GameCube and Wii games may be ripped using a DVD-ROM and either Rawdump 2.0 (see this thread), or FriiDump. Only DVD-ROM drives have been reported to work for ripping. Any DVD Writer can be used to burn. The DVD-ROM drives that rip are all manufactured by LG Electronics or H-L Data Storage, but are sold under various brand names (see the list below). The specific ripper drive models that I have confirmed myself are GDR-8082N, 8161B, 8162B, 8163B, 8164B, (see next post for details).

Noteworthy: robgrm reports that if you have a Wiikey mod, you can get a $5 SD adapter along with a 2GB SD memory card, and use them to make backups of Wii games in about 1.5 hours with 3 passes using the Wiikey DVD Backup and dumptool utilities on the WiiKey Config disk. It works for Wii games only. No DVD-ROM drive needed.

Other drives reported to work (Before you buy, make sure it's the correct firmware);

1. Laptop slim drive GDR-8082N works. I personally confirmed firmware 0007 works in PIO mode only, Drive REV. A0. Adapters to use these in desktops are about $5 shipped on eBay. Search for JAE adapter. If your 8082N does not work, you can try flashing it with IBM's 0L03 firmware here. If it will not flash, see this thread for help forcing a flash.

2. SATA LG GDR-H10N by user culius. It's important to note that according to IrishTR only firmware version 0B10 works. You can download 0B10 here, but nobody has found a flash utility that will work yet. H10N firmwares that DO NOT work: 0D04, D70D

3. GDR-8160B by Wiible here, however other 8160s have not worked, so there are likely different firmware versions or Wiible is wrong. Firmwares reported not working: 0009, 0012, 0018. 8161B firmware is here.


eBay search for all drives: Wii/GameCube DVD-ROM Backup Drives

(Also click this link: Buy It Now items)

Google product search for all drives: Wii/GameCube DVD-ROM Backup Drives.



Note: Brand names of 816* drives that have been confirmed - LG Electronics, Hewlett Packard (HP), Hitachi, H-L Data Storage, Compaq, Sony, IBM, Teac, Gateway, Goldstar

The above brands are all made or licensed by LG Electronics and they just have the different brand stickers on them. Many even have the LG logo right on the front like this, but it's not necessary:




Caution: watch out for the similarly modeled, CRD-816* CD drives. You want a DVD-ROM not a CD-ROM

Confirmed working/non-working - Brand, Model, Firmware version, Rip speed, Mode, User.

GDR-8082N
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8082N0L03 - (brightspk, bigtreehe,dfrahm)
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8082N0007 - 2040MB/hr PIO (uou)
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8082N0010 - (brightspk)
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8082N0C07 - 1300MB/hr USB 2.0 (brightspk)
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8082N0120 - (brightspk)
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8082N0106 - very slow (Cecy)

GDR-8084N
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8084N1.02 - failure (brightspk)

GDR-8160B
COMPAQDVD-ROM GDR8160B0012 - failure (simoriah, dejjen)
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8160B0013 - failure (Red07)
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8160B0018 - failure (brightspk)

GDR-8161B
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8161B0042 - 2190MB/hr UDMA 2 (Thomo17)
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8161B0043 - 2420MB/hr unk (AJRojers)
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8161B0100 - 2550MB/hr UDMA 2 (uou, danitaro)
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8161B0102 - (brightspk)

GDR-8162B
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8162B0015 - 2600MB/hr UDMA 2 (uou)
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8162B0018 - 2130MB/hr (sfsi02)

GDR-8163B
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8163B0D20 - 1900MB/hr UDMA 2 (uou)
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8163B0B26 - 1630MB/hr (sfsi02)
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8163B0L23 - 1654MB/hr (Bossworld)
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8163B0F15 - failure (brightspk)
GDR81630F21 - failure (brightspk)
GDR81630F22 - failure (brightspk)

GDR-8164B
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8164B0B07 - (HOTAIRDAN)
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8164B0L06 - (sparkz197)
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8164B0B10 - 1780MB/hr UDMA 3 (uou, HOTAIRDAN)

GDR-H10N
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDRH10NB0B10 - (rob7bt)
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDRH10NB0F03 - (brightspk)
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDRH10NB0D04 - failure (IrishTR)
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDRH10NB0L01 - failure (brightspk)
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDRH10NBD70D - failure (brightspk)
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDRH10NB0M04 - failure (brightspk)
HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDRH10NB0A03 - failure (brightspk)

(The last 4 digits after the model number are the firmware version, i.e GDR8161B0100 = 0100 firmware)


To post your results,

Start>Control Panel>System>Hardware>Device Manager>DVD/CD-ROM drives>[double click a drive]>Details

Click the drive Details to highlight it, press Ctrl C to copy, and then paste in a reply here.

Include the mode (PIO, UDMA 2), which can be found here: Start>Control Panel>System>Hardware>Device Manager>IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers>Primary/Secondary IDE Channel>Advanced Settings.

Also please test a complete disc in Rawdump 2.0 and post its final rip speed.

Incomplete info will not be added.







The older models actually rip faster Here is the exact same 1.35 GB NGC disc ripped in the same system, with different DVD-ROM models:

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8162B	Ultra DMA 2	2599MB/hour	32:08
8161B	Ultra DMA 2	2554MB/hour	32:42
8163B	Ultra DMA 2	1902MB/hour	43:55
8164B	Ultra DMA 3	1780MB/hour 	46:57

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Based off this testing, the 8162 and 8161 should be able to rip a 4.5 GB DVD nearly 45 minutes faster than the 8164.

