Unique Hardware Purchase

[Duke79fball]

Forum Members,

I am purchasing items for my first computer build of a media workstaion. I am interested in a Pioneer DVD-106S as my DVD-Rom. I would like to know what website I can purchase this item with a black face plate to match the scheme of my other peripherals. I would also entertain suggestions of better altenative choices. I am also interested in value priced 19" or 20" LCD monitors with reputable performance credentials. I am not turned off by refurbished models that carry a good warrenty and support policy ! I have a limited budget and desire the best BANG for my moola !

 

[MrChad]

Welcome to the forum.

The Pioneer DVD-106S is pretty ancient. Is there any reason you want that particular model? You can buy a fully featured DVD+/-RW drive (with black faceplate) for $50-60.

As for monitors, check the Hot Deals forum and FatWallet for deals on Dell Ultrasharp 19" and 20" monitors. They perform very well and are bargain-priced after coupons are applied.

 

[WW]

I assume you meant 109, not 106...here's the black faceplate version:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-129-161&depa=0

 

[Duke79fball]

I am looking for the fastest, most reliable dvd-rom deck that I can find for purchase. I already secured a good deal on a Plextor PX-716SA for $119, delivered to my door ! Ineed it to be compatible to the large array of media content out there.

 

[airfoil]

The slot load 106S you want was never available with a black faceplate, so you're out of luck unless you're willing to settle for the white/beige? color.

The fastest DVD ROM out there is the Aopen AAP 1648 and the 'Chameleon' retail version ships with both black & beige face plates. LiteOn DVD-ROMs follow closely in performance.

What you'll want to consider is since you'll be paying $30+ for the DVD-ROM, it may just make sense to just get a 2nd DVD+-R drive at about $60 - assuming you'd want a second optical DVD drive.

 

[Duke79fball]

Mr. Chad & WW,

Thanks for welcoming me to the forum, and WW< I will investigate the model you suggested. As well with your help Mr. Chad. Let me list for you, my dream computer.

Silverstone TJ05 case
AMD FX-55 CPU
MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum motherboard
Zalman CPU fan 7700
Antec NeoPower 480 psu
Corsair TwinX 2048-3200 Pro 2Gb memory
Plextor PX-716SA
Pioneer DVD-Rom drive
Soyo BayOne Extreme media reader
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum sound card
Hitachi Deskstar 7K400 SATA hdd, w/ a Vantecc hdd cooler
Maxtor DiamondMax 10 300Gb SATA hdd
ATI All-in-Wonder X800 XT video capture card
2 Vantec Tornado case fans
1 Vantec Termalflow case fan
Mitsumi 3.5, 1.44 floppy drive

I figure to use all the hdd space for video editing and streaming ! What do you think ? Oh yeah, I almost forgot ! XP MCE "05 for my operating system !

 

[Duke79fball]

Airfoil,

Thanks for your suggestion. You probably figured out already, I am a novice, but eager to learn at the feet of the masters. Would two burners cause confusion as to the master or default to burn from ? I have a TDK 880N burner on my old tower I could salvage. I had been researching decks thru CDRlabs website. It didn't give the Aopen deck sterling reviews !

 

[UtahBum]

At the danger of stating what you already know.... I get all my parts from www.newegg.com. Happy with their service and price.

 

[airfoil]

Originally posted by: Duke79fball


Airfoil,

Thanks for your suggestion. You probably figured out already, I am a novice, but eager to learn at the feet of the masters. Would two burners cause confusion as to the master or default to burn from ? I have a TDK 880N burner on my old tower I could salvage. I had been researching decks thru CDRlabs website. It didn't give the Aopen deck sterling reviews !

Sounds to me like the 880N is the way to go.

 

[ShadowBlade]

good online retailers: newegg, zipzoomfly, xoxide (for case mod stuff and lighting, etc), add .com to all

 

[Baked]

You have a limited budget and aims for best bang for buck, yet you went ahead and bought a $119 DVD writer. Nice job. You could've bought a Toshiba 1912 DVD-ROM and NEC 3520A DVD writer. Quiet, fast, region free, unlocked rip speed. Quiet, fast, auto DVD+R to DVD-ROM, excellent burn quality. But hey, it's your money.

Pioneer slot load DVD-ROM sounds like landing strip.

