Is a DVD/CD drive needed anymore?

[Sho'Nuff]

TLDR:

Is there a compelling reason for a new PC build to have a CD drive anymore?

Long form:

I'm getting the itch to overhaul my PC, the components of which are outlined below. Now I know I do not "need" to overhaul my PC and its just fine, but I do so every so often just because I like to do so and I like to be close to the state of the art of computing hardware and performance. The expense is also not an issue whatsoever.

Ultimately I want to build a skylake based platform that is entirely SSD based. Partly because it will be fast, partly because it will allow me to move data off my aging hard drives (which I can no longer supplement because I am out of SATA connections on my existing MOBO), and partly because I am sick of having to manage the data stored on my existing relatively small SSDs. I also want to replace the NEC display with a higher resolution Gsync enabled display.

Again - I realize that I do not need to build an entirely new pc for those reasons. FWIW - I plan to use most of the existing PC to build a very powerful and fast home theater PC that will (I hope), convince my wife to allow my family to cut the cord with cable.

That said I was looking at my components and realized that the last time I used my DVD drive was . . . well . . . er . . . Heck. I can't remember when I used it last. Which got me to thinking. Is there a compelling reason to include a CD/DVD drive in a new pc build anymore?

Current PC:
i7-3770k at 4.2GHZ

16GB ram

GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD5H LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX

1 x SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner SATA Model SH-222BB/BEBE - OEM

Nvidia GTX 980Ti (Stock)

2X Dell UltraSharp U2412M Black 24" 8ms LED Backlight Widescreen LCD IPS Panel Monitor (1920x1200)

1x NEC Display Solutions LCD2490WUXi2-BK Black 24" Height,Swivel,Pivot & Tilt Adjustable Widescreen LCD Monitor (also 1920x1200)

1 x SAMSUNG 840 Pro Series 2.5" 256GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) MZ-7PD256BW - Boot drive

1 x SAMSUNG 830 Series 2.5" 256GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) MZ-7PC256B/WW - General Storage

A bunch of aging hard drives with total capacity >4TB

Corsair Obsidian Series 800D CC800DW Black Aluminum / Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case

1 x Synology DiskStation DS214play Diskless System Network Storage populated with
2 x HGST Deskstar NAS H3IKNAS40003272SN (0S03664) 4TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drives in raid 1

 

[MrTeal]

When I built my new system I didn't include a DVD drive. I still keep it around on a shelf along with a USB2.0 to SATA adapter I got with an Intel X-25 SSD in case I ever need to grab something off a DVD on the local computer, but it never really comes up in practice.

 

[Erithan13]

It would depend entirely on who the new build was for. Me, I've still got a few movie DVDs I need to rip and some old software/obsolete backups lying around on discs I need to get round to looking at. The cost of the drive is so small I'd ask myself why not to include one in a new build anyway. But then again if you personally haven't needed the drive in forever it'd just be a waste of money, however little.

 

[zir_blazer]

I don't use a DVD Drive since at least 2009, and the computer I had from 2006 to 2009 barely used it at all. They got fully replaced by USB Flash Drives. I see them as a waste of 20 U$D budget. Its even worse since the quality is rather bad compared to what they once were, you can consider them disposable, like late era 3 1/2 Floppy and CD Drives. And if you really need one, chances are that you can temporarily borrow one from another machine, or access it via the Network.

 

[MrTeal]

I never saw it in terms of cost savings; even if I had to purchase a drive it is only a $20 item. My primary reason is case aesthetics and airflow. It's probably pretty case dependent, but removing the DVD drive also allowed me to completely remove the 5.25" and 3.5" drive trays, which really opened up the case and let me cram another 360mm radiator in there.

 

[mvbighead]

Nothing sucks like wanting to install something and not having the means to do it if the medium you are given is a CD/DVD. For $10-15 you can get a solid DVDRW.

As I am building my local library of movies from DVD/Bluray, I use mine a fair amount. I could see in the future that the need for drives becomes increasingly more minimal. But for now, if I buy a new movie and want to rip it, I have to have a drive to do that.

 

[TheELF]

TLDR:

Is there a compelling reason for a new PC build to have a CD drive anymore?

Yup,it gives you the chance to tell kids that "When I was your age.... "


Also Bruuuuuuuuuuuce-leeeeee rooooooooooooy

 

[Eeqmcsq]

When I was building ITX PCs for myself, I came to the realization that I didn't need an internal CD/DVD drive in them. Instead, I used an external USB CD/DVD drive when I needed to boot into a Linux live CD to test something. This saved me the cost of buying a CD/DVD drive for each ITX PC, and also gave me room to install a 3.5" HDD, plus have extra room to tuck away loose cables.

