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looking to buy a dual layer DVD burner, questions
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SFreedom
Newbie
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22. June 2006 @ 01:43 |
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What's a good DL DVD Burner to buy? When I do get it, is it a good idea to burn something besides dual layer media? I have a Playstation 2 and I was told that if I want to prolong the life of the console that I should play only PS2 games. Don't play PS1 games, don't play DVD movies and no CD music because the console switches lenses between all the media. I do that for my CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW/DVD-RW too. Is this the case for the DL DVD Burner too?
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Moderator
1 product review
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25. June 2006 @ 06:28 |
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AfterDawn Addict
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25. June 2006 @ 14:49 |
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I have only had my BenQ 1655 for a little over a week, but I highly recommend it.
Prior to purchasing the BenQ, I never had anything but a Plextor for burning. My Plextor 716A went belly up after about 15 months, so it soured me on them. lol (Well, maybe just temporarily.)
Life is good!
GrandpaBruce - Vietnam Vet - 1970 - 1971
Computer: Intel Core i7-920 Nehalim;Asus P6T Deluxe V2
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Senior Member
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25. June 2006 @ 16:16 |
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Probably the most popular and economical choices are: Benq DW1650/1655, NEC ND-3550A, Pioneer 111D, Lite-On SHW160P6S05 and maybe the LG-4167B. All support up to 16x DVD+/-R and DL. The Benq is reputed for being tolerant of any kind of media. The NEC (which I have) does not like Ritek G05 and does not support booktyping DVD+R SL, though there are numerous hacked firmwares to resolve that, and is otherwise a solid burner with fast loading/unloading times. The Pioneer has a good all-around reputation and supports DVD-RAM too. The Lite-On has a somewhat more mixed rep but is solid overall. The LG has a good rep although I have a 4163B and the DL capability failed after about 10 burns rendering it a single-layer drive. It supports DVD-RAM too.
All of these go for < $40 at most online retailers (typically $35 or less at mwave.com or chiefvalue.com). Lightscribe-enabled versions are about $5-$10 more. And I believe Tigerdirect has the NEC for $29 after rebate.
-Do you believe you own your computer and shouldn't be told what you can run and do? Then say *NO* to Microsoft Vista!
-Since half the questions here involve media problems, here ya go: Only use Verbatim or Taiyo-Yuden discs (get your TYs from Rima.com, not Supermediastore or meritline). Forget the rest, no matter what "brand" they sell under. Always burn at 4x speed regardless of the speed rating of this discs or your drive. If you have burn problems with these then you have to update your drive's firmware. For double-layer discs, only use Verbatim DVD+R DL and burn them at 2.4x speed.
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1 product review
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25. June 2006 @ 16:35 |
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@Bruce
It's time to update your sig to reflect your new burner...enjoy.
@Dunker
Quote:
does not support booktyping DVD+R SL
I've read that the NEC's are set from the factory to automatically booktype DVD+R right out of the box. I can't verify this because I flashed my drive with modified firmware as soon as I installed it. But there is the BinFlash utility that will set your booktype automatically for each burn.
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AfterDawn Addict
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25. June 2006 @ 17:07 |
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@GrandpaBW
Quote:
My Plextor 716A went belly up after about 15 months, so it soured me on them
How long did you have your Plex, and how many burns. I have been reading posts in other forums stating the lifespan of their Plex's has been short somewhere from 6 months to a year.
Edit:
@LOCOENG
As far as I know NEC has not made a drive that will bitset, unless it is a newer model. They will bitset a DL disk but not single layer unless you use modified fw, but I could be wrong.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 25. June 2006 @ 17:11
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Moderator
1 product review
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25. June 2006 @ 17:19 |
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Nope I think you are right. I've been googling since I posted that to CYA and can't find a shred of evidence that it is true. I've been given some bad information from a trusted source and I'm sorry I've passed it on here.
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AfterDawn Addict
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25. June 2006 @ 17:37 |
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I wish it was true, the only thing that holds me back on the NEC is the fact that it does not bitset, they are excellent burners. Mine is old but it still works after 3 years, however there is no modified for the 1300a. I don't know why NEC is so adament on not having single layer bitsetting included, yet they will bitset a DL. It is not a leap to have their drives bitset single layer.
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Senior Member
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25. June 2006 @ 20:27 |
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Yeah, I never really understood that about NEC either. NEC is an OEM for lots of other brands which do bitset. In any case, the Liggy's and Dee's firmware WILL take care of the NEC's single-layer bitsetting problem. I just haven't bothered with it because I use DVD-R for almost everything.
-Do you believe you own your computer and shouldn't be told what you can run and do? Then say *NO* to Microsoft Vista!
-Since half the questions here involve media problems, here ya go: Only use Verbatim or Taiyo-Yuden discs (get your TYs from Rima.com, not Supermediastore or meritline). Forget the rest, no matter what "brand" they sell under. Always burn at 4x speed regardless of the speed rating of this discs or your drive. If you have burn problems with these then you have to update your drive's firmware. For double-layer discs, only use Verbatim DVD+R DL and burn them at 2.4x speed.
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AfterDawn Addict
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26. June 2006 @ 03:41 |
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That is what I do with my 1300a, just use -R TY's or Verbs. I did purchase my Plextor's for bitsetting they do it automatically. NEC really should include this, considering there are still a lot of older players that will not play +R. My Toshiba and Panasonic DVD Recorder won't.
