Here is my dilemma. (I think I spelled that wrong) I have a Pioneer DVR-104, and it works, but not like I want it to. It only supports CD-R(W) and DVD-R(W) and it can only go to 1x. I have heard of people hacking firmware, but I am way to ignorant to do that. I am looking at buying a new drive that can support all the formats I want ot use, some that I probably never will, and fast enough for my tastes, I guess you could say. I have been looking at external ones because I do not want to open my tower. I think it would be fairly simple to replace a drive, but I want to leave all my other drives intact and add a new one, and there is no space. Here are the questions I am seeking answers for: 1. What drive should I get?? I want a good brand, and I do not like Pioneer anymore, they just guess with their firmware, but if there is a reliable drive by Pioneer, it will work. Has to support CD+/-R(W), DVD+/-R(W), etc. and be able to burn at least 8x DVD's, at least 20x or so on CD's, not so strict about the CD's but the DVD speed is a must. Price is a big factor, I am cheap, you will find out later. 2. How can I convert an internal DVD burner drive to an external one cheaply and reliably?? I am cheap, and I need reliability lol. I have heard of things like IDE to USB converters and stuff but I need to hear some people with experience tell me what works and what doesn't. 3. What kind of total price am I looking at, and what all modifications will be needed? I am not opening the tower, I am not doing any hardware modification except adding the external drive. I need it to be cheap and quick lol. Thanks! Razor... This is what I forgot to say: it needs to be able to burn dual layer discs also. Razor...Again...
OK...I've been waiting for responses, and I haven't gotten any lol. Maybe this will help, I only have two ways of connecting this once I convert it: USB (Have plenty left) and i.LINK ports. I don't even know what the i.LINK ports are made for so if I have to use them, it won't matter. Thanks for any input at all...I need soem info!! Sorry if I sound mean or something in the first post...Just trying to get the point across. Razor
you can pick up any internal ide dvd drive... most of them now do all formats and also dual layer.. i of course recommend the lacie drives.. i have a lightscribe one... i believe i.link is really just firewire, the story there is that sony paid Apple lots of money in order to be able to use it.. but they still needed to use a different name.. since you do have i.link.. i'm guessing you're on a vaio of some kind.. here is just the basic lacie that's eide... http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=10663 here's the lighscribe version of that drive.. http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=10614 now, once you got that.. you need a case for it.. this one does 3.5 and 5.25 drives.. i'm sure you know that the 3.5 drives are the standard hd. this one is pretty dang cool.. it does firewire and usb 2.0 for like 40. http://www.pcmicrostore.com/PartDetail.aspx?q=c:36232;p:10501445 those are some options.. so over all.. it would be about the price of what an external will run you.. about $140. but this way its easier to go from internal to external. i'm actually picking up one of those cases for a friend.. he's got and extra lite-on drive running on a pc, but i may get that from him. it neve hurts to have two dvd burners.. you can always get yourself that drive.. they are pretty good as well.. i ran it thru price grabber and this is what i found.. http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_attrib.php/page_id=7/form_keyword=lite-on+dvd hope that gives you some direction.. one
Yes, you helped me very very muchly. (I wonder if that made sense to anyone else??) The drive enclosures I think are a little pricy for what they do, but if thats the price, I guess I'll have to give in, eh? I just got a 100-pack spindle of Verbatim DVD's but they have stuff on the top so the light scribe thing isn't so helpful for now, but maybe the next pack? I have a question about that, on the website you sent me to for the lightscribe version, it says "Direct disc labeling requires LightScribe media", is this true?? I have seen media with blank white tops, but according to this statement, only one brand can be used, or did I read it wrong? It seems like any blank top media would work, but I could be wrong. I don't want to change media, I like my Verbatim's and such. Also, the drives you suggested were exceptionally cheap I beleive. Last time I looked into this I was scared away by the costs! Now a DL burner is almost standard, and so is the speeds I want. Is there any other online stores you know of, or any stores that might carry these things specifically in a city lol. Don't know how to say it but a real store made out of things I can touch, like not virtual lol. I live in Colorado Springs, pretty big city, right? Plenty of stores around...Anyone reccommend one in particular? Thanks!! Input is welcomed and thank you-ed for! Raz@R~!!!
