CD-RW/DVD combo question

[Mloot]

I am looking at getting a 48x/24x/48x/16xDVD-rom combo drive, but I need some input. Newegg has 3 offerings by different companies, all within a few dollars of each other. The specs for the drives seem to be either the same or very similar. If all else is equal, which drive would you suggest: LG Electronics, Samsung, or Lite-On? Thanks any insight you guys can give me.

 

[Auric]

LG.

If you want 52x though, go for a Samsung. I have not heard anything about the Lite-On but would avoid it based on their other drives (which are cheap and noisy).

 

[dionx]

i have the black samsung 48/24/48/16 combo drive. i got it from cnetpc.com. its an awesome drive because it was quiet like my TDK velocd 24x (sanyo rebadged) unlike a noisy liteon or current TDKs (lite-on rebadges)

 

[Xponential]

I've used nothing but Lite-on DVD-ROMs and CD-RWs in every rig I've built for a while now. I used to use nothing but Plextor but after I saw the Lite-On's perform just as well for significantly less, I switched over and never looked back.

 

[ugh]

I own an LG combo drive. It's fast, considering that I moved from 8x to 48x and it's a LOT quieter than my Sony 8x burner as well. Not sure how this compares to Samsung. Any inputs?

 

[GetInMyFatBelly]

Samsung is great, and has 8mb cache.

 

[WTT0001]

I have the Samsung and I love it

 

[jacktesterson]

go with the LG

8MB of cache is stupid when you have buffer underrun protection

 

[SearchMaster]

Originally posted by: WTT0001
I have the Samsung and I love it

I love mine too. It's SOOOO much quieter than my Liteon CDRW's.

 

[Auric]

8MB cache does seem silly but it theoretically allows for continued burning while lesser models have to pause as buffer underrun protection kicks in. In the real world it probably makes little difference but then neither do slightly incremental burning speeds. FYI, only the retail models outside Asia (read: North America, at least) have 8MB cache. The VAR/OEM have 2MB. Also, the 48X may require a ROM update for Mt. Rainier support. Both the Samsung and Hitachi-LG are available from Dell (as potluck Dell brands) so I would be confident in either reliability-wise. Samsung certainly seem dedicated to support and innovation if you check out their website. On the other hand, HLG may be better on the quality side. It is hard to judge because people usually only post when they have problems. Anyhoo, check out cdfreaks, cdrlabs, and rpc1.org for more info.

P.S. the Samsung has a RPC1 hacked ROM available, whereas the HLG does not (yet).

 

[Chobits]

Originally posted by: Auric
LG.

If you want 52x though, go for a Samsung. I have not heard anything about the Lite-On but would avoid it based on their other drives (which are cheap and noisy).

Why does everyone think that because Liteon is cheap it sucks? Really....we get reivew after reivew, we have people sticking it in rig after rig and you haven't heard anything about the Liteon?

I would say Liteon considering the cost and preformance of the DVD roms and Burners.

 

[Auric]

Originally posted by: Chobits


Why does everyone think that because Liteon is cheap it sucks? Really....we get reivew after reivew, we have people sticking it in rig after rig and you haven't heard anything about the Liteon?

I would say Liteon considering the cost and preformance of the DVD roms and Burners.

Please post a link to a review of the Lite-On combo drive. By cheap, I did not mean affordable but cheaply made and with no particular effort put into design features such as accoustics. Lite-On's reputation is based soley on low-cost drives for copying protected CD's but it is common knowledge they are not the best.

 

[Mloot]

n/m - hit send button too early

 

[Mloot]

Thanks for the input, guys. Sounds like the Samsung model would be a good choice.

P.S. the Samsung has a RPC1 hacked ROM available, whereas the HLG does not (yet).

Correct me if I'm wrong, but does this hacked ROM allow the drive to read DVD's from different regions?

 

[bjc112]

Lite On

 

[DeeK]

Here's my take on the LG drive, which I have:

Things I like:

• It's quiet
• It's fast
• Quick spinup time so I don't get a huge hiccup when I come back to a DVD movie after it being paused for a while
• Mount Rainier support out of the box

Things I don't like:

• No RPC-1 firmware
• No read speed settings other than max, which is bad for read speed-sensitive operations like creating BWAs in Blindread
• No DVD+R/DVD+RW read support

 

[DeeK]

Originally posted by: Mloot
Correct me if I'm wrong, but does this hacked ROM allow the drive to read DVD's from different regions?

Pretty much. RPC-2 region-locks the drive itself whereas RPC-1 means regioning is only up the to the player software.

 

[Marth]

Originally posted by: Auric


Please post a link to a review of the Lite-On combo drive. By cheap, I did not mean affordable but cheaply made and with no particular effort put into design features such as accoustics. Lite-On's reputation is based soley on low-cost drives for copying protected CD's but it is common knowledge they are not the best.

http://www.slcentral.com/liteon-LTR-52327S-LTC-48161H/index.php

The only complaint people have with the Lite On drives is that they're loud not that they're cheaply made. What other design features are you talking about? From what I've read and my friends have told me, all have Lite On drives, they are great drives. I'm buying both DVD and CDRW Lite On drives for my next PC because I don't mind a somewhat noisy drive. Especially if it means saving money because I'm not paying for "Sony" or some other brand name to be on the front of the drive. Get the Lite On and save yourself some cash.