• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Digital Research 52x CD-Rom or Memorex 48x CD-Rom

C

Comp625

Golden Member
I have a Digital Research 52x CD-Rom drive that I bought from CompUSA about a year ago. It's still in the box and I keep it for backup just incase one of my current CD-Roms die. I am currently using a Memorex 48x CD-Rom drive. When my Memorex 48x spins up or reads off of a CD, the fan inside the CD-Rom drive is LOOOUUDDD!! As a matter of a fact, the CD-Rom fan makes more noise than my ThermalTake Volcano 6CU+. 🙁

So should I replace my loud Memorex with a low-brand name Digital Research 52x drive that I bought from CompUSA about a year ago for $40?

I make alot of CD duplicates...and I don't know if this myth still holds up but lower brand name drives usually can't read certain sections of a CD as well as a brand name drive? I don't use the CD-Rom drive alot except for installing applications or reading off of archived bacup CD-Rs. Please decide for me ASAP! 🙂
 


<< I have a Digital Research 52x CD-Rom drive that I bought from CompUSA about a year ago. It's still in the box and I keep it for backup just incase one of my current CD-Roms die. I am currently using a Memorex 48x CD-Rom drive. When my Memorex 48x spins up or reads off of a CD, the fan inside the CD-Rom drive is LOOOUUDDD!! As a matter of a fact, the CD-Rom fan makes more noise than my ThermalTake Volcano 6CU+. 🙁 >>



There is no fan inside a CD-ROM drive. Actually there are a very few that does, but the fan is close to silent.




<<
So should I replace my loud Memorex with a low-brand name Digital Research 52x drive that I bought from CompUSA about a year ago for $40? >>



Not necessary.



<<
I make alot of CD duplicates...and I don't know if this myth still holds up but lower brand name drives usually can't read certain sections of a CD as well as a brand name drive? >>



The brand doesn't matter, rather it's WHO MADE the drive that matters. Memorex, Creative, Digital Research, BTC, Pacific Digital, yadda yadda yadda. I bet those are all made by Top-G or BTC. Creative CD-ROM drive is no better than Pacific Digital in many cases because drives are physically the same.

Those drives, even though rated for multi-read have hard time reading cheap CD-RW discs, crappy DAE and often slows down on low quality media.

Teac, Toshiba and Plextor makes their own drives and they're very nice.


For $<30, just get whatever's the cheapest if you want fast CD-RW read performace. Creative, Memorex or Digital research doesn't make any difference considering they're manufactured by same company.

Get Afreey if you want fast DAE and willing to put up with slow CD-RW readback.

 
Intresting I never knew that most CD-Rom drives are physically the same!

Are you sure there's no fan? There's something in my CD-Rom drive that when the drive spins up (with a CD in it), the drive makes ALOT of noise. The sound can be compared to loud heatsinks (most people refer to this noise as a "blowdryer" noise). It's very noisy...

My CD-Rom drive's model number is 32023276 48X. Taken from:

http://www.memorex.com/products/discontinued_display.php?cid=7&pid=185
 
Well it's pretty loud. My CL 8x4x32 CD-Rw isn't that loud when it spins up. The Memorex 48x - when the data on the CD is being accessed, it's pretty loud too (not as loud as when it's spinning).
 


<< Well it's pretty loud. My CL 8x4x32 CD-Rw isn't that loud when it spins up. The Memorex 48x - when the data on the CD is being accessed, it's pretty loud too (not as loud as when it's spinning). >>




Did you buy your Creative writer right after it was released? Creative uses very nice drives when it's first released so it gets good reviews. After a while they switch over to cheap source.

The reasons for different noise level are some drives are built with more thoughts into noise level and usually higher the speed, greater the noise. A 52x drive spins at 10,400RPM. 48x spins at 9,600RPM. The disc hovers right above the tray. Disc is a mass produced polycarbonate that is manufactured for ~20cents each or so. It doesn't have the rotational stability like much precisely crafted HDD platters do.

When you spin something at a great velocity in air, it will often produce turbulence and noise. Do you know the speed at the edge of the CD when it's spinning at 10,400RPM?

Faster than you imagined for sure. 235Km/h(147mph)
 
Oh yeah, I gotta mention that I can't enable DMA on my CD-Rom drive. In the Windows ToolTip thing, it says only some hardware support DMA, blah blah. I don't know if the DR 52x supports DMA or not...
 
I've got one of the Memorex 48 x drives too and it is a very noisey drive. Currently sitting in my desk drawer for a back up if one of my others dies.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top