Which drive would you buy? LG, Lite-On, Sony NEC, or Samsung?

Discussion in 'DVD / Blu-ray drives' started by razor2006, Oct 2, 2007.

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  1. razor2006

    razor2006 Member

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    Out of the following slimline laptop drives which one would you reccomend/buy? I tried a Pioneer with my Toshiba Tecra but couldn't get it to work, so I'm going to explore another brand, see what I can get. Which would you buy out of these?

    LG GWA-4040N
    Lite-On SSW-8015S
    Sony NEC Optiarc AW-G540A-10
    Samsung SN-S082D
     
    razor2006, Oct 2, 2007
    #1
  2. LOCOENG

    LOCOENG Moderator Staff Member

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    It's really going to be hit and miss...that is why the availability is so much smaller with the slimline drives and it's not really advised to be cracking open the case of your laptop. You just bought it in June, is it not under warranty? Well it's not now that you've opened the case anymore.

    You really don't need to keep starting new threads for the same problem either...this one makes number 5.

    http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/567372
    http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/568563
    http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/566139
    http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/565919
     
    LOCOENG, Oct 2, 2007
    #2
  3. razor2006

    razor2006 Member

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    I know, I apologize about the number of threads, but I can't get anybody to reply to them and I needed answers before it was too late to send that Pioneer back.

    I'm not concerned about the warranty, I could care less, I've been a computer tech for 10 years, I have a pretty good idea what I'm doing inside of a PC. :)

    This damn slimline drive bullshit has me stumped though. That's why I prefer working on desktops. Less problems by far, haha.

    I'm going to try out the LiteOn drive I think, and if that one won't work, I'm going to say piss on it and buy an external and be done with it, even though I wanted to try to avoid doing so.
     
    razor2006, Oct 2, 2007
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  4. creaky

    creaky Moderator Staff Member

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    I've closed the others..

    edit- let's watch the language too..

    I swear by USB2.0 enclosures (2.5" and 3.5" hard drives, dvd-rom drives plus dvd burners) across various PC's, i have a few laptops and if ever any of the drives fail i'll just use USB.0 instead of replacing with laptop drives. USB2.0 is more than adequate for ripping, the same applies for burning DVD's. I very regularly use Nero's multiple burner feature on 2, sometimes 3 burners concurrently, over USB2.0, up to 8x
     
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2007
    creaky, Oct 2, 2007
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  5. Simpsonb

    Simpsonb Member

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    creaky, I'm having to replace my external USB2 Sony 710. Id like to get another external (the only way to go imho) but there aren't many reviews out there on the externals.

    Is there a place where I can find reviews, I've looked on cdfreaks already.

    Best externals?

    pioneer?
    sony?
    lite on?


     
    Simpsonb, Oct 4, 2007
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  6. razor2006

    razor2006 Member

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    Going with external, go with Plextor.
     
    razor2006, Oct 4, 2007
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  7. creaky

    creaky Moderator Staff Member

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    i don't buy pre-built externals, i use Belkin USB2.0 enclosures, ie like this - [​IMG]

    ..and put whichever burners or DVD-Rom drives in that i choose. A the moment all my burners are Benq DW1650's
     
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2007
    creaky, Oct 4, 2007
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  8. razor2006

    razor2006 Member

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    Well I got my Lite-On SSW-8015S from ZZF, and the damned thing didn't work in my Toshiba Tecra either. So I said alright screw it. I send for an RMA for both my Pioneer DVR-K17 and my Lite-On SSW-8015S and I'm sending them both back, and I just bought a Plextor PX-810UF.
     
    razor2006, Oct 5, 2007
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  9. Simpsonb

    Simpsonb Member

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    I'm looking at the Lite-on LH-20A1H and just getting an external USB2 enclosure for it for my laptop. I probably won't use the Light-scribe feature because the discs are expensive but for the quality of the burns.

    I'm just looking for a better to excellent quality burner for DVD+R on TY or Verbatim media and this one scored pretty high from cdfreaks.

    Any other suggested drives that would be better in the configuration?

    Thanks


     
    Simpsonb, Oct 7, 2007
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  10. Simpsonb

    Simpsonb Member

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    Just looking at the Pioneer DVR-112 and it looks like it got better scores for writing quality from cdfreaks.

