View Full Version : DVD Burner Recomendations
SantiMun
08-15-05, 10:49 AM
Whats up guys, my DVD burner is starting to crap out on me. I now average 2 coasters before getting a DVD thats been copied correctly.
I'm in the market for a new one, I hear Plextor is good but want some advice from the community first. You guys have any suggestions?
I'm looking for an all in one DVD burner thats most importantly reliable, I'm willing to sacrifice speed for reliablility. I'm also looking for it to read DVD's as well. It would also be nice if it could record and run CD's too.
I burn a lot of DATA on CD's and DVD's so I want something that can take the abuse.
Thanks guys! :attn:
theMonster
08-15-05, 10:56 AM
1 suggestion, DON'T BUY A SONY.
1 suggestion, DON'T BUY A SONY.It's actually very hard to these days, Sony doesn't make their burners. Most of their recent models are re-badged Lite-Ons.
Without question, get the LG Electronics GSA-4163B. This is the best burner you can buy by nearly all measures, and isn't costly. The Plextor has a few unique tricks, but does not truly match the burn quality and speed of the LG, which trumps everything on single layer media. And if you think that the Plextor will last longer, and thus be worth 2.5X as much, consider that with the same money you can buy the 4163B now, and another LG if/when things change.
SantiMun
08-15-05, 11:20 AM
Larva, looks like there are different versions of the LG model your refering to. Which one is the best?
Here they are: http://www.bizrate.com/buy/products__cat_id--406,keyword--GSA-4163B.html
SantiMun
08-15-05, 12:50 PM
--bump--
millhouse
08-15-05, 01:06 PM
They are all pretty much identical, except one is dual layer and the others accept different/more types of burnable dvds. I think any of them would be fine.
...Without question, get the LG Electronics GSA-4163B. This is the best burner you can buy by nearly all measures, and isn't costly....
I have to agree 110%. I am totally happy with mine. It can handle anything you throw at it. The last firmware update added dual layer support. And I love backing up to DVD-RAM, even if it is an unpopular format. You cant beat drag and drop to 9.4 gigs of storage.
and BTW SantiMun, those GSA-4163b's that you linked are all the same model exept for the bottom one. Its the same model but black. There are just different listings on different sites.
GSA-4163B is oem
GSA-4163BI is retail
GSA-4163BB is black
its all the same burner
edit:
Newegg $43 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827136046)
i am getting the NEC 3540 that thing is a beast, and quiet to boot!
johan851
08-15-05, 01:32 PM
i am getting the NEC 3540 that thing is a beast, and quiet to boot!
From what I've read, that burner is also excellent.
The NEC 3540 is good, but clearly second-best to the LG. The LG has better burn quality, better burn speed at a given speed, burns some 8X at 12X where the NEC won't and isn't troubled by the safedisk copy protection scheme that gives the NEC fits. The NEC is my second choice, but it isn't really all that close.
hainer36
08-15-05, 08:56 PM
1 suggestion, DON'T BUY A SONY.
i honestly must disagree, i have 2 sony's and dam thier good, no coasters, no problems, burn every dvd i buy at higher speed than they are rated at, and now are cheap....i say go with a DRU-710A or 720A, they are awesome with the firmware updates (legally), and because sony has moved to the 8xxA series, they have come down in price
The Sony DRU-710A is just a re-badged Lite-On 1633/53s. Similiarly, the DRU-720A is a 1673s Lite-On. If you like these drives, might as well cut out the ridiculous Sony profit margin and buy them from Lite-On. These are serviceable burners, but clearly eclipsed by the best units such as the LG GSA-4163B.
Paradoxmaker
08-15-05, 10:39 PM
I'm quite happy with my HP DVD640. Does CD's, single layer DVD, Dual Layer DVD and has the neat Lightscribe feature. Got it at Walmart for $99 about 3 months ago.
So far I have only had 2 coasters (1 CD and 1 DVD) and it was due to using the bundled burning software. Once I switched back to using Nero I havn't had a single problem. Like I said my complaint was the bundled software, It has no option to let the user select the desired burning speed. It tells you that it will select the optium burning speed, I don't think so.
And just like SantiMun said, I am less interested in speed and more interested in not burning coasters. Even though the burner is rated at 16x DVD and 40X CD I rarely go above 16X on the CD's and 8x on the DVD's.
i am getting the NEC 3540 that thing is a beast, and quiet to boot!
i got one as well i choose it over the lg cuz the reviews showed it was more well rounded off, but i forget <_< i found it on cdfreaks i think
RangerXLT8
08-16-05, 06:19 AM
Plextor 716SA get's my vote. Best burner I've had, does it all 6X DL ect ect. You get what you pay for........
I use an NEC 3520, and I've been very happy with it. No coasters and with a firmware patch, it burns discs more quickly. I never rip my DVD movies, so I don't know about that sort of stuff.
theMonster
08-16-05, 02:14 PM
Anything that has a SONY laser eye in it will last a year if you are lucky. You're best just to steer clear of them and HP (who uses Sony drives) so as to not take the risk. Unless you see a REALLY good deal on a Sony and do the model research and it shows that it is made by somebody else.
I use an NEC 3520, and I've been very happy with it. No coasters and with a firmware patch, it burns discs more quickly. I never rip my DVD movies, so I don't know about that sort of stuff.The 3540 is improved quite a bit over the (satisfactory) 3520. The reading performance is improved quite a bit, especially with burnt disks, and the dual layer burning is much better. The 3540 does burn DL at 8X with excellent quality. If single layer performance is your priority the LG 4163B is hard to match, but the NEC 3540 is your choice if dual layer is priority one. If/when dual layer media becomes cost-effective the 3540 will be a compelling alternative.
