Need help making a decision
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My CD drive decided it would go all communist on me. Reads audio cds (legit), previously written blanks and various pc games though it won't recognize that a blank cd is blank when trying to write to it.
So my question is: "What is a decent CD/DVD burner or combo drive to go along with my older model PC?
I've been looking at Newegg.com but, I'm unsure if there are better options out there.
So my question is: "What is a decent CD/DVD burner or combo drive to go along with my older model PC?
I've been looking at Newegg.com but, I'm unsure if there are better options out there.
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Well, I have an Asus drive that only reads cds/dvds and a NEC drive that is a dvd/rw. This is because I heard that if you constantly use your dvd/rw drive to just play cds/dvds it will shorten the life of the drive considerably. Not sure as to how much truth is in that but it makes some sense to me. I've had both of these drives for about 3-4 years now and haven't had one bit of trouble. Also, the front bezels on them match my case perfectly =)
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It depends, does your motherboard only support IDE? Or does it also support SATA? If it supports SATA, you can get a kick ass DVD/CD R-RW for like $25-$35
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Xil
Norse God of Sawdust
Yeah I was going to say if you've got an older machine you'll most likely only have IDE ports. Just something to keep in mind
I get all my stuff from Newegg, so I myself would recommend just sticking with them, other then that... look for good reviews, cheap(ish) price and one that'll work with your OS. I've Never stuck with any particular brand.
I get all my stuff from Newegg, so I myself would recommend just sticking with them, other then that... look for good reviews, cheap(ish) price and one that'll work with your OS. I've Never stuck with any particular brand.
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nsl41288 wrote...
Well, I have an Asus drive that only reads cds/dvds and a NEC drive that is a dvd/rw. This is because I heard that if you constantly use your dvd/rw drive to just play cds/dvds it will shorten the life of the drive considerably. Not sure as to how much truth is in that but it makes some sense to me. I've had both of these drives for about 3-4 years now and haven't had one bit of trouble. Also, the front bezels on them match my case perfectly =)Using a DVD/RW drive to play cd's a lot will not diminish it. All modern drives slowly degrade over time with any use. The differnce between a DVD drive reading a CD as opposed to reading DVD is that it uses a different laser/laser intensity. CD's have a single layer and aren't very dense. DVD's can have several [if they are double sided they can have four] and each layer is much more dense than a cd layer. The thing that really deteriorates a Disk drive is burning. If you burn CONSTANTLY [like I do] then new, modern drives will last you six months to a year. If you don't burn often, or moderatly, it will last a year or longer. Disk drives are flawed creations; the more parts you have, the smaller they are and the faster they move in any given technology, the faster it will break/stop working. This is why burning a lot slowly shortens the lifespan of a Disk drive; while burning a disc every part in the drive moves at a very fast speeds. With that said, reading DVD's would theoretically wear a drive out more than reading a CD. This is because a laser has to shine stronger and deeper to be able to read the layers of a DVD. If you are looking for tips to lengthen the life of your DVD/RW drive, the only tip I have is to transfer movies and all other kinds of data to your Harddrive IF you are watching movie FILES on a DATA cd/dvd. Watching/viewing anything on a data disc involves constant reading from the laser, whereas if you transfer it to your Harddrive, the laser copies the files and is no longer needed.