TDK 12x or 16x?

[mikef208]

I did a search of the forums but did not find what I was looking for, if this has been posted before give me some links, if not I would appreciate some info. Best Buy has the TDK 16x on sale for 249.99, and the 12x for 199.99 after mail in rebate. I have heard that the extra 4x only translates into like a 90 second faster burn. I could live with the slower cheaper drive if it only means 90 seconds. But in my experience with a 12x on a 350mhz, it took like 18 minutes or something(I don't remember exactly) to burn a whole CD. When it was supposed to burn in like 10 minutes, although I'm sure the burnproof prolly kicked in and slowed it down a little. I am now on a duron 650, which i hope to ugrade to a Tbird 1gig+ soon, so I shouldn't have much of a big problem. So which is better for the money?

 

[erub]

maybe the drive on the pII 300 was a 4x. 4x drives take around 18 mins to burn. 12x take 6 mins or so. You should not have burnproof kick in very often with the 12x drive on your Duron 650, I have an Athlon Classic 650 and it almost never kicks in. CDs take around 6-7 mins to burn.

 

[4824guy]

I agree. the 12x vs. 16x difference is only a few seconds, and not that important in real life use. Those $50 difference can better be save and used elsewhere IMHO.

The total burn that you had was probably the entire process, of coping the contents of the source to the HD, finallizing cd, etc. Not just the burn time of the cd-r.

 

[mikef208]

erub: that was my mistake it was a 350Mhz, but it was an AMD not pll and it was not a 4x it was the 12x Iomega(rebagded plextor).

4824guy: I was burning a CD of MP3's straight from my hard drive so there was no copying to hard drive, but now that I think of it, would it slow down the burn since it was converting the MP3's to wav's on the fly?

 

[Tzen]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't the 12x read sub-levels where as the 16x can't?

Tzen

 

[mikef208]

YOUR WRONG, no I'm just kidding, I don't even know what sublevels are? Can you clue me in? Also it is my belief that the 12x is a plex., I am pretty sure on that, were as the 16x is a sanyo. Are the 2 makers on the same level or is the plextor better as I have heard.

 

[Tung]

I'd go with the 16x.. 1min30s faster is worth paying for..

 

[mikef208]

Not really in my opinion, I can wait for 1 aminute and a half. While I am counting the extra 50.00 bucks I save

 

[Tzen]

As far as I know, sub-levels (also called sub-channels) have something to do with the way commercial CDs are burned. They burn data to the sub-channels because most CD-ROMs and CD-RWs cannot read them, therefore, making it more difficult to copy the CD.

Tzen

 

[LuNoTiCK]

I say if you still have your iomega you use that

 

[Sundog]

Look here. Thread 12x10x32 $149

 

[extro]

The 16X is an OEM Sanyo, the 12X is an OEM Plextor, at least as of a few weeks ago (TDK could change suppliers without notice). The Plextor is considered by most to be a better drive. Search for reviews of the Sanyo BP1400 and the Plextor 1210A for comparison.

I have the TDK 12X and it's been great.

 

[RossMAN]

The 16X is an OEM Sanyo, the 12X is an OEM Plextor, at least as of a few weeks ago (TDK could change suppliers without notice). The Plextor is considered by most to be a better drive. Search for reviews of the Sanyo BP1400 and the Plextor 1210A for comparison.

Go with the 12x since it's $50 cheaper and has Plextor guts.

If you're still not convinced then read this TDK 12x review

 

[Tzen]

Keep in mind that review is of the TDK Cyclone 12x, which is the European version of the drive. It does NOT support sub-channel reading. I believe the TDK velocd 12x does. Someone PLEASE confirm this!

Tzen

 

[mikef208]

Well I no longer have the Iomega so that is out.

Sundog what was so cool about that thread, that was not a TDK was it?

I am still looking into this, but it looks like I will be going with the 12x. Maybe I can get lucky and find an open item at best buy, then it would be a real good deal. Thanks, keep it coming.

 

[dmw16]

I actually have the "pleasure" of working at best buy. In fact, Im ussually selling CD burners. And I really dont push the 16x. Id be perfectly happy with the 12x and that is what I recommend. $50 is a good bit of money to me.
-doug

 

[mikef208]

Is 175.00 shipped a good deal on this drive? The one I am trying to buy is brand new, he made 2 burns with it. LMK what you think.