• 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.

Need to purchase DVD/CD Burner, but driving myself crazy!

M

mwheat

Member
Okay, I'm upgrading my current computer piece by piece and now is the time to buy a DVD burner. Would like to buy it this weekend so I can get in on this month's budget ;-)

Problem is that I think I have read TOO MANY threads ;-) I'm less sure of what I want now then when I started. Here are some specific's for what I am looking for:

Must Have's
High Quality product
Cost - Less then $100
DVD+R/DVD-R: Min 8x on both
CDR: Min 40X burn

Nice to Have
Compatiable with a wide range of media and software
Won't be obsolote in 6-12 months.

As for dual layer - just don't see that being all that important to me. Sounds like the media won't be out for awhile and when it does hit, cost will be high. If I can get 12-18 months out of this drive, then I will be happy.

I have been looking at are the 12x & 16x Plextors - they have EVERYTHING I want, expect I'm not willing to pay the 150-200 bucks for a DVD/CD burner. Also keep looking at the NEC 2500A and 2510's. I would opt for the 2500A, but it has a max of 32X CD burn. I'm giving up a 52X Lite-On CD Burner already (going to kids computer). Just too big of a drop. As for the 2510 - dual layer just isn't important to me right now (if I am wrong and it should be, let me know). So the other one I am looking at is this one:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-106-936&depa=1

My last several burners have been Lite-on's. Overall, I have been pretty happy with them. But I'm not a died hard loyalist either 🙂

Anyways, any thoughts or suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated!

Michael
 
Your best legitimate choices are the NEC 2500, NEC 2510, or Lite-On 812S.

NEC 2500A: $68.99

NEC 2510A: $85.99

Lite-On 812S: $72.70

The NEC drives are only 32X CD-R's, but they are better DVD burners. They make slightly better burns on almost all media, but the Lite-On is still good, just not quite as good. For $17, even if you don't care about dual-layer, it's probably going to give the drive a longer useful life, but $17 is actually quite a bit when you're talking about a $68.99 drive.

The Lite-On drive is slightly better if it's your only drive, because it has slightly faster access times. The Lite-On is also a little better at copying protected CD's.

I honestly can't see how you would call a 32X CD-R too big of a drop when going from a 52X. Anything over 16X doesn't make much of a difference because it's not a constant speed (the whole 52X MAX thing, as I'm sure you know).

For example, the NEC 2510 burns a full CD in 3min 35sec, the Lite-On 812S burns a CD in 3min 6sec.

The bottom line is that if you burn a whole lot of CD's get the Lite-On. If your main concern is DVD, get the NEC.
 
Buy a 2510a and enjoy the 8x speed plus the dual layer ability. Then wait for HD-DVD burners to hit the market in 12 months for $149 🙂🙂🙂🙂
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top