.com/lite/t-111718