Optical drives...are all the same now?

[WildW]

My DVD drive is getting old and struggling to read some discs. It's an external USB one because my ITX build is awkward. Anyhow, time to replace it. . .

Is there any difference between optical drives any more? Externals tend to be laptop drives put into a USB case. . . are full size internal drives better in any way? Any quality difference between a LiteOn and a Plextor, or are they all made in the same factory?

 

[corkyg]

Many differences. There are standard CD/DVD and also BluRay. There are slims and fats. There are different interfaces (PATA, SATA, and USB.) There are different placements (internal or external.) They are not all made in the same factory. Quality wise, none are what they used to be. I am still using a Pioneer slot feed internal that is approaching 10 years old and still going strong for reading CDs and DVDs.

 

[Cerb]

Do you rip CDs? If not, the differences are minor (if so, get the Asus 241BST, or a Samsung S2xxaa).

Plextor hasn't been higher-quality in many years, now.