BenQ DW822A 8x/4x DVD±RW Drive ("FREE Upgrade to Dual Layer burning") for $73.00 Shipped; NEC 8x $64; LiteOn 8x/8x $66

[MysticMan1]

BenQ DW822A 8x/4x DVD±RW Drive

The current low price on Pricewatch.com is $73.00 retail shipped.

pricewatch.com, BenQ DW822A LINK (search "DW822A")

Buy.com is selling the BenQ DW822A for $80.99 shipped LINK to buy.com

With the DW822A, BenQ proudly introduces a true dual format drive that supports both +R/RW and ?R/RW format. With speeds of 8x for DVD write on DVD+R formats and 4x DVD rewrite on DVD+RW, the DW822A delivers superior functionality and performance over other DVD recording formats. Complete 4.7GB of burning in ten minutes! Taking advantage of the latest technology, the BenQ DW822A is Double-Layer (+R9) upgradeable, allowing you to increase your data storage to 8.5GB.

BenQ announces DVD+R Double-Layer upgradeable Re-Writer LINK to Info

benq.com LINK

BenQ DW822A review by cdrinfo.com LINK to review

New firmware (vB3HC) for the BenQ DW822A LINK

Always check the stores reseller ratings before you buy LINK
===============================================================
NEC ND-2500 Dual 8x/8x- DVD±RW drive

The current low price on Pricewatch.com is $64.00 for OEM shipped.

Pricewatch.com, NEC ND-2500 LINK (search "ND-2500")

ND-2500 Review at cdrinfo.com LINK
===============================================================
OptoRite DD0401 Dual 8x/4x DVD±RW (Firmware upgradalbe to burn 8x DVD-R & 4x DVD-RW)

OptoRite DD0405 Dual 8x/8x DVD±RW

The current low price on Pricewatch.com is for the OptoRite DD0401 $69.00 retail shipped.
The current low price on Pricewatch.com is for the OptoRite DD0405 $69.00 retail shipped.

Pricewatch.com, OptoRite DD0401 & DD0405 LINK (search "ND-DD0401 orDD0405 ")

Optorite.com LINK

Optorite firmware upgrade pageLINK

OptoRite DD0401 8x/4x DVD±RW review LINK

Some of the 8x I/O Magic; Magic Spin, Digital Research and Hi Val drives are rebadged OptoRite drives.
==============================================================
LiteOn LDW-811S Dual 8x/4x DVD±RW drive
LiteOn SOHW-812S Dual 8x/8x DVD±RW drive (Writes both 8x +/-)

The current low price on Pricewatch.com for SOHW-812S is $65.50 for OEM or $70.00 for retail shipped.
The current low price on Pricewatch.com for LiteOn LDW-811S is $65.00 for OEM shipped

Pricewatch.com, LiteOn LiteOn LDW-811S LINK (search "LDW-811S")

Pricewatch.com, LiteOn SOHW-812S LINK (search "SOHW-812S")

Liteonit.com LINK
==============================================================
Specs for all listed DVD drives LINK

 

[serialkiller]

nice write up.... so which one is the best one? tee hee hee...

George

 

[Anonemous]

Originally posted by: serialkiller
nice write up.... so which one is the best one? tee hee hee...

George

hmmm that benq with the dual layer dual format burning dvdr seems to pique my interest. I wonder if other drives are upgradeable using firmware.

 

[Xionide]

Sell the firmware eh? Thats retarded.

 

[VaG]

Originally posted by: Xionide
Sell the firmware eh? Thats retarded.

It's only retarded if you actually pay for it.

 

[NonOffensiveNameHere]

Whoa WHoa WHoa. Would you need special discs? My knowledge of dual layer is they basically burn two dvd's then press them? How much will the firmware cost?

 

[breweyez]

yeah...how much will it coast...hehe

anyone having issues with the BenQ DW822A?

 

[MrBond]

Originally posted by: NonOffensiveNameHere
Whoa WHoa WHoa. Would you need special discs? My knowledge of dual layer is they basically burn two dvd's then press them? How much will the firware caost?

Yeah, you need special media, projected costs are $5-6/ea initially.

The firmware may not be too bad. In the past, the BenQ firmware has only cost enough to cover their cost of paying the royalties (in the case of adding dual media support). I imagine there's someone else to pay royalties to for the DVD+R9 format so that might be the case here

 

[corinthos]

anyone have any info on the new BENQ DW822A? $101 for dual-layered-ready 8X burner seems like a good deal. I think the first dual-layered drives are going to go for $200+. Wonder how reliable, quiet, and compatible these Benq drives are, and if the 2nd layer will actually be burned slower on this drive. Must be pretty new since I haven't seen any reviews on it yet.

edit: According to the box, it appears the firmware won't be released until 09/30/04... that's still quite some time away...

