Should I change LG GSA4167B for BenQ?

To be honest mate I don't know why your paying a computer guy to do it for you granted first time I got an 'expert' to do it and lets face it I got ripped, plus its always handy to practise yourself.

Your CD writer if it says on the front DVD-ROM then it will read DVD's if not then it won't to be honest mate this computer guy doesn't sound like he knows alot I mean I know relatively little but I'v only been into them for around five months.

Also it doesn't matter which way round you have the drives the only thing you'll notice is that one appears before the other in a drop down box when you choose to burn.


Here you go mate a nice and easy guide to read through:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6603_7-5118840-1.html

Well im off to bed its 4:30am over here in the UK.

 

Hi,
@ cynn.
OK. If your Samsung is a CD writer, then it won't read DVDs. If it's a combo, then it will read DVDs. If your not sure about what your Samsung is, tell us the model.
The position (top or bottom) or the setting (master or slave) have no baring on being able to copy from oe to the other. I have 6 DVDRWs in my current pc setup.(See attached). I can use any 2 from the 6 to backup DVDs.
If you have only one drive capable of reading DVDs. To copy DVD means firstly putting said DVD into drive & copying to hard drive, then removing DVD to replace with a blank one in order to write from the hard drive to the DVD.(Many DVD copying programs will do this copying of an 'image' for you). The advantage of two drives DVD capable means your pc can switch from one to the other. Saving your around 10 to 15 seconds. So not essential. But more convenient.

BTW In general a CD writer will write CDs better than a DVD writer. Although a good DVD writer should still give acceptable CD copies.

 

@Paul, if I remove my Hitachi DVD Rom, n repl with samsung CD writer, than it won't read DVD right? Pls use simple english, it is my 3rd language. Thank you. Are u out there Zebadee... I kinda understand your more simple explanation @Paul, now you know why I can't do it myself-I'm just am not good at this things

 

@Thks Zebadee. The computer guy said it was Samsung (1/2 year ago when he removed this to repl with LG4167B) but now that Im checking, it's a Asus CRW4832AX which came with the Compaq Presarion Desktop i bought online. Si now this cannot read DVD.
I want to get this benQ (1st slot)since demotic says it gives better quality burns, I suppose I should now look for something that reads DVDs and burn excellent CDR too for 2nd slot. Should I be going to the CD forum or does anyone have any suggestion. Paul mentioned CDRW than is DVD Rom. Hmm, what brand/model

 

Hi,
I think that this first slot second slot is confusing.It really doesn't matter. I believe that what demotic is saying/meaning, is it's his experience that having the writer set as master is better than slave.
As to 'combo' drives. Here's some models listed the ASUS (out of stock with this particular dealer) is very good. LG is good. As is the BenQ.
http://forums.afterdawn.com/message_reply.cfm?thread_id=341635&forum_id=77
A friend of mine recommends this Lite-On.
http://www.liteon.com/prod/getProduct.do?cid=1_7_4&xml_id=4_2&menu_id=4_2_7

 

CYNN,

I just did a test on my 2 Burners on the same movie file and the same burn speed ect.. here's my findings.

Both Burned on Verbatim 16x DVD-R. Burned at 12x

LG 4166B v1.02 - Absolute Trash Quality Score - 0
PIE - 1154
PIF - 90
PO Failure - 9397
Needless to say this was the worst scan i've ever seen, i couldn't believe it.

BenQ 1650 - (As Usual) Quality Score - 97
PIE - 36
PIF - 6

Just from this test i feel i should toss my LG out the window. I've been as happy as can be once i bought this BenQ. Thanks to all the info of the great people on this site, i'm finally backing up my movies perfectly.

 

Hmm, I'm back to square one again.
@Zebadee, did you read what demotic said about LG4166.You have one right and you said it was good...
@Demotic,you mean your LG was not 4167B? I thought it was which was why I was going to get a BenQ but now...has anyone a 4167B and benQ n really compared the DVD quality? Zebadee?
BTW thks Zebadee, I will go to the w/s you provided and have a good look for a CDRW with DVD Rom. Would appreciate any feedback from anyone in this area now.

 

@zebadee, I think you call the "slots" drive bays. Sorry, I searched to find the right word. Told you I am VERY NEW-don't even know what it is called!!

 

CYNN,

I just looked on the LG site about the 4167B and i think the only diffrence i can see is that the 4166B also has the Lightscribe ability and the 4167 doesn't. That's just from a quick look. I don't know if lightscribe kills quality burning or not. that info i would refer to a smarter more seasoned person of the forum. Sorry i can't help you more.

