Looks like my benq 1620 may be dying, any writers burn 8x @ 12x?

[Denvers Dawgs]

Ok so my Benq 1620 will no longer open unless I use a paper clip, so it looks like it's on it's way out. Very sad because this drive has been a champ. What I loved about it was that it would burn my 8x verbatims @ 12x speeds, flawlessly. I still have about 50 or so of these 8x dvd+r verbatims (94968) and was wondering what newer drives out there now, if any, will burn my 8x's @ 12x. I know benq is out of the business, so not sure where to look from here. I currently have a 2nd drive Samsung TS-652L Firmware (0603). Which does burn +DL discs @ 8x, which is nice, but only burns my 8x +r @ 8x.

So in short are there any new drives that burn 8x media @ 12x, flawlessly like my old and reliable 1620?

[samijubal]

You may just need to replace a belt in the Benq.

[johns0]

You may just need to replace a belt in the Benq.

Or clean it till you find a belt.

[RabidDog]

Be wary .. This could be when you find out all those old DVD's read back fine in the drive they were burnt, but not in anything else.
If you were Benq before, and liked it, then stay Benq. (old stock?)

[Denvers Dawgs]

That's not the case. All those dvds, play fine in all my players and my 3 burners.

[wtsinnc]

I found this on Ebay.
No idea about the seller, but the feedback is good.

http://cgi.ebay.com/BenQ-DW1620-IDE-DVDRW-16X-Beige-Refurbished_W0QQitemZ150360972499Q...3A1%7C294%3A50

I also saw listings for the models 1640, 1650, and 1670.

[MOVIEGEEK]

The Lite-On's will burn faster than what is rated by using OverSpeed, the write quality isn't as good as BenQ but they are cheap.
http://www.liteonit.com/global/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=153

[budz]

buy a PIONEER drive to replace your 1620.

[Denvers Dawgs]

Hey budz, which of these would you choose

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010100005%2050001167&bop=...ue&Order=PRICE

[budz]

I should have stated which PIONEER drive to purchase. The new 118 drive is probably a LITEON since it uses the MEDIATEK chipset according to CdFreaks.com. PIONEER no longer manufactures their own drives. It's getting good reviews at CdFreaks.com.

http://club.cdfreaks.com/f87/pioneer-dvr118l-118chv-a18l-279058/

If you buy from Newegg then get the PIONEER 118. I haven't purchased it yet and haven't even bought the 117 series which I believe is the last drive that PIONEER manufactured. If you really want one of the last PIONEER drives get the 116, 117 and sata 216 or 217 if you can find them. Actually the PIONEER website lists the 117 for $26.99 but you'll have to pay for 2 day shipping. For me it's expensive since I'm in Hawaii.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/BusinessProducts/Blu-rayDisc+DVDWriter...iters/DVR-117D

Best Buy has the retail version of the 116D but it's $59.99 but includes free shipping.
This is the retail version according to the PIONEER website.
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/BusinessProducts/Blu-rayDisc+DVDWriter...iters/DVR-1910
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9320629&type=product&id=1218084392804

Another website called centralcomputers.com in San Francisco has the 216 drive for $34.95. and 116 for $33.95.
I've bought PIONEER drives from them when I'm vacationing in S.F. or I have my cousin pick it up for me and then mail it to me.
http://www.centralcomputers.com/commerce/catalog/spcategory.jsp?category_id=1235&price...=1248653949640

Unfortunately the last PIONEER drive I bought was last year the 216 from Centralcomputers.com. I haven't been keeping up with the newer drives since I've taken a liking to other computer stuff like overclocking and busy building systems for others. I've bought PIONEER drives from their own website when they had the 115 drives with free shipping.
Get those models while you can since PIONEER no longer manufactures their own drives now. Kind of deja vu huh, with what happened to BENQ selling out their optical dept. to LITEON. I use my LITEON drive strictly for ripping and use my other drives mostly the PIONEER's & BENQ's for burning. Good luck! Let me know which drive you decide on.

[stiltman]

The 117 has been performing nicely for me
https://forum.videohelp.com/topic369862.html