 

[MysticMan1]

Originally posted by: corinthos
anyone have any info on the new BENQ DW822A? $101 for dual-layered-ready 8X burner seems like a good deal. I think the first dual-layered drives are going to go for $200+. Wonder how reliable, quiet, and compatible these Benq drives are, and if the 2nd layer will actually be burned slower on this drive. Must be pretty new since I haven't seen any reviews on it yet.

edit: According to the box, it appears the firmware won't be released until 09/30/04... that's still quite some time away...

Dual layered burning will start at 2.4x speed then go to 4x next year.
I would be suprised if it took until 9-30 to come out with the dual layered update since they will start selling a pure dual layered drive (the Benq DW830A), in May.

 

[JETninja]

^

So anyone got one of these yet? Looks quite interesting. Looking between the NEC or maybe one of these new puppies. Not real jazzed at the reviews for vendor with the $101 price...though at least he's only 60 miles from me....

 

[Vanderlow]

I talk to the optical drive manager at BenQ (Harry Hu) and he said the firmware would be free.

Here's a thread of DW800A's (its predessor) Kprobes. one guy has 6 burners and rates his BenQ DW800A tops at 8x.

BenQ DW800A Kprobes thread at CDFreaks

 

[corinthos]

the firmware, according to the box, will be released sometime in late September... that's quite a while a way... it'll probably do dual layer at 2.4x... by that time there might be faster dual layer burners for the same price with rebates/coupons... decisions decisions

 

[Vanderlow]

Actually BenQ made an announcement that in September they would have a 4x DL burner.

 

[uo7]

If anyone is interested they are testing bitsetting now on the NEC-2500a

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=91198

 

[MysticMan1]

Originally posted by: Vanderlow
I talk to the optical drive manager at BenQ (Harry Hu) and he said the firmware would be free. [/L]

That's good news if it turns out to be true, but in their news release BenQ said they would sell the dual layer burning firmware upgrade on thier web site.

 

[hans007]

im assuming the dw800a is the DW822A but without the - support.


if you want dw822A for $95 shipped, you can go to www.ebuyer.com they have the dw800a for $85 shipped (its not in california too) . this listing isnt on pricewatch, but i got it on pricegrabber. cheapest dw800a on pricewatch is $91 + CA tax (damn me living in CALI) and get the flash upgrade from somewhere (you can buy it from benq for $10)

they should have an upgrade for the dw800a also for dual layer.

 

[corinthos]

where do you see the dw822a for $95 shipped?

 

[MysticMan1]

Originally posted by: corinthos
where do you see the dw822a for $95 shipped?

He's talking about the single format BenQ DW800A not the DW822A and he's hoping that the DW800A can be upgraded to a DW822A, but there no prove that you can do that upgrade.

 

[mrrman]

I wish the Pioneer burners had this feature...I like that brand

 

[MrCorleone]

Does anyone know what companies will be on the compatability list (Disc Brands) for the BenQ. I currently have an Optorite DD0203 (DVD+-RW) and it isn't able to burn to Memorex DVDs.

 

[MysticMan1]

Originally posted by: MrCorleone
Does anyone know what companies will be on the compatability list (Disc Brands) for the BenQ. I currently have an Optorite DD0203 (DVD+-RW) and it isn't able to burn to Memorex DVDs.

Have you updated your Optorite DD0203 drive with the latest firmware update?

Here's a review of the older single for mat BenQ DW800A, this should give you some idea how the BenQ DW822A might proform: LINK

 

[IHYLN]

bought the benq dw822a off supermediastore.com 118 shipped

 

[Vanderlow]

Be sure to post your impressions Mystic Man 1. Newegg is carrying it now for $99 + $4 shipping.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-101-622&depa=1


PC-Magazin (GER) 5/2004 did a review of drives and used a CATS analyzer. Someone tagged it the same thread where C't magazine did a review of drives using a CATS also. BenQ rated high for + media on both reviews.

PC-Magazin (GER) 5/2004:

BEST drives (grouped together, not in order of performance)
===========
- LG 4801 / only fails on VDSPMSAB01 (DVD-R), MCC01RG20 (DVD-R), OPTODISCR004 (DVD-R) and MCI4XG01 (DVD-R). Very good dual format drive, if you avoid the crappiest media
- BenQ DW-800A / excellent drive for DVD+R burning (just as LG4801). Now if only all burns had jitter within specs and this was a true 8x dual-format drive...


WORST drives (in order of performance as rated by me based on burn test results)
============
1. Sony DRU-530 / only really burns ok on Ritek R02 and MCC002 (both DVD+R). REally bad drive
2. LiteOn LDW-811s / only really burns good on TYG01 (DVD-R), Ritek G04 (DVD-R), POMSC001 (DVD+R) and Ritek R02 (DVD+R). IMHO, not a trustworthy drive.

http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=13405&start=25



Also a couple people have just gotten a DW822A and just started to post impressions. They seem to be happy with it so far.

http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=15836&start=25

 

[Ian@CDRlabs]

Sup Vanderlow.. good to see a friendly face around here.

It's also good to see a few links to some place other than cdrinfo.