 

[Duke79fball]

:Q

Dear Halfbaked,

I rather scemp on the monitor now, but build the workstation I want to perform the tasks I designed it for. I agree with you ! At the cost of repeating myself, I am a novice, I was unaware of the deck you mentioned. I have read up on it, and it gives me the biggest bag for my moola ! This is the reason I signed on to this forum, so I won't make the same mistakes in the future !

 

[Duke79fball]

Airfoil,

The Plextor is sata, do I set the jumper on the TDK 880N to slave, so it will serve as my dvd-rom drive ?

 

[Duke79fball]

ShadowBlade,


Thanks for the advice, I have used newegg & zipzoomfly in the past. Xoxide is a new one on me ! I appreciate the tip !

 

[Duke79fball]

WW,

Thanks for the sugestion on the Aopen model. I will look into that one !

 

[Duke79fball]

Utahbum,

Thanks for the tip, and you're right ! I purchased my case thru newegg !

 

[Steven the Leech]

Originally posted by: Duke79fball


Airfoil,

Thanks for your suggestion. You probably figured out already, I am a novice, but eager to learn at the feet of the masters. Would two burners cause confusion as to the master or default to burn from ? I have a TDK 880N burner on my old tower I could salvage. I had been researching decks thru CDRlabs website. It didn't give the Aopen deck sterling reviews !

I have 2 dvd burners in my system and use them both at the same time regularly without any problems, also have a cdrw in here too. Never had any problems with them.

 

[Duke79fball]

Steven the Leech,

How can I set the second deck up so it may act as a reader when ripping movies ?

 

[imported_bajan]

I have a NEC ND-3520A and i'm pleased as punch with it. It's fast and very reliable. And the best part? I only paid $80 for it. (Yeah yeah i know, Newegg has them for much less, but i'm not in the US)

 

[Steven the Leech]

I have 4 opticals set up as primary/slave. The 2 dvdr are set up on different channels as master, and a lite on dvd rom as slave on one ide controller, and lite on cd burner as slave on the other. I can copy on the fly as long as i use the drives that are on seperate controllers, and have good media. As far a ripping I use the lite on to do that usually, but the other drives do an equally fine job.


BTW- I have my hard drives set on raid controllers, and have used promise controllers [ATA] for hard drives controllers, with optical drives on my onboard MB controllers

Here is what CDRinfo said about your plextor drive

Reveiw conclusion on DVD drives form CDRinfo, you should be able to find a reveiw of your old drive to check the read/rip cababilities of the drive

Another site to reveiw if you decide to purchase a second optical

 

[Duke79fball]

:frown:

Steven the Leech,

I am still wearing my cord from birth. My plans are to have at least two large capacity hdds (Hitachi 400 gb & Maxtor 300 gb), both sata. residents on the forum convinced me to use a second burner dvd+-r; the Nec ND 3520A is the way to go (55.99 at newegg). I don't know much about the raid controller setup, where can I get info to learn more ? I plan to use an MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum motherboard. Would I need to use a separate controller card for my raid setup to arrange these components ?

 

[Duke79fball]

Mr. Chad,

Tanks for all your advice on the forum. From all the advice I hace received from forum members, I decided on the NEC ND 3520A as a second deck ($55.99 from newegg). Do I set the jumper on slave, so I it will serve as a rom drive when burning to the other deck ?

 

[Duke79fball]

Bajan,

Thanks for the tip on the Nec ND 3520A, the OEM version is available on newegg for $55.99 + $4.99 S&H. Thats what I have decide to go with !

 

[Steven the Leech]

Nothing extra is needed since your hard drives are on the sata controller,

The point I was making is that most motherboards only have 2 onboard IDE controllers, and optical IDE devices have to use these to function properly, since you are using sata for hardrives it means you will have two open onboard IDE, just put 1 optical as maser/IDE1 and the other as master/IDE2, this will give you optimal setup for the 2 opticals

Here is a reveiw on the NEC

I think a better/cheaper choice for your second drive would be a Asus DVD-E616P2 or a LiteOn SOHD-167T , unless you just want two burners, the plextor you have is a much better drive than the NEC, im not saying the NC is a bad drive, but plextor is synonymous with quality, hence the higher price. I have one in mine as well as a pioneer. if I were to choose between NEC and pioneer i would definitely choose Pioneer 109

 

[Duke79fball]

Steven the Leech,

Bottom line this last question for me, what is the best performing and most reliable dvd-rom drive