Advice needed, shopping for DVD Burner

My CD burner just crapped out after a year of use so I'm in the market for a DVD Burner. My old one was a lite-on but I figure if it can't hack a year of sparing use then maybe I might wanna stay away from that brand. Any recommendations? I'm on a limited budget so I'm trying to keep it around $100 or less.

So far the most likey candidate is the Sony DRU-810A (http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=DRU810A&Dept=computers&CategoryName=cpu_Sony_PCAccessories_CD%2fDVDBurn_D VDBurners) But if any of you guys know of anything better for less, let me know. Being that my patience for waiting online orders I've restricted my self to retailers only such as Best Buy, CompUSA, Wal-Mart, Office Max, etc..

I've checked most of them out myself, but no clue as to which one to go for as far as overall quality, even recommending brands will greatly help.

Thanks all...

I am a big fan of Sony burners, I'd go with exactly what you suggested. Just make sure you get a dual layer OEM one. :)

I am a big fan of Sony burners, I'd go with exactly what you suggested. Just make sure you get a dual layer OEM one. :)

Thanks man, that helps because every store seems to have them in stock. What are your thoughts on the Plextor drives? Also How do I know which is an OEM?

OEM just means Original Equipment Manufacturer - don't buy a knockoff. I've never heard of plextor, hence I would stay away from them.

One of burners considered best on the market is the Benq DW1640, and if you have any doubts about is quality remember this is the drive that Plextor rebadged for its 740 model.

Considered the best on the market by who? I've had a couple of BenQ drives fail on me and I no longer sell them.

i bought several lite-on drives from newegg.com

theyre usually around the $40 mark, and ive never had a problem, in fact, i am still using an old lite-0n 2x burner as a dvd drive

Considered the best on the market by who? I've had a couple of BenQ drives fail on me and I no longer sell them.


By reviewers:

Anandtech:

Over these 6 DVDR units, we recommend the BenQ DW1640 for its performance and reliability in writing to various types of media. Expect this drive to start showing up on retail store shelves very soon.

http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=2470&p=13


CDR labs:

As one of the most highly anticipated drives this year, the BenQ DW1640 has a lot of hype and high expectations surrounding it. On the whole, I think the drive was deserving of the hype and these expectations. This drive truly stands out amongst its competition, thanks to its impressive performance and innovative features.

http://www.cdrlabs.com/reviews/index.php?reviewid=270&page=Conclusion

OEM generally means, drive only. No software, no cables, anything...

Plextor drives have been around for a while, and are very reliable. I have built many systems using Plextors, and havent had one fail yet.

OEM just means Original Equipment Manufacturer - don't buy a knockoff. I've never heard of plextor, hence I would stay away from them.


I just read that, you never heard of plextor, i'm very surprised. They are famous for making the best optical drives period.

Single hardware supplier and a memory like a sieve! :icon16:

Single hardware supplier and a memory like a sieve! :icon16:

Lol, yeah I did some research on Plextor and have yet to find anything negative on them. But in the end I opted for the LG GSA-4166B (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7453748&type=product&productCategoryId=cat01041&id=1125238548745) Because it was the only drive at Best Buy that supported all of the current formats including the somewhat new DVD-RAM format. Another plus was the support for the new Lightscribe technology that burns slikscreen quality labels onto supported disks by flipping the disk over. So far it's the fastest drive currently on the market when it comes to utilizing Lightscribe.

As far as I know from resarching it, it is a fairly good drive. Some people I've asked gave it a 7 or 8 out of 10 in overall quality and a 10 in compatability. But if it doesn't measure up in the end, I have about a month to change my mind and go with the Sony DRU-810A.

ive had a couple of lightscribes fail on me. just make sure you use that drive from writing exclusively, that was it will last longer.

LG = shite