Went Back Up! $40.99! NEC 3540 OEM Black @ Newegg and Monarch

AquariusX

Senior member
Sep 14, 2002
226
0
0
Welcome everyone. I've updated the initial post to give a much cleaner look. I am listing deals at Newegg at Monarch since they seem to be the best ones out there. Enjoy the deal and if you feel something can be improved, do tell. On to the deal then!


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Table of Contents
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- Most Recent Updates
- Product Links
- I Need Media Son!
- Price History
- Specifications
- Reviews
- FYI


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Most Recent Updates
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*** Old updates are incorporated into price history and comments sections***

Update: 9/28/05

Newegg has it for $40.99 with $2.00 3 day shipping



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Product Links
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Newegg Link

Monarch Link


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Where to get media for this bomb-diggity burner?
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100pk TY DVD-R Media Hotness Thread[/b]


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Price History best price listed for the day
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9/20/05 - $39.90 [Newegg]
7/27/05 - $40.99 [Newegg]
7/08/05 - $40.99 [Monarch]
7/05/05 - $42.00 [Newegg]
7/02/05 - $42.50 [Monarch]
6/30/05 - $42.99 [Newegg]
6/28/05 - $43.99 w/ free combo cd wallet [Newegg]
6/27/05 - $45.99 [Newegg]
6/25/05 - $48.00 [Newegg]
6/20/05 - $51.99 [Newegg]


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Specifications NEC 3520 & 3540 compared
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*** Differences are in highlighted in bold term***

NEC 3540

16X DVD+R
8X DVD+RW
8X DVD+R DL
16X DVD-R
6X DVD-RW
6X DVD-R DL
16X DVD-ROM
48X CD-R
32X CD-RW
48X CD-ROM
2M Cache IDE DVD Burner - OEM


NEC 3520

16X DVD+R
8X DVD+RW
4X DVD+R DL
16X DVD-R
6X DVD-RW
4X DVD-R DL
16X DVD-ROM
48X CD-R
24X CD-RW
48X CD-ROM
2M Cache IDE DVD Burner - OEM


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Reviews
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Review 1 Good speed info on the dual layer and regular functions.

Review 2 Nice short review that gives you the jist of it.

Review 3 Probably the most extensive review I can find.


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FYI
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Why isn't the price you put in the topic the real price?

Um, what can I say. Companies (particularly Newegg) practice price discrimination. They gauge people's willingness to pay and change the price whenever to get the best outcome for their profit margin. Thus the price is going to change a lot and I can only update so often. On a final note, shipping seems to fluctuate from free to $2 to $4 dollars from time to time. Just wait for the free shipping to show up if you wanna save the most. Newegg changes it multiple times a day. Sucks, but that's the deal!

What's been the best deal so far?

IMHO, Newegg had the best deal so far. The burner was going for 43.00 with free shipping and they threw in a CD/DVD wallet combo on top. The wallet was supposedly valued at 20 dollars. That deal is no longer available. Now they have some other combo items that are not really worth it. The price of the burners are lower now, however.

Pioneer vs. NEC

I don't know if you should buy the pioneer or the NEC, they are both good to me.

NEC 3520 vs NEC 3540

Whether the 3540 is worth the extra money over the 3520, I would say yeah since it's only a few bucks more. Now it seems that the 3540 is dropping lower than its predecessor in some cases. I say thumbs up regardless. Now if you already happen to own a 3520, it's really not worth the upgrade.

Mandatory Nero Software at Monarch? @^%$#@!

You can choose to opt out of the required OEM software. Just change it to "Required if an OEM drive is selected". They will not charge you from what I have been reading. The invoice should confirm this as well.

Just what are the specs on this drive pal?

For some reason I can't get the right specs on this drive. Every damn site seems to have different specs. Note that I have now changed the DVD-R DL speed from 8x to 6x as one of the posters alerted me to this. However, I am still not sure of this because there are some sites claiming (including the german NEC site) that the speed is only 4x. If someome can please confirm this, I would appreciate it. My drive is not here yet so I cannot verify. I am sorry if this affects your purchasing decision. Please understand that I am doing everything I can to prevent misinformation. All the other specs seem to be in order. Best of luck.



Enjoy everyone!
 

crimson117

Platinum Member
Aug 25, 2001
2,094
0
76
damn... so much lower than when 3520 was released. This should be a great drive if you don't yet have a 3500 or 3520.
 

Ensign

Senior member
Dec 7, 2001
281
0
0
Sounds good to me. Thanks, OP!

Man, $1 cheaper (with free shipping) than the 3520 at NewEgg! The 3520 is still at $48.99, plus $4 shipping.
 

Granorense

Senior member
Oct 20, 2001
699
0
0
Originally posted by: WorldTraveller
Is the dual-layer? I can't tell from the specs...

NEC Black 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2M Cache IDE DVD Burner
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
78,965
412
136
How does this compare to the Pioneer DVR-109?

