Best budget CDRW

[KyleMac]

I've been using a 16x Plextor since it came out and I loved it but I gave it to my mum so that I could get a bit more speed (it can get tedious burning 10 CDs at 5 minutes each). But I can't decide what drive to get. Ideally I'd love another Plextor but I'd rather keep the money for something else. Every drive I read about has some kind of fault.

Me, my brother and my dad share games so it needs to be able to do raw copies.
Copying music isn't really important. Never done it, possibly never will.
I don't really care if the drive is 48x or 52x since media doesn't go that fast anyway and losing 4x might get me a better built drive.
It should preferably be less than about £40 and dabs.com lists about 10 drives in this category.

 

[rb56]

I personally like the Plextors. I've had my 12x for ever since they first came out and although it now lives in my second machine it is still going strong. I currently use a Yamaha CRW F1E but I don't think that you can buy them any longer.

A lot of people on this board use Lite on drives. I guess if you don't want to spend the little extra on a Plextor I would say Lite on.

rb56

 

[farmercal]

I agree that everyone here seems to think that the Lite-on CDRW is the way to go but I wouldn't trade my Yamaha 3200EZ for any other burner. I am a happy camper!

 

[chin311]

Lite-On. cheap, reliable, and free nero (not that it isnt free everywhere else )

 

[Ronin]

Ditto on the Lite-On for budget. Plextor if you're willing to spend the money. I still have a 12x10x32A that runs rock solid after hrmm...4 years?

 

[KyleMac]

AOpen, MSI, Sony and Philips 52x drives are all less than the Lite-On 52x. LG, Samsung, Mitsumi and Asus aren't too much more.

The Plextor 48x is £56 whereas the Lite-On 52x is £34.50. The Plextor 52x is £105.

 

[DaChicken]

Plextor is preferred, but Lite-on is great. I've seen Sonys and AOpens die or not burn to some media or not be portable to other drives. So such problems encountered on Plextor or Lite-on.

 

[overclock]

Next week Staples is going to have a 52x Buslink for $30 after rebate. Buslink usually uses Lite-On drives.

 

[T3C]

if you want cheap go with the lite on, or even an aopen

 

[RaymondY]

My vote goes to Lite-On

 

[Macro2]

RE:"or even an aopen"

My POS Aopen is for sale...

 

[beatle]

Lite-On is great for the price. If you're lucky you can snag one of the Yamaha CRW-F1 drives at Office Depot for $47.04. They're no longer being made, but Yamaha is/was one of the most respected names in cd recording.

 

[Hardtarget]

Lite-On for sure. I've had my 24X for a year and a half now and it's been very good to me. i have a friend with their 48 and a freidn with theri 52 and they both say they are good drives.

 

[eatsyou]

ive liked tdk ive had nothing but good luck with there drives ...

 

[chr6]

ive actually had 2 plextors die on me, but no lite-ons have ever failed. i think my yamaha crwf1-e is acting up a little bit, but definitely lite-on all the way.

 

[jacktesterson]

Get a LG burner....they work really good for your RAW data mode (backing up games we'll say)

They work great

I find the Liteon's to be good burners, but there motors are weak for opening the tray and sometimes it gives you the impression its cheap

 

[Lyfer]

Lite-On, duh!

 

[jacktesterson]

LG, duh!



start a war here

 

[jadinolf]

Another vote for Lite-On.

 

[Sideswipe001]

I like Lite-on, LG, and Plextor (not neccesarily in that order).

 

[kaizersose]

Another vote for the Lite-On. $45 with a black bezel and hasnt skipped a beat,

 

[crisscross]

Lite-On --I picked up one which came with 32x RW in Hong Kong.. very nice