DVD burners....reccomendations?

edited February 2005 in Hardware
Subject says it all. I'm considering getting one (I'm putting all sorts of crap on my rig now! LOL....just put in a Leadtek TV tuner last week and if I put in a DVD burner, all I need is a toilet seat and a mini fridge and I'll never leave my room again) and would like user suggestions, experiences, and experience with OEM models (I saw a bunch of OEM burners on newegg, but I usually buy retail and also would like advice on OEM burners and what I'd need for it).

Comments

  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited February 2005
    NEC ND-3520A. Get the OEM drive, as you don't need the ****ty software that comes with the drive and jacks up the price needlessly.

    The NEC burner is hands down, irrefutably the best on the block.
  • fatcatfatcat Mizzou Icrontian
    edited February 2005
    Thrax wrote:
    NEC ND-3520A. Get the OEM drive, as you don't need the ****ty software that comes with the drive and jacks up the price needlessly.

    The NEC burner is hands down, irrefutably the best on the block.

    what he said...I've got a Pioneer DVR-106D(older model)and NEC ND-3520A ,both are excellent drives.
  • ronboronbo Connecticut
    edited February 2005
    Just got a 16x dual layer Liteon DVD burner from Newegg. Cost $58 with a $8 mail in rebate. This is my 3 Liteon DVD burner. Never had a problem with any of them. And if I did, I would just throw them away. At that price they are disposable if they stop working..... ;D;D
  • CryptoCrypto W.Sussex UK Member
    edited February 2005
    Pioneer have excellent burners, I've had great service from a 106D but with one problem that might affect your choice.
    They don't appear to alow overburn to any degree. A problem for me as I'm converting audio cassettes to CD and need to use 90 min CDRs.

    Bought a Lite-on for the purpose and it's excellent.

    Cheers

    Crytpo :D
  • botheredbothered Manchester UK
    edited February 2005
    Mine was recommended by Necropolis_uk, A Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-108. I'm very glad I took his advice, It's an excellent drive.
  • SlydogSlydog Bristol UK Member
    edited February 2005
    the burner Thrax suggested is the best of all worlds... its quick, burns dual layer + and - but more importantly its cheap as chips. Get the OEM as Thrax said- retail ones almost always come with bad software and cost a few beans more.

    Also have a look at http://forum.rpc1.org/portal.php and see what new firmware is available- always worth a peek if you're lookin to make your drive region free.

    Have had several other makes of drive but never a problem with any of my pioneer drives.

    Fly- i too just got a tv card and am now just looking for the mahogony toilet seat as i have a mini fridge!
  • BlackHawkBlackHawk Bible music connoisseur There's no place like 127.0.0.1 Icrontian
    edited February 2005
    I also have the NEC 3520A but I have yet to burn anything. What I can say is that it's pretty quiet while burning CDR's. There's also modified firmware around so that you can disable RipLock but supposedly they drive will get louder when playing DVD's.
  • GnomeWizarddGnomeWizardd Member 4 Life Akron, PA Icrontian
    edited February 2005
    well I havea plextor 12x burner works great I wouldnt have it if it wasnt free. I would buy the NEC 3520A
  • NiGHTSNiGHTS San Diego Icrontian
    edited February 2005
    Followed Thrax's recommendation a few weeks ago and picked up an NEC 3520A as well. I'm loving it, have just started burning DVD's with it, so far so good. Its the quietest thing I've ever heard too, compared to a buddy down the hall who has a Lite-On (not sure of the model number, sorry) but I do know that it sounds like a jet engine when it starts to spin.
  • floppybootstompfloppybootstomp Greenwich New
    edited February 2005
    I've had a Pioneer A106 a whiles now, it's been faultless.

    Were I to upgrade I'd get either the Pioneer A108 or if I was feeling flush, the Plextor dual layer model.

    I've read lots of good about the 108 and the Plextor looks to be about the best, but it's pricey.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited February 2005
    The 108 is inferior to the NEC. Pioneer dominated the market with the (A/1)03-(A/1)07 but lost the lead to NEC with the 108.
  • floppybootstompfloppybootstomp Greenwich New
    edited February 2005
    Thrax wrote:
    The 108 is inferior to the NEC. Pioneer dominated the market with the (A/1)03-(A/1)07 but lost the lead to NEC with the 108.

    Proof?

    I was put off NEC as their earlier models were poor performers and Forums were full of people complaining about how bad they were.

    However, it does look as if NEC now have their act together as I read of lots of satisfied NEC drive owners now.

    But, you know how it is sometimes, once tarnished, can sometimes kinda put you off for life.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited February 2005
    Anandtech's Winter DVDR Roundup
    Anandtech wrote:
    The editor's choice goes to NEC's ND-3500A for exceptional DVD+DL, DVD+/-R, CDR write speed and quality at a fair price.

    The 108D was also compared.

    My feeling is if the 3500 can beat the 108D, and the 3520 has newer hardware and has a few recording speeds that are faster than its predecessor, the 3520 is superior to the 108D. Secondly, the 108D runs NEC's hardware... Which says a bit about NEC. ;)
  • floppybootstompfloppybootstomp Greenwich New
    edited February 2005
    Thrax wrote:
    Anandtech's Winter DVDR Roundup


    The 108D was also compared.

    My feeling is if the 3500 can beat the 108D, and the 3520 has newer hardware and has a few recording speeds that are faster than its predecessor, the 3520 is superior to the 108D. Secondly, the 108D runs NEC's hardware... Which says a bit about NEC. ;)

    I Hear you :)

    I'm neither blind nor stubborn to change, and I thank you for the anandtech link :thumbsup:

    I just need a little convincing, is all ;)

    And over here the NEC is actually cheaper than the Pioneer...
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited February 2005
    The NEC is vastly cheaper than the Pioneer here too. Let's hear it for the wonders of <i>not</i> rebadging with a markup. :D
  • Mt_GoatMt_Goat Head Cheezy Knob Pflugerville (north of Austin) Icrontian
    edited February 2005
    I too have the NEC and love it! :thumbsup::thumbsup:
  • LINLIN Tri_State Area
    edited February 2005
    i'm more than satisfied with my NEC 3500A 16X Double Layer DVD±RW burner.


    LIN
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