I'd prefer NON-NEC fanboy reponses :)
 

QSnexus

Golden Member
May 5, 2001
1,613
0
0
Ordered! I really needed a new burner, still using an old Sony 4x non-dl! I was waiting for this model.
 

mrrman

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2004
8,497
3
0
Originally posted by: RossMAN
How does this compare to the Pioneer DVR-109?

I'd prefer NON-NEC fanboy reponses :)


Ive always had and used Pioneer burners and currently thave the 109 and 108..they burn everything I throw at it and have no regrets...Pioneer is my preference howvever my friend has the NEC and he has had no problems with it.
 

Excelsior

Lifer
May 30, 2002
19,047
18
81
Originally posted by: mrrman
Originally posted by: RossMAN
How does this compare to the Pioneer DVR-109?

I'd prefer NON-NEC fanboy reponses :)


Ive always had and used Pioneer burners and currently thave the 109 and 108..they burn everything I throw at it and have no regrets...Pioneer is my preference howvever my friend has the NEC and he has had no problems with it.

lol, so insteadd Rossman gets a response from a Pioneer fanboy :p.

Ross - Get either one, you will be happy with the NEC or the Pioneer.
 

renraw3020

Junior Member
Nov 26, 2004
16
0
66
Originally posted by: RossMAN
How does this compare to the Pioneer DVR-109?

I'd prefer NON-NEC fanboy reponses :)

The DVR-109 uses the NEC chipset.

Go here: DVDRHELP

Pioneer DVR-A09/109
OEM: Pioneer
Chipset: NEC
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
78,965
412
136
Originally posted by: Excelsior
Originally posted by: mrrman
Originally posted by: RossMAN
How does this compare to the Pioneer DVR-109?

I'd prefer NON-NEC fanboy reponses :)


Ive always had and used Pioneer burners and currently thave the 109 and 108..they burn everything I throw at it and have no regrets...Pioneer is my preference howvever my friend has the NEC and he has had no problems with it.

lol, so insteadd Rossman gets a response from a Pioneer fanboy :p.

Ross - Get either one, you will be happy with the NEC or the Pioneer.

Actually I already bought the Pioneer DVR-109 but later discovered it's a little picky on the media. I just might buy both for the hell of it :)
 

Averox

Senior member
Apr 13, 2002
651
0
76
Damnit, I just bought an NEC 3520 for like $48 shipped last week. The 3540 was still more expensive for the faster burns it did have.
 

batmanuel

Platinum Member
Jan 15, 2003
2,144
0
0
The drive is down to $48 w/ free shippjng now. And this is a brand new model! How low will it go?
 

Excelsior

Lifer
May 30, 2002
19,047
18
81
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Originally posted by: Excelsior
Originally posted by: mrrman
Originally posted by: RossMAN
How does this compare to the Pioneer DVR-109?

I'd prefer NON-NEC fanboy reponses :)


Ive always had and used Pioneer burners and currently thave the 109 and 108..they burn everything I throw at it and have no regrets...Pioneer is my preference howvever my friend has the NEC and he has had no problems with it.

lol, so insteadd Rossman gets a response from a Pioneer fanboy :p.

Ross - Get either one, you will be happy with the NEC or the Pioneer.

Actually I already bought the Pioneer DVR-109 but later discovered it's a little picky on the media. I just might buy both for the hell of it :)

Really? Maybe flashing the firmware might help. Here, link about the newest firmware.
 

Howeird

Junior Member
Nov 27, 2000
20
0
0
nuts, and i just bought the nec 3520a for $42.99 just on tuesday from newegg, and it's been shipped =/ should've waited 2 days to get the 3540a for $48 instead, oh well.
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
78,965
412
136
Originally posted by: Excelsior
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Originally posted by: Excelsior
Originally posted by: mrrman
Originally posted by: RossMAN
How does this compare to the Pioneer DVR-109?

I'd prefer NON-NEC fanboy reponses :)


Ive always had and used Pioneer burners and currently thave the 109 and 108..they burn everything I throw at it and have no regrets...Pioneer is my preference howvever my friend has the NEC and he has had no problems with it.

lol, so insteadd Rossman gets a response from a Pioneer fanboy :p.

Ross - Get either one, you will be happy with the NEC or the Pioneer.

Actually I already bought the Pioneer DVR-109 but later discovered it's a little picky on the media. I just might buy both for the hell of it :)

Really? Maybe flashing the firmware might help. Here, link about the newest firmware.

I haven't installed the Pioneer DVR-109 yet.
 

parsley007

Golden Member
Aug 13, 2003
1,196
0
0
very nice price...it's tempting to upgrade my 2500a, but there's no real need to as i can burn -r at 8x. but it would be nice to go faster ;)
 

jspaul

Junior Member
Jun 22, 2005
9
0
0
I just bought the 3540a from NewEgg for $48, free shipping. Thanks guys. Is it a good burner? It's got to be better than my 4X non-DL Liteon.
 

Jombo

Golden Member
Aug 19, 2001
1,048
0
0
is there a huge difference btw the 3540 and the 3520? besides the DL speeds? i wouldn't sweat it too much.. (then again i'm planning on picking up the 3540 :p)

Rossman, here's a review on the 109 over at CDfreaks.