Looking to buy a DVD drive.... (maybe Creative?)

[LordJezo]

...and I am currently being swayed to the side of the Creative Labs DVD setup with the nice looking Dolby decoder board. Anyone have any experience with them? Or should I get something else?

 

[Neff]

if you have a newer video card you probably dont need a decoder, as the video card will be able to decode it just as good if not better than a decoder card. Saves a PCI slot as well. I have a Toshiba DVD, I like it a lot... thats my input.

 

[cvlegion]

No!!!!!! Do not buy Creative. If you compare seek times, they have the worst of all the drives. They also are overprices. Buy a Pioneer 10x or 16x. Then if you really want a decoder card buy a Hollywood Plus decoder card. However if you have a machine with at least 500MHz or so, you do not need the decoder card.

 

[cvlegion]

Actually, Neff, newer video card feature DVD assist which is quite different than a DVD decoder. I think there are some of those all-in-wonders referring to ATI which do have an on board decoder, but most do not. All new video cards at least have what they call DVD-assist.

 

[LordJezo]

So no Creative then, eh? That turns me completly around here.
So you people like the Toshiba? The system I am going to get is going to be about a 1.4 AMD. The reason I wanted the Creative is that it had the decoder card with the dolby surround bit. If I dont get the creative, what is the best way to go about getting this type of surround sound? Do some of the better sound cards offer it?

 

[gopunk]

yea some of the sound cards have it... i know my soundblaster live platinum does. go get a pioneer dvd-116, no complaints from me.

 

[GregMal]

If you've been reading the forums for awhile you'd never buy a
Creative CDROM/CDWriter/DVD....too many problems.....
Greg

 

[Fenix793]

yea id recommend pioneer. One thing to watch out for is that only the slot load has a digital cd out so if you want that make sure you get a slot load. As for the sound issue. If you want real surround get a real receiver to do the work. The SB lIve can pass the signal right too it and it sounds great on my Pioneer VSX-D409. The Hollywood cards also do the pass thru and they also have GREAT tv out, like set top quality. Not to mention it looks very good on the monitor and in my opinion better then the assist of the gf2.

 

[LordJezo]

<< If you've been reading the forums for awhile you'd never buy a
Creative CDROM/CDWriter/DVD....too many problems.....
Greg >>



I guess that is my problem then. I just started reading them a few days ago. Since then, I have changed around all my buying plans. The DVD issue is high on my list though. I have a bunch of DVDs, but no drive to play them in. I have decent speakers (Altec ATP-5.. or is there bad stuff about them too??) and would really like a dive some time soon to get some use of them.

For the Hollywood card everyone seems to like.. is this what I am looking for: http://www.provantage.com/scripts/go.dll/-s/fc_sigm? Seems to be decently priced...

 

[locutus4]

I was thinking bout the creative package wth the decoder card because of the TV out which my video card does not have. What kind of problems are you talking about with the Creative 12x???

 

[Macro2]

Creative? ROTFLMAO! No way...

Toshiba 12x (or 16x unless you rip DVDs)...

Dunno much about decoder cards. I know PowerDVD works very well as does WinDVD.

As far as TV out...wanna play a DVD on your TV? Get a DVD player...dual laser. Panasonic makes a nice one that also plays, CDRs, CDRWs and MP3s for about $179.

Mac

 

[MrBond]

The Creative bundles always used to use hollywood plus decoders (I think...correct me if I'm wrong here), so you should be fine with a pioneer/toshiba and a hollywood plus.

 

[locutus4]

but whats wrong with creative??????

 

[locutus4]

AHHHHHHHHHH

 

[bdcrisp]

I bought a toshiba 8x dvd for 35 bucks.. not a single problem yet, without a decoder card and using an old Voodoo3 vid. card.

 

[Nucleophyle]

It's all about the Pioneer slot-loading goodness!

16x read, fast spin-up time, $65 shipped.

 

[lilnnjaboy]

there is nothing wrong with the creative drives. It's just slow reading CD's. Otherwise the drive works fine. The decoder card works great together with the SB Live. It will decode the AC-3 files and get true surround sound from your external decoder.

 

[Technics1200]

Please go to newegg then go to the dvd section, then click on the Pioneer dvd, then order the Pioneer 106S for 65.00 shipped to your door if you live in the US. Thank you very much.

 

[locutus4]

lol whats that about?
If i do that then i wont have a decoder to hook up to my TV!

 

[nortexoid]

all i can say is to stay away from creative optical drives...they suck sh1t.

 

[chuckieland]

toshiba is the best dvd drive you can buy

 

[VBboy]

Creative Labs use Hollywood Magic Plus hardware decoder in their combo, and you can buy it separately for around $50. So get yourself a nice 16x DVD-ROM drive with this card, and you're all set.