OK....Here's some more info I find after soem research...I think now that my USB ports are not 2.0, so I need to be on something like a i.LINK to USB 2.0 converter or seomthing also. I need to know how to make 100% sure that they aren't 2.0 becuase that would be simpler. Any ways known?? Raz@r.! again
The blank white tops are [bold]inkjet printable[/bold] media. Lightscribe media will prominently display [bold]Lightscribe[/bold]. The regular shiny silver tops are usually [bold]thermal printable[/bold]. And then there are your everyday discs with the logos that aren't meant to be printed on with anything other than a [bold]Sharpie[/bold]. If you want nice art on your discs, I suggest you get inkjet printable media http://www.rima.com/Merchant2/merch...&Product_Code=1734-100&Category_Code=DVDPLUSR and an Epson R200. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16828103160
Won't it mess up the CD's when you run them through the printer?? I have a Canon S300, will it work?? I notice that it has little gears the pull the paper through....seems like these would leave marks on the media making it un readable??
The R200 has a CD/DVD Tray and a separate slot for printing CDs/DVDs. The data side stays untouched and the rollers do not come into contact with the printable side...
I understand now...It makes more sense. How about the i.LINK to USB 2.0 thing, any ideas?? I read that people have had problems when trying to hook up like I want to without USB 2.0...The i.LINK seems like the only option left, unless I can convert. Razor▐
The specs for your computer should say if your ports are USB 1.1 or 2.0... I've never dealt with iLink...
like i said before.. i think ilink is just firewire.. there is no converter or anything to go back and forth... that case i posted earlier does have firewire.
Just "googled" and iLink is same as firewire... Here is a better place to get your enclosure: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...escription=external+enclosure&srchInDesc=5.25 As far as your ports and the R200 is concerned, it won't hurt to connect a printer via USB 1.1
I don't need to connect the printer via USB, I need to connect the enclosure...This is where my problem sits, as my printer now is hooked up through USB 1.1. Comes up as virtual printer port through USB, but thats off topic. I need an enclosure that will connect through FireWire/i.LINK or USB 1.1 and have full usage. Needs to be a 5.25 and compatible with a DVD burner, all formats. I'll look at the Newegg ones, but does anyone know of any cheaper ones? I find 30 bucks for a little cheap case to be outrageous!! Razor
if you wanna use the ilink.. you need to get a case that does firewire but it will not be cheaper than 30. dats actually a very good price. unless you find something on ebay. i get now why you stated at the beginning that you are very cheap. and anything external will not be cheap even if its just the case..
OK...I've accepted 30$ now lol. I know, it took me a while...I AM CHEAP! Anyways, I've decided against litescribe, becuase I will be limited to only litescribe media, so the first drive is a good candidate for the buying. However, any other similar drives?? I was looking at Lite-On specifically becuase of the features of scanning media for errors. Are there other drives with the same features and compatibility? Razor
If you want the scanning capability, go with the LiteOn SOHW 1673S or the 1693S. If you want the BEST writer, go with the Pioneer DVR 109 or the 110.
OK...So I don't like Pioneer anymore. About those lite-on burners, are they good burners too? I do need the features, but I don't want them if they can just spit out 8X coasters, you know? Thanks Razor
Average Quality scan results with LiteOn SOHW 1693S KSOA firmware: PIE 1.52 avg, 7 max, 11000 total PIF 0.02 avg, 2 max, 185 total Average Quality scan results with Pioneer DVR 109 Buffalo 8.57 firmware (I can booktype single layer +R to -ROM ): PIE 0.81 avg, 9 max, 5081 total PIF 0.01 avg, 2 max, 126 total I use Yuden000 T02 almost exclusively, and I burn at 8X... As you can see, the Pioneer gives slightly better burns, PLUS it can booktype with the Buffalo firmware. The LiteOn, on the other hand, enables me to run the quality scans (which I only do occasionally to verify consistency), booktypes, and it produces very respectable burns as well!!! I use the LiteOn to rip mostly since I can't use the Quiet Drive utility (12X rips) AND booktype with the Pioneer. All in all, I think they make a "dynamic duo." LiteOn has a TON of utilities. Look here: http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=83441 All that being said, I still would NEVER part with my Pioneer!!! My LiteOn is the finesse, and my Pioneer is the muscle!!! BTW, both of these are in external USB 2.0 enclosures... Pioneer is in this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817145341 LiteOn is in this (bought it $20 dollars cheaper when it was on sale two weeks ago): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106991 If it hadn't been on sale, I would have bought the drive only and put in the same brand enclosure as the Pioneer...
