What's the best CDRW/ DVD combo drive

[borgmang]

I'm looking for a drive to go with my Sony dvd burner. Whats the best performer. Cost is not an issue - Also looking for a black bezel drive if possible.

 

[dionx]

samsung 52/24/52/16 combo is nice.

i have the 48/24/48/16 and its smooth and quiet. the black bezel matches nicely with my black chieftec case

 

[zainali]

Look at the liteon. 48x and 16x. around 60 to 70 dollars.

If u wanna spend more money get a plextor. something like 100 bucks.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: borgmang
I'm looking for a drive to go with my Sony dvd burner. Whats the best performer. Cost is not an issue - Also looking for a black bezel drive if possible.

SOny DVD burner can burn and read CD and can burn and read DVD and why do you need another optical?

 

[borgmang]

I would like to burn back-up copies of my DVD's as well as save wear and tear on my Sony DRU 510A. I also burn a lot of cd's, as well as watch DVD's from time to time, and I feel that the write speeds of the Sony (CDR 24x) and the read speed (DVD 8x) are to slow.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[PLaYaHaTeD]

Im just purchased the LG with a black bezzel for $71 at Newegg. It was rated number one in june by PC World, which i found out after i bought it (sweet!). I've looked around and haven't found any complaints about it, just good reviews.

 

[borgmang]

Anyone have or know anything about the Liteon LTC48161H DVD-ROM 16X + CD-RW 48x24x48?

Thanks Playa - I'll check out the LG - Do you know if it's a fairly quite drive?

 

[SearchMaster]

Originally posted by: dionx

i have the Samsung 48/24/48/16 and its smooth and quiet.

 

[Mingon]

looky looky

 

[Insidious]

Originally posted by: Mingon
looky looky

wow, they didn't even look at Plextor..... have they fallen from grace?



I'm using Plextor's PX-320A here. No complaints to date.

(compatible with Ghost and CloneCD was a must for me)

-Sid

 

[PLaYaHaTeD]

Originally posted by: borgmang
Anyone have or know anything about the Liteon LTC48161H DVD-ROM 16X + CD-RW 48x24x48?

Thanks Playa - I'll check out the LG - Do you know if it's a fairly quite drive?

I just received it 20 minutes ago via fedex. when i build my system ill let you know. But in terms of quiteness i might have a slight advantage regarding noise....i also purchased an antec sonata. So the drive might sound a bit quieter in this case

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: PLaYaHaTeD
Im just purchased the LG with a black bezzel for $71 at Newegg. It was rated number one in june by PC World, which i found out after i bought it (sweet!). I've looked around and haven't found any complaints about it, just good reviews.

I've had the LG 32x version for quite awhile now and it's a jewel, so I can highly recommend the LG combo drives.

 

[Dug]

I have the LG 48x combo drive and love it.
It IS the quietest drive I have ever used and very fast.

That and it shows up as a true ata33 drive.

 

[fredtam]

Originally posted by: borgmang
Anyone have or know anything about the Liteon LTC48161H DVD-ROM 16X + CD-RW 48x24x48?

I have had the Liteon combo for about a month now and it is fast and quiet. My first choice was going to be the Samsung combo but most of the reviews complained of heat and media compatability so I went with Liteon. I bought it from Cnetpc for $64.90 with shipping because Newegg did not have it in black at the time. Since then I have watched many DVDs and burned about 25 CDs and I have had no problems yet I still see bad reviews for the Samsung going up. I don't have a Samsung to compare it to for myself but I am very happy with my Liteon.

 

[borgmang]

Originally posted by: fredtam

Originally posted by: borgmang
Anyone have or know anything about the Liteon LTC48161H DVD-ROM 16X + CD-RW 48x24x48?

I have had the Liteon combo for about a month now and it is fast and quiet. My first choice was going to be the Samsung combo but most of the reviews complained of heat and media compatability so I went with Liteon. I bought it from Cnetpc for $64.90 with shipping because Newegg did not have it in black at the time. Since then I have watched many DVDs and burned about 25 CDs and I have had no problems yet I still see bad reviews for the Samsung going up. I don't have a Samsung to compare it to for myself but I am very happy with my Liteon.

Thanks Fred Tam - I'll find out more on the Liteon.

 

[cobo]

I read a lot of reviews and posts about combo drives 3 weeks back prior to making a purchase.
The Samsung SM-352BRNS (retail version with 8MB buffer) has everthing a combo drive can offer.
It can read all formats incuding DVD+/- and DVD-RAM (no other combo does,if I remember correctly).
Reads DVDs at speeds in the upper range of 16X DVD-ROM drives (as fast[+/-] or faster[single/dual layer] on average than other combo drives).
Rips, burns & reads CDR/RW about as well as a LiteOn CD burner. And supports MtRainier.

