DVD-ROM Recommendations

[joohang]

From the list here:
NCIX.com DVD-ROM drives

Which drive do you recommend?

I'm looking for a cheap, quiet DVD-ROM drive. Slot-load would be nice, if it doesn't make more noise than tray-load.

And no, I prefer to buy DVDs. Ripping speed doesn't mean much to me.

Is the Hitachi one any good? They got a promotion ($59 CDN) this week.

Thanks.

 

[LuNoTiCK]

The toshiba i forgot the number something like 16x48 and the pioneer 106s seem to be recommended here.

 

[Sugadaddy]

the Pioneer 16X slot load for 98$, very good deal. (the model number on the page says 105S, but they have the 106S in stock now instead)

 

[joohang]

Thank you.

I can price match it down to $95.

 

[joohang]

They are pretty quiet, right?

My computer is nearly silent. I'd hate to have the DVD drive making noises when I'm watching a movie.

Please advise with the awareness of the fact that my fans make almost no noise.

 

[snow]

The Pioneer drive is LOUD. Stick with toshiba if you want a quiet drive.

 

[joohang]

Thank you, snow.

I've even get one of those old 2x drives if it's quieter.

 

[johneetrash]

my toshiba 12x is really nice and quiet

 

[Noriaki]

Pioneer drives are very loud.

I've been told that this is only true of slot load version though.
I've never heard a tray-load pioneer in action but I can tell you from experience the slot laods are crazy loud.

I also found the Pioneer wasn't the greatest at reading CDRs and CDRWs.

I upgraded to the Toshiba 12x, it reads CDRs and CDRWs much better and it's alot quieter.

Personally for $59 I'd probably go for the Hitachi, they make nice set-top players, and a DVD Rom doesn't need to do that much compared to a set top.

Edit:
A note on noise:
Remember when watching a movie you only spin at 1x. I don't think any drive is going to be loud at that speed unless is has a defect.

The loudness comes from the high spindle speeds associated with 40x CD reading.

 

[joohang]

It looks like there is an error with the Hitachi drive. It's actually an 8x drive, not 12x.

Then there's probably a good chance that this is also a quiet drive, right?

Is it also possible to copy the entire DVD into the hard drive and then play the movie?

 

[Noriaki]

At 1x (DVD playback speed) it will be quiet.

I can't speak for max CD read speed though.



<< Is it also possible to copy the entire DVD into the hard drive and then play the movie? >>

Doubtful. Just rip to DivX if you want to do that.

 

[joohang]

<-- anti-DivX

 

[frufru]

If you dont want to rip ive heard that the toshiba is better. But those prices are high. Try www.pricewatch.com. I found a pioneer 16s (16x slot load) here $73 shipped.

 

[Noriaki]

NCIX.com is a canadian site, $95 canadian = ~$65US.

And you have to add at least $10-15 when candians buy from the US.


How can you be anti-DivX but want to copy the DVD to your hard drive?
That's what DivX is.

 

[frufru]

sorry about that eh
i forgot the exchange rate thing
what software do you use to rip to DivX?

 

[joohang]

<< How can you be anti-DivX but want to copy the DVD to your hard drive?
That's what DivX is. >>


You don't know me well enough yet, do you?

The point of copying it to the hard drive was the copy it over a network. So I can install the &quot;loud&quot; DVD-ROM drive on the server in some other room and copy it to my hard drive before watching the movie.

If I ever rip/compress, I'd use Microsoft's REAL MPEG4.