quick question on drives

[nooblark]

im looking to get a dvd/rw..

what are good brands? PLEASE don't say sony unless its absoultly necisarry becasuse we know they will charge like 50$ extra just because it says SONY on it

[Jaggannath]

Plextor, Lite-On, LG, NEC

See this post, especially RJ's comments:
DVD suggestions (http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=101475)

[nooblark]

im sry, i was tired when i made this post.. im going with a lite-on and i know that already.. whats the differance between single and dual layer? and the + / - signs in the rw and r?

[RJ]

A single layer has only 1 layer that can hold data, whereas a dual layer DVD has 2 layers, so it holds more data than a single layer DVD.
To be precise, a single layer DVD holds 4,37 GB, and a dual layer DVD 7,95 GB.

The CD burning performance of current DVD drives is 40x (Plextor's drive does even 48x) which is almost identical to the 52x performance of CD burners. When looking at the numbers the CD burner seem to be faster, but the difference is negligible. You won't notice it.
You should know, you can't burn a complete CD at 52x. The inner part is written at 16x or 24x, and then in the middle part the burner speeds up to 32x and 40x, and only the outer part gets written at 48x or 52x, which results in negligible time differences. IMHO it's not worth it. Just get the LiteOn 832 and enjoy.

EDIT: "-" is the technology developed by Pioneer, and later the DVD+RW alliance introduced the technically superior "+" format.
Unfortunately "-" did not die, so we have both formats. But since all DVD burners can handle both it's nothing to worry about. Also, dual layer will first only be available with DVD+R.

RJ

[Karnevil9]

If you are lacated in the US you can order a DVD burner from newegg. Then you can select SONY because the price difference won't be much if any at all. When you order from Newegg choose OEM versions because you are getting everything except the colorful box it came in. I also agree with Jaggannath list, though I don't know much about the quality of Plextor.

[kilgoretrout]

Plextors are very high quality IMHO but will cost more. I don't like LG. Lite-On is probably the best bang for your buck - good quality and great prices.

[nooblark]

i cna't find oem of 832 lite on on newegg

[RJ]

I just looked for the 832 on newegg site and saw the retail LiteOn 832 for slightly under a hundred bucks.
Well, for that price I'd get it retail. I don't believe you can get it noticeable cheaper as OEM.

RJ

[nooblark]

k, thats what i was thinking.. thx guys, we're done here now

[discodanman45]

by the way, make sure you get the dual layer +/- dvd/rw. The dual layer format is new and will allow you to burn 9.4 GB and easily back-up your DVD's without using software like X-copy to get rid of the extras sections.

[RJ]

and will allow you to burn 9.4 GB

As I already said a couple replies earlier a dual layer DVD holds 7,95 GB, not 9,4. And if you are referring to "marketing size, using 1000 as the factor", then it'd be 8,5.
Dual layer does not double the capacity of single layer, it *almost* doubles it. The density on both layers of a dual layer DVD is a little less than on a single layer DVD, that's why.
But you are right that you can copy a dual layer DVD 1:1, the capacity of a dual layer DVD+R and pressed dual layer DVD-ROM is identical.

RJ

[discodanman45]

sorry RJ, before I post I should fully read each reply! I do have a question about dual layer copying though. Do you need special DVD-R or will any DVD +/- disk be able to copy in dual layer. I haven't seen any special dual layer DVD-R disks so I assume DVD-R +/- will be able to support dual layer.

[RJ]

Dual layer is not something like what you are talking about. Dual layer means that a dual layered DVD has two layers, whereas a single layer DVD has just one. It's a physical thing. You can't burn "as" dual layer, you do need two layers to burn on.

The blanks labeled 4,7 GB that you can get are single layered, so you have only one layer to burn on, and that layer holds 4737 GB.
The dual layered DVD+R (and DVD+R only) are expected this month and will be labeled 8,5 GB (but hold 7,95 GB). And if they don't appear this month, then they should appear at the beginning of next month. They have 2 layers, and you can burn to both layers if you have a burner that is capable of.

I hope that clears thing up a bit, and to answer your question directly: You do need special DVD+R to copy a dual layered DVD 1:1. These special DVD+Rs will be labeled "double layer", will have an advertised capacity of 8,5 GB, will be very expensive at the beginning (like everything new), and can only be burned in DVD burners that are able to burn onto a dual layer DVD+R.

RJ

[nooblark]

mods please lock topic
ty
-noob

[glc]

Why?

[nooblark]

because i got what i needed out of it.. and its helpful to read, but no need to post more

[glc]

We don't lock threads for that reason. Just because YOU have all you want out of it doesn't mean that nobody else should benefit from the discussion. We only lock for bad reasons such as posts that violate the forum rules.

[nooblark]

ok.... my bad