But get the retail version with the 8MB buffer as this seems to allow faster DVD reads than the 2MB version if you compare the results in these reviews of the SM-348B:
SM-348B 2mb version
SM-348B 8mb version

The retail version of the 352 only comes in beige AFAIK, but you can paint it or cover it with aluminum tooling foil.

I paid ~$54 before tax during the Dell SB 15+15% off deal on June13. You might want to wait for their next S&P deal.

More SM-352B info:

"One of my friends who also have had Pioneer DVD-A05, Sony DRU-500A, NEC ND-1100A, LG GCC-4480B, Lite-On LTD-166S, and very many other optical drives bought SM-352B and he seems to like it more than any other DVD-ROM readers because it could read what none other reader-only drive could."
post by Kennyshin in CDRLabs forum

monkey review
envynews review
pcstats review

 

[Bonesdad]

nothing to see here...move along...

 

[Bonesdad]

Originally posted by: fredtam

Originally posted by: borgmang
Anyone have or know anything about the Liteon LTC48161H DVD-ROM 16X + CD-RW 48x24x48?

I have had the Liteon combo for about a month now and it is fast and quiet. My first choice was going to be the Samsung combo but most of the reviews complained of heat and media compatability so I went with Liteon. I bought it from Cnetpc for $64.90 with shipping because Newegg did not have it in black at the time. Since then I have watched many DVDs and burned about 25 CDs and I have had no problems yet I still see bad reviews for the Samsung going up. I don't have a Samsung to compare it to for myself but I am very happy with my Liteon.

Interesting, cuz I bought the Samsung cuz the reviews I read said that media compatibility was awesome...CDRLabs.com etc. Most CDRW do heat up, so thats not a prob. In fact, I havent read a bad review of this drive yet...

 

[borgmang]

The Samsung SM-352BRNS 8MB sounds good. Where can I find a black drive though. I really don't want to paint the bezel, and I want the 8MB buffer.

 

[JihadJim]

Originally posted by: borgmang
The Samsung SM-352BRNS 8MB sounds good. Where can I find a black drive though. I really don't want to paint the bezel, and I want the 8MB buffer.

Unless Samsung releases a black Retail version, I'm afraid you and I are going to have to use paint.

 

[fredtam]

Originally posted by: Bonesdad

Interesting, cuz I bought the Samsung cuz the reviews I read said that media compatibility was awesome...CDRLabs.com etc. Most CDRW do heat up, so thats not a prob. In fact, I havent read a bad review of this drive yet...

I rarely base my buying decision on hardware sites because they usually won't bash a product even if it sucks. I stick mainly to user reviews because they spend the most time with the product. You make it seem like I somehow imagined the reviews. I do not have time to go back and find every review I read but here is a brief mention of the heat issue that you can put in your pipe and smoke. I suggest you light it with your samsung. An optical drive is something you should not have any problems out of once you install it. All the problems I have seen including stopping in the middle of movies and melting CDs seem to be about the 352 so if I were going to get a samsung I would get the 348 which I have seen mostly good reviews of. Since you very seldom reach peek write speeds on any burner you probably won't notice the difference.

Also many of the users reported that they had problems burning disc with the352 and when Samsung tech support was called they were advised to slow the burn speed down. Why buy a 52X drive to burn at 24x.

 

[cobo]

Wow - melts CD's - the Samsung 352 really does everything!

I searched with a Google & Teoma & a handful of forums, but couldn't come up with any reports of any drive melting or warping CDs. Or any other complaints of problems with the SM-352B outside of those having trouble trying to flash with hacked firmwares.

I've looked for all posts on the SM-352B at CDRLabs, CDFreaks, Firmware-Flash, CDRBase, BitBender, and here. I'd like to know where you go to find user reports fredtam.

 

[markish]

The Samsung SM-352BRNS 8MB sounds good. Where can I find a black drive though. I really don't want to paint the bezel, and I want the 8MB buffer.

You are out of luck. I've searched everywhere but the unanimous consensus was that the retail, which comes in 8MB, only comes in beige. No black. Black only comes in bulk or OEM. No retail black. 2MB. I gave up and ordered the black one from Google Gear (2day free shipping) for $79 (including CA tax).

 

[chr6]

yes the samsung 52 is a very good drive.

 

[LED]

Originally posted by: borgmang
The Samsung SM-352BRNS 8MB sounds good. Where can I find a black drive though. I really don't want to paint the bezel, and I want the 8MB buffer.

Never ordered from them but

HERE it can be had.