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1 product review
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26. June 2006 @ 03:56 |
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SFreedom
Newbie
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26. June 2006 @ 04:02 |
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You guys took too long to respond. I bought one already. It's the NEC 3550A. Is that okay? And it was OEM. Is that okay too?
Quote:
The NEC (which I have) does not like Ritek G05 and does not support booktyping.
What the heck is all this?
And bitset?
I am going out of my mind. Should I return it and get the BenQ?
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 26. June 2006 @ 04:11
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AfterDawn Addict
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26. June 2006 @ 04:08 |
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@LOCOENG
Thanks for the info, that has the 1.0C fw which is supposed to add bitsetting but did not work on my drive, I think it is just too old. When replacement time comes it is BenQ for me, Mertiline has an external for 80.00 am thinking about getting this one. They also have and external 3550 NEC which I know modified fw will work on, it is only 60.00 may also give this one a try. Drives are so cheap and it is always nice to have a spare, and a spare, and a spare :)
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Moderator
1 product review
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26. June 2006 @ 06:59 |
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It is nice to have alot of options. I ordered a DW1655 this weekend from newegg for 39 bucks, can't wait to try it out. Just curious though about the external drives....why? Why not internal drives, is there something special about the external ones or is it a "no room in the case" situation?
EDIT:
@Sfreedom
The NEC drive you bought is an excellent drive, you should be more than happy with it. If you need help with bitsetting (booktyping) or flashing with modified firmware let us know, it's not very hard.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 26. June 2006 @ 07:02
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AfterDawn Addict
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26. June 2006 @ 07:10 |
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@LOCOENG
When I had my previous Dell I purchased a TDK burner, it gave me grief and I went out and bought my NEC which worked great. I swore I would not buy another internal, then bought my USB Plex and it also works fine. I finally broke down and bought an internal Plex it works fine also, but I just have a liking for USB, I can transfer them between my computers.
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Moderator
1 product review
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26. June 2006 @ 07:25 |
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I gotcha...I don't mind taking my PC apart to change drives in and out, it's kinda a good way to waste time for me.
Cheers.
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SFreedom
Newbie
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26. June 2006 @ 12:33 |
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This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 26. June 2006 @ 12:59
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Moderator
1 product review
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26. June 2006 @ 16:10 |
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This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 26. June 2006 @ 16:12
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SFreedom
Newbie
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26. June 2006 @ 22:42 |
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I bought the NEC 3500A before everyone posted a reply and I was going to gripe at the fact that I could have gotten it for $29 at Tigerdirect, link provided by Dunker. But the real price at Tigerdirect is $49 and it's only $29 after the rebate. But with shipping it brings it up to $42 after the rebate. I got mine at newegg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152060 for a total of $37 so I am happy.
This retail vs OEM is still confusing. I know it's always a good idea to buy CPU and vid card retail but I am not too informed when it comes to CD/DVD drives/burners.
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AfterDawn Addict
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27. June 2006 @ 15:08 |
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@arniebear: I did very light burning with the Plextor. I probably had less than 30 "heavy burns", and maybe 150 other burns. I am really disappointed with Plextor right now. :(
@Loco: I will do that, shortly.
Life is good!
GrandpaBruce - Vietnam Vet - 1970 - 1971
Computer: Intel Core i7-920 Nehalim;Asus P6T Deluxe V2
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AfterDawn Addict
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27. June 2006 @ 15:28 |
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@GrandpaBW
Kind of scary at the price of this drive, you have every right to be angry. I am only hoping I get a longer life with mine, I have had my old NEC for almost 3 years, and don't baby it. Maybe they just don't make them to last anymore so you got to keep buying new ones.
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Moderator
1 product review
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27. June 2006 @ 16:10 |
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I know Plextors are "king of the hill", but I just can't see spending twice and sometimes three times the amount you can get an excellent burner for these days. There are so many drives to choose from that produce excellent results.
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SFreedom
Newbie
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27. June 2006 @ 22:07 |
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As you may know I just bought my NEC 3550A for $37. It is to replace my Pioneer DVR-104 that I bought around 5 years ago for $150. It only burns at 1X and messes up most of the time. It only burns -R and not +R. Don't think it can even burn RW. That's why I got a new one. Can't believe I even held on to it that long. The NEC 3550A does everything short of a Blu-ray burner. But you guys already knew that. There's an example how time has changed especially when it comes to computers. I can see myself buying a Blu-ray burning but not right now at $1000. I'll give it a few years.
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rick5446
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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30. June 2006 @ 12:51 |
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The NEC 3550A...Will this burner do bitsetting..if not which 1 will? I need to buy a new burner.My old NEC went belly up,but three yrs,1000burns.I did'nt just throw it in the trash,I gave it a well deserved Royal Funeral.
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AfterDawn Addict
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30. June 2006 @ 12:56 |
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I believe it will bitset a +R DL out of the box, but NEC does not/will not make a burner that bitsets, for that you need modified fw from someplace like Liggy & Dees. But it should bitset after this. I have an old model NEC 1300a that modified does not work on so I use -R media with it, but it has lasted for 3 years and is still burning.
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