    One question though, it states as a negative that it "Doesn’t support BitSetting for DVD+R/RW". I know now that I have my dvd shrink set to bit set the DVD+R to DVD-R, is this the same thing? Will I still be able to do this? Or does this mean that it doesn't set the bitset to DVD+R which I don't need to so anyway.

    Bob
     
    Simpsonb, Oct 7, 2007
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  11. creaky

    creaky Moderator Staff Member

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    You'd have to use 3rd party firmware to be able to booktype; for instance Buffalo firmware - http://forum.videohelp.com/topic330073.html

    I don't bother with Pioneers or NEC burners for this reason, i'm not averse to messing with firmware, i just only buy burners that have booktyping catered for by default.
     
    creaky, Oct 7, 2007
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  12. Simpsonb

    Simpsonb Member

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    I use Shrink with Nero to burn right now and have no problems at all, would this still be a problem with this Pioneer DVR-112 drive?

    Am I better off getting the Lite-on instead?

    Thanks
     
    Simpsonb, Oct 7, 2007
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  13. creaky

    creaky Moderator Staff Member

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    I'm not very up to date on which are the best latest burners out there as my Benq DW1650's are showing no signs of letting me down (hence why i don't know what's new out there, i only research new drives as and when i need them). Nero would be fine with the Pioneer, you just won't be able to booktype anything unless you go for 3rd party firmware. Not saying it's a bad drive, i just can't fathom why companies deliberately won't/don't cater for booktyping in this day and age. I think most standalone players cater for -R discs these days very well indeed, ie maybe that's why +R booktyping isn't always catered for nowadays, however a +R disc that isn't/can't be booktyped will always potentially be troublesome over a -R disc
     
    creaky, Oct 7, 2007
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  14. Simpsonb

    Simpsonb Member

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    Gotcha, understand now. I'll pass on the Pioneer, don't want any problems.

    I looked at the BenQ drives as well, there just hard to find out there, so many models to pick from.

    Thanks
    Bob
     
    Simpsonb, Oct 7, 2007
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  15. creaky

    creaky Moderator Staff Member

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    no problem, and yup, the Benq's are very rare indeed nowadays
     
    creaky, Oct 7, 2007
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  16. catfreak

    catfreak Active member

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    All of the new BenQ and Philips drives being made are LiteOn . . .

    and if you want a new Plextor . . save your money as most are Hitachi/LG units

    LiteOn makes very good drives for the price . . .

    my personal favorites are my BenQs . . DW1640(4), 1650(2), 1655 and 1670(2) . .
     
    catfreak, Oct 7, 2007
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  17. Simpsonb

    Simpsonb Member

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    Unfortunately, trying to buy any BenQ drive is next to impossible in the US.
     
    Simpsonb, Oct 8, 2007
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  18. catfreak

    catfreak Active member

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    The new BenQ drives that are available overseas (DW1800, DW2000) are made by LiteOn . . . the 18x and 20x drives
     
    catfreak, Oct 8, 2007
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  19. Simpsonb

    Simpsonb Member

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    So am I better off getting a LiteOn drive instead?

    I was looking at the LH-20A1H

    I just want the best quality DVD+R burner I can get at a reasonable price. I use Verbatim and TY +R media.
     
    Simpsonb, Oct 8, 2007
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  20. pernal

    pernal Regular member

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    razor2006
    I have replaced/upgraded laptops with NEC burners and never had any problems. NEC is the only brand that I have installed and I have been able to put the factory faceplates on them - looks factory.
    Going external works well also; I use Vantec NexStar 3 enclosures(@ Directron.com and Tiger Direct stock them and priced at around $30). I use Maddog(rebaged NEC),NEC(I use Maddog FW for bitsetting),Plextor(Newest FW will allow bitsetting),Sony(rebaged Lite-on),and Lite-on DVDRWs. Most are old 16x.A good new burner is the Lite-on LH-20A1P 20x Burner - It is quick, bitsets out of the box(It has become my favorite on)
    Burn on,
    Russell

    PS. The Lite-on LH-20A1P 20x Burner is a little noisy compaired to any other burner I use. I have had bad luck with Toshiba/Samsung and Hitachi/LG Burners(I am the pc tech for my family, in-laws and friends)

     
    pernal, Oct 8, 2007
    #20
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