So my answer is no, there isn't much need for a CD/DVD drive in the PC anymore. Get 1 external CD/DVD drive to handle the rare times when you need it, and that's it.

 

[Charlie98]

I still use mine 2-3 times a week to rip video, so it's a must, and, come to think of it, every PC in the house has one. Either you need it, or you don't.

 

[TheELF]

I used an external USB CD/DVD drive when I needed to boot into a Linux live CD to test something.

Why would someone do that if you can really install a linux distro on an usb stick?
No "live" but honest to goodness installation.

 

[Essence_of_War]

TLDR:

Is there a compelling reason for a new PC build to have a CD drive anymore?

It's not absolutely necessary, I don't use mine everyday, but it's useful occasionally.

With a case as large as the 800D, why not have one?

 

[nsafreak]

That depends on your usage I suppose I have a Blu Ray drive in mine that I rip all of the new releases that I purchase onto my server. Sure I could purchase them digitally but you don't get the same audio and video quality on a download as you do a blu ray rip.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I have one but I barely use it. Running an OS install from a thumb drive is just so much faster, I couldn't believe it the first time I tried it, and I refuse to go back.

 

[Eeqmcsq]

Why would someone do that if you can really install a linux distro on an usb stick?
No "live" but honest to goodness installation.

Because at the time, I had several Ubuntu CDs already burnt to CD, and I hadn't figured out how to make a bootable Ubuntu USB drive.

I haven't experimented with Ubuntu installed onto a USB stick for 5 years, so I don't know how far they've come. If you can install Linux from an existing installation on a USB stick, then I guess there is almost no need for an external CD/DVD drive. I'd still keep one around just in case you run into a CD/DVD.

 

[kommisar]

TLDR:

Is there a compelling reason for a new PC build to have a CD drive anymore?

I like the ability to boot from a write-once only media because I know nothing could have changed the media since it was originally written.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I like the ability to boot from a write-once only media because I know nothing could have changed the media since it was originally written.

Yeah. Ever since "BadUSB" became a thing, I'm glad I still have an optical drive.

OP: Skip the DVD, get a Blu-Ray writer.

 

[ArisVer]

A DVD is not required if you don't use DVD discs.

I have a computer with a DVD because I have the space in the tower and I occasionally use it (and that is a few times a year).
I removed the DVD from my laptop and installed a disk caddy; I have also made that DVD an external one. This is something to consider if you need the 5.25" space.

 

[Mem]

A DVD is not required if you don't use DVD discs.

I have a computer with a DVD because I have the space in the tower and I occasionally use it (and that is a few times a year).
I removed the DVD from my laptop and installed a disk caddy; I have also made that DVD an external one. This is something to consider if you need the 5.25" space.

Preference usage as always, personally I have two SATA DVD drives and one USB 2.0 external one, for my retail games and burning movies/music onto DVD/CD etc.

I also have ten DVD-Rs with different Linux distros burned on them as well, yes I also have an external USB 3.0 1TB HD and USB flash drives which have Windows OS and other bits and pieces on them.

Basically I always find a need or use for my DVD drives.

Very cheap as well.

 

[007ELmO]

No

 

[Burpo]

I still use mine 2-3 times a week to rip video, so it's a must, and, come to think of it, every PC in the house has one. Either you need it, or you don't.

Using it for Home Theater, a Blu-Ray player/burner is nice to have, even if it's a few bucks more.. I use mine constantly..

 

[corkyg]

Not necessary, but occasionally useful when accessing old archived files. For that, you can always use a USB external.

 

[MongGrel]

I think I use mine about once a year these days.

 

[JackMDS]

Not necessary, but occasionally useful when accessing old archived files. For that, you can always use a USB external.

This - http://www.amazon.com/External-Wind...446043298&sr=1-2&keywords=external+dvd+lenovo

 

[Charlie98]

Using it for Home Theater, a Blu-Ray player/burner is nice to have, even if it's a few bucks more.. I use mine constantly..

Oddly, I don't have a BD capable player in the HTPC... it's in the desktop where I use the i5 to rip and encode. Maybe Black Friday I'll find a BD player on sale and upgrade!

 

[Puffnstuff]

I still keep both an internal and external bd-rw drive in my systems. I also use the external with my tablet if I need to otherwise I use usb flash drives.