I found an I/O Magic 16x double layer dual format internal dvd drive in an ad for staples for $19.94. Is this a good deal? Are these drives any good? I believe the model number is IDVD16DL. I have heard that they use different manufacturers and that BenQ was the best. How do I know if this is a BenQ drive?
It's very hard to tell who actually made that I/O magic 16x.The I/O benqs usually tell you on the back of the drive when you open it up. I have 2 of them. First one being a benq 1620 which is one heck of a burner with over 3000+ backups,99.9% success rate. My second one,purchased at same staples,3 months later turned out to be an EMPA drive built by Middle East FIZO. This is a total pc of crap burner.I had a heck of a time getting my pc and stand alone drives to recognize it's backups.I don't even a but a dozen burns off of that drive. BTC makes some of them,and I read someone posting yesterday that Lite-on also makes some.You'll have to open it up out of the box,or hook it up to your pc and see what device manager says it is.That empa drive had a generic name like IDE 16x DVD DR.Very difficult to track that manufacturer down,and very few firmware updates.
my gf has this as an external drive.. its very tempermental.. her dad got it for her. and dad didnt know best. he also bought her some dvd+r 16 memosux. (based on price).. they did code out to ricoh.. so not too shaby.. it was burning fine.. then it just stopped.. i posted a nero log.. fixed it all.. wont burn the verbatims.. will burn the ricohs.. but that drive doesnt booktype.. i know it can be flashed with benq firmware. but dont want to take that risk. it loves ricohs. wants nothing to do with verbatims. i havent had a chance to try some TY's.. will post on what happens with that.. i'm out