The 3540 is improved quite a bit over the (satisfactory) 3520. The reading performance is improved quite a bit, especially with burnt disks, and the dual layer burning is much better. The 3540 does burn DL at 8X with excellent quality. If single layer performance is your priority the LG 4163B is hard to match, but the NEC 3540 is your choice if dual layer is priority one. If/when dual layer media becomes cost-effective the 3540 will be a compelling alternative.
Hmm, I might look towards upgrading not far in the future, then. Thank ya :)
Jlinker
08-16-05, 03:40 PM
Without question, get the LG Electronics GSA-4163B. This is the best burner you can buy by nearly all measures, and isn't costly. The Plextor has a few unique tricks, but does not truly match the burn quality and speed of the LG, which trumps everything on single layer media. And if you think that the Plextor will last longer, and thus be worth 2.5X as much, consider that with the same money you can buy the 4163B now, and another LG if/when things change.
I own this burner too. It's never made a coaster yet!! Knock on wood :p
Cyrix_2k
08-16-05, 03:48 PM
Own an NEC 1500, 3500AG, and my dad has the 3540. All of them work great, but the 1500 only burns SL +R's.
Mr.Guvernment
08-16-05, 04:34 PM
NEC - Best 3rd party hacked firmware :)
Own an NEC 1500, 3500AG, and my dad has the 3540. All of them work great, but the 1500 only burns SL +R's.I think you mean the 1100 or the 1300. I've got one of the 1300's, too, it's a solid +/- 4X SL unit. Don't get me wrong, NEC's are typically excellent drives, but the LG is fantastic on single layer. The new 3540 does erase many of the comparitive weaknesses of the NEC's, though, and its dual layer capabilities, as previously mentioned are most impressive.
The LG uses a partial constant angular velocity (P-CAV) burning stradegy on single layer disks, where all the competing drives use full CAV. This allows the LG to attain 16X for more of the burn event than CAV stradegy units like the NEC and Plextors. And early 3540 firmwares didn't burn hardly any 8X at 12X, but the latest one does. This is ever so nice when it happens, and it happens on many good 8X disks with both the LG and (now) the 3540.
Unfortunately the 3540, even with the latest firmware, also achieves 12X with many 16X disks, also. The LG is a lock for 16X with 16X media, and its P-CAV stradegy allows it to complete in ~5min. 30sec. The 3540 and Plextors, at 16X, take over 6 minutes. And with the current firmware, the 3540 doesn't achieve 16X very often. Hopefully firmware revision will clear this up, and allow the 3540 to fully exploit the several common 16X media types it isn't fully supporting at present.
With the latest firmware the 3540 does have dynamite burn quality, also a clear improvement over the earlier releases. The LG also has fantastic burn quality, which is in combination with its outstanding speed and excellent versitility the basis for my recomendation of it.
Both the LG and the 3540 are laudable devices, and both in reality better than the ever-so-overpriced Plextor 716. As mentioned in my ealier post, if single layer is priority 1 the LG is unmatched, and with dual layer media the NEC the standout. Neither has significant weaknesses, though, and both are a fine choice for any number of reasons.
Whats up guys, my DVD burner is starting to crap out on me. I now average 2 coasters before getting a DVD thats been copied correctly.
I'm in the market for a new one, I hear Plextor is good but want some advice from the community first. You guys have any suggestions?
I'm looking for an all in one DVD burner thats most importantly reliable, I'm willing to sacrifice speed for reliablility. I'm also looking for it to read DVD's as well. It would also be nice if it could record and run CD's too.
I burn a lot of DATA on CD's and DVD's so I want something that can take the abuse.
Thanks guys! :attn:
Either NEC or BenQ. Actualy, I'm surprised no one else mentioned BenQ yet.
The BenQ 1640 is a good drive also, but has not been available until very recently on the retail market. I hesitate to recommend BenQ, though, as it is Acer's new name and I have had crippling failure problems with Acer optical drives. They are licensed Philips designs, which is inherently the least durable optical drive family I have used. The 1640 does feature 8X DL capability, but I would take the 3540 NEC in a heartbeat over it if that were the function of primary interest.
Cyrix_2k
08-16-05, 07:16 PM
You're right... it's the 1100.
SantiMun
08-17-05, 10:37 AM
Wow, thanks for all the feedback fellas. I decided to order the LG GSA-4163B (only 50 bones at zipzoomfly plus free shipping!). You guys are great! :beer:
Mr.Guvernment
08-17-05, 12:27 PM
On your current DVD drive - what speeds were you burning at - many DVD drives still dont do quality burns above 6 / 8x., this is why if i am burning important info i only do it @ 4x speed.
elec999
08-17-05, 12:57 PM
I would vote Plextor, if you also use quality media you are set. Also no one mentioned the Pioneer drives. Lg are also good. Check out www.cdfreaks.com, www.cdrlabs.com
Thanks
Wow, thanks for all the feedback fellas. I decided to order the LG GSA-4163B (only 50 bones at zipzoomfly plus free shipping!). You guys are great! :beer:
Good Choice. I think you made Larva happy.
I've already bought my drive, his purchase is his own. I find the LG best as single layer performance is my priority and the LG is the single layer champ, but I have clearly detailed the respects in which other burners are better. My interest is in him making an informed decision, not which drive is selected.
FSBxtreme
08-17-05, 11:13 PM
How do you when you are burning single-layer or dual-layer? Are the LG drive short as in its length? I need it to be short like NEC 3520A. Thanks.
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