Some good deals on these drives on eBay! Just saw an 8160B go for $8.00 shipped the other day!

I got one of my GDR-8164B drives from eBay delivered today, and it's a Hewlett-Packard brand, but exactly the same.

If anyone finds any other brand or model of DVD-ROM reader that will read Gamecube or Wii DVDs, post them here and I'll add them into the search.

All the LG Drives seem to be sold out, however, there are HP 8161b and 8162b drives, am I right in thinking these are identical to the LG counterparts and will work in reading the Wii discs?

Yes, they are the same, as I already noted above.

The drives are not all sold out, I just clicked the search link in the OP above and there were over 30 listed, always have been and probably will be for some time.

Also check the Buy It Now link at the bottom of the search theres some good deals in there for under $20 shipped.

No, they are sold out, Im not from the US, and the only stock in the UK, they are wanted £40 for which is over $80. The HP however, can be had for £14, which is around $28, so much cheaper and its the 8131/8132b so I assume it will work?

Hitachi LG GDR-H10N buy this one they the same and cheaper , but you need SATA on your pc or external adapter is only $29.00 and it brand new , don't have to look for the used one . have fun guy

Ah, we look to have finally sourced an LG-8164b, the site doesnt say they're out of stock so fingers crossed they do. Wiikey on order too.

Originally posted by culius:

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Hitachi LG GDR-H10N buy this one they the same and cheaper , but you need SATA on your pc or external adapter is only $29.00 and it brand new , don't have to look for the used one . have fun guy

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Have you confirmed that one works? I've seen posts from people saying they got it and it did not work!

This guy here, said he bought a GDR-H10N and it did not work, it would not read the discs.

Is there further updates on any other potential DVD Rom drives fo backing up a WII game which are reasonable in price. Ebay prices seem steep these days $60+ on a LG GDR-8164B since they were only $20 last September.

Any advice on locating a DVD ROM drive with a reasonable price would be welcomed.

hi UOU ,yes i m sure it work , i did try it .if you read closely what that guy he have a problem with conflick on his pc , so if you have that 2 drive installed in you pc then that work ok.

i have a laptop....how to i find an external one??
or is there a way to hook them up to my laptop?

I was planning to get this Compaq GDR8160B model wondering if that would work? Can anyone confirm it? Is it exactly the same or what?

I would like to add that the MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-857E that comes equipped in the 15" 2.2 dual core Macbook Pro works as well.

for your laptop i would recommend eathier any external enclosure or simply a drive ide to usb. prolly 10-40$.

Originally posted by fjlj:

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for your laptop i would recommend eathier any external enclosure or simply a drive ide to usb. prolly 10-40$.

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any success in this set up? i too have a laptop and would like to go this way

OK what's the deal on the Wii & GC discs? Are they protected in some way or do they simply have a less than 100% DVD spec that makes them incompatible with most players? LG is known for making drives that work with media that are not 100% in spec. Keep in mind that a Sony drive could very well have been made by LG, they just brand it with the Sony sticker. The hardware, as you all know, is made by a much smaller list of companies.

As long as your drive meets the specs necessary to read the GC/Wii discs, it will work. This should not vary from person to person. The drive specs for a certain model are uniform; if you friend has that same drive then it will either work for both of you or won't work for either of you.

Originally posted by marwede1:

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Ebay prices seem steep these days $60+ on a LG GDR-8164B since they were only $20 last September.

Any advice on locating a DVD ROM drive with a reasonable price would be welcomed.

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I just used the link in the OP and there were several for under $20. Are you just trying to find an 8164b only? Use the link I posted it will search for all of them.

Also click the "Buy it Now" link at the bottom of the search, here is one that is a Buy It Now for $19 shipped US:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250184799124

Using the Google search, here are 3 for sale for $10 each Australia:

http://kaanza.com/Shopping/ProductDetail.asp?Productid=515509

Originally posted by xhardc0re:

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OK what's the deal on the Wii & GC discs? Are they protected in some way or do they simply have a less than 100% DVD spec that makes them incompatible with most players?

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From what I read, it's mostly because the Rawdump software was specifically written to work with these models of drives. I'm sure the software could be modified to work with other drives also.

We may see this happen soon with the Open source Friidump software. So far it only supports the same drives as Rawdump, but since it is open source, I'm sure some will get inside the code and tinker.

http://nintendo-scene.com/636

Originally posted by culius:

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hi UOU ,yes i m sure it work [GDR-H10N] , i did try it .if you read closely what that guy he have a problem with conflick on his pc , so if you have that 2 drive installed in you pc then that work ok.

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Originally posted by bahhrito6:

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I would like to add that the MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-857E that comes equipped in the 15" 2.2 dual core Macbook Pro works as well.

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Ok, I've added both these drives into the search and given credit.

Is there really any difference between the 4 LG models, like is the higher number faster or any better. I was thinking about buying one and I want to know which one is the best. I also cant really find any that are in stock so can i please have a place to find them for cheap. =]

THANK YOU

As far as ripping the game discs, they all work the same - very, very slowly. Two hours plus for one disc.

Will the 8160B drive work? it was not listed in another thread in another afterdawn forum for wii backups.

Here the 8160B was reported to work by Wiible:

http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_jump.cfm/471073/3399010