 

@demotic, thanks, i did learn sthing from you. I will careful with the lightscribe model....

 

Hi,
cynn it doesn't matter whether you call them slots or bays. We understood what you meant.
demotic's comparison I'm sorry to say doesn't mean much. Although it does backup the fact that the BenQ can give really sweet burns. To compare single burns isn't allowing for the possibility of a duff disc. With extremes like he's showing & I don't doubt them for a minute. Either he had a crap disc in the LG, or his LG drive is faulty. Don't forget as well there are other things that can affect a burn. Background pc activity/temp/media etc.
What you want is what will work for you. If the LG in your system is giving good results. Then no problem.
However you appear to not only want to upgrade at least one part of your system. What you currently can do is have your Samsung & LG. This will allow for CDR burning to a quality you accept, with the LG giving DVD burns that so far for you have had no problems. OK with this combination it does mean when you backup a DVD. You will have to use the LG for both reading & writing.(See previous post on this).
What you need to decide is how far do you want to go. Replace the Samsung with a 'combo' giving you the ability to write CDRs & play DVDs.If you've been truly satisfied with your LG DVD burning that's all you need do. Changing for a 'combo' rather than a DVD writer that will give excellent CDR copies(Pioneer 111 springs to mind here) may still mean that the quality of the burn is still not necessarily as good as a CD writer. If going for a 'combo' then the Lite-On mentioned in an earlier post is worth considering. If you want to go all the way & change your DVD writer as well, then in terms of value for money/quality of allround performance then the BenQ 1650/1655 are the leaders at the moment.
In your position I would try the Samsung/LG combination first. If however this means paying some-one else to setup your pc to do this, then upgrading at least one of the drives (the Samsung) makes sense. For this I suggest the Lite-On/LG combination. If you go all the way then the Lite-On/BenQ would not let you down. You decide.

 

Thanks Zebadee. I will sit and think thru carefully....Thks all. BTW, I am still looking out for TYmedia if anyone has any idea...

 

I was readng reviews , forums etc. Can I conclude when it comes to burning cdr in terms of QUALITY copy/burn, a CDRW will do a better job than a DVDRW?

 

Hi,
Put simply, yes. A good CDRW is going to be better than either a Combo CDRW/DVD or DVDRW, when it comes to writing to CDRs etc. A good DVDRW should still give more than acceptable results though.

 

Right, that's what I figured from the scans, reviews etc. So I am leaning more on of one of your suggested options which is the Asus CDRW (sorry wasn't Samsung when I checked, computer man made a mistake)and leaving the LG as it is for thetime being. I'd prefer a combo BUT like you say,it might not necessarrily give me the results of a CDRW. With that decision,LG now has to read n write, so I now need a prog that will allow me to backup movie in my computer becos I'm using Sonic record Now vers.6 (very very happy with it)that doesn't allow that. Any reommendation? Pls leave out Clone 2 (Slysoft)picture is not sharp like original. No Shrink,CCE.Rebuilder for me at this moment (still have to digest my mp3 problem after this). Just need a 1 or 2 click prog that's stable in splitting and compressing because I don't watch thru my cdr/dvdr. 1Click (from LG isn't it) seemed fine to me but BBmayo said it was crap(true?) I tried AoA, anyone has that?Would appreciate suggestion on anything better n I will try the free trials.

 

Hi,
At this point I can't help you. For the one click & go approach I would've suggested CloneDVD2. But you've already ruled that out.Can you not rip to your hd, then use your current program? (Not familiar with that program myself).
I assume by you post that your aware or this site.
http://bbmayo.home.comcast.net/guides.htm

 

Sorry, I am really new to this. How do I rip to HD? Also, I'd still need a prog for DVD9 because I normally do movie only and the other, I would split to 2 DVD. I tried Clone 2(Slysoft)last year. Have they improved on picture quality copied since then? I tried 1Click last year for splitting -good but last fortnight I reloaded and tried the compression, it was the worst. Hmmm. Maybe there is a prog good for split and another for compression.

 

Hi,
You make a folder, then just drag & drop. Or use AnyDVD, right click fox then goto rip video disk to hard drive. There are many more ways.
You'll then be able to use a program to shrink/write to disc.
BTW CloneDVD2 has probably had at least 6 updates since you used it.

 

Ok, I'll try DVD Clone again. I don't understand how it can get rave reviews in this forum and yet in ither reviews picture quality ranked 6th or 4th. I was thinking of trying DVD Platinum or something (Not the 321 studio). Thks Zebadee.

 

Hi,
Just remember with reviews. They can be coloured for various reasons.Older versions against newer etc. Just try the latest of any s/w. See what works for you.