Best overall DVD burner at about $80

elkinm

Platinum Member
Jun 9, 2001
2,146
0
71
I am looking for a DVD burner around $80.

Right now I am thinking about the Lite-On 812S, Nu-Tech DDW-082, NEC 2500A, Optiorite DD0405. Any other suggestions would be welcome.

I am looking for something to make reliable burns consistently and read well to.

And I am looking for good upgradeability to new standards and features. For instance the NEC is dual layer upgradeable possible some others. Maybe some may be upgraded to 12x. Also the Optiorite has HD-Burn but the problem is that HD-disks are not read by regular DVD drives.

Most upgrades are uncertain but which ones have a good history of upgrades and firmware fixes?

Thanks
 

aug1516

Senior member
Apr 12, 2001
282
0
0
I have been very happy with my Nu-Tech. It also did well in the latest Anandtech DVD burner roundup.
 

JackBurton

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
15,993
14
81
Get the NEC 2510A burner. It has DL capabilities (no hack firmware needed), and can be had for about $93 shipped. A little over $80, but it is a really nice and flexible burner. Sony is charging ~$200 for their DL burner. ;)
 

RobCur

Banned
Oct 4, 2002
3,076
0
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a little too early for dl, there is no media out yet and it wont be until next year or sl is exausted first.
 

OdiN

Banned
Mar 1, 2000
16,430
3
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I recommend the Lite-On. I have one and it's an excellent drive. They have a new 8x8 version out, starts with SOHW in the part number I think....I think it's the 812S. The 8x4 was the LDW811S which is what I have. Great drive.
 

JackBurton

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
15,993
14
81
Originally posted by: RobCur
a little too early for dl, there is no media out yet and it wont be until next year or sl is exausted first.
Too early? So if he needs a DVD burner now, he should get a SL burner and then when DL media is readily available he should go out and buy another burner? WTF sense does that make? I can understand if the burner was $300, but $93 for a DL capable burner is a steal. When DL media becomes available you'll already have the capability to burn it. Now why again should he not get a DL burner?
 

Delorian

Senior member
Mar 10, 2004
590
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I say 2500a, it has all the good features you need for about $75 and shouldn't have any problems using hacked firmware to write on DL discs. Haven't tried this out myself as DL discs are gaurded by ninjas at this point, but I've heard it's very possible. If you are worried about the firmware then I'd go for the 2510a, both nec drives have 8x for both DVD+R and DVD-R and 4x for both DVD-RW and DVD+RW.
 

deathwalker

Golden Member
May 22, 2003
1,211
0
0
I just got the Nu-082 from newegg...flashed it with the B373 firmware...I'm somewhat dissappointed...Anandtech upsold this unit in there review but I find it very finiky. Seems to work ok with my Memorex DVD +RW media...pukes its guts up when ever I put some Sony DVD+RW media in the I picked up on sale last week...the sony media is on the supported media list that was published with the firmware release also. Conclusion...buy cheap...get cheap!!
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
49,292
5,839
136
I have a Lite-on 401s burner hacked into an 811s...works fantastic ;) I have a couple Lite-on drives and so does my dad...they all work great. Good price, good reliability. My next upgrade will probably be to an 812s, so that my dad can have my old 401s/811s burner.

If you want to wait awhile, you can get a DL burner for cheap, but you can get a SL burner right now for cheap and the technology is already widespread. I mostly use my burner for data backup, and sometimes home videos and DVD-movie stuff, but other than that I don't have a real reason to wait for DL burners.
 

ponyo

Lifer
Feb 14, 2002
19,688
2,810
126
Go with the tried and true: Nec 2500A or its newer brother Nec 2510A. Price is cheap and its proven performer. No need to mess with other brands and potential problems when Nec is so cheap.
 

NightCrawler

Diamond Member
Oct 15, 2003
3,179
0
0
DO NOT get the 2500A and use a hacked firmware. It voids the warranty and the laser calibration is NOT correct for dual layer use according to NEC. Just spend the extra $18 and get the proper 2510A.
 

SUOrangeman

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
8,361
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NightCrawler, we won't really know what the hacked firmware will do until DL media arrives. By then, a better/updated firmware will probably be available.

I recently pulled about 4 NEC ND-2100As from some new Dells. I've upgraded one of them to the ND-2510A via the hacked firmware. If the media's not too expensive, I'll give it a whirl sooner than later.

-SUO
 

elkinm

Platinum Member
Jun 9, 2001
2,146
0
71
Thanks everyone,

I decided to go with the NEC 2510A. The only problem is that it is OEM and does not come with any software. I plan on using Nero 5.5 for burning but is there any good DVD authorizing and editing/shrinking software that is free and would be usable with this burner, or is there a way to get the retail NEC software?

Thanks
 

ScrapSilicon

Lifer
Apr 14, 2001
13,625
0
0
Originally posted by: elkinm
Thanks everyone,

I decided to go with the NEC 2510A. The only problem is that it is OEM and does not come with any software. I plan on using Nero 5.5 for burning but is there any good DVD authorizing and editing/shrinking software that is free and would be usable with this burner, or is there a way to get the retail NEC software?

Thanks

not sure if 5.5 even when updated to .56 will work with 2510A but for free..DVDShrink
DW800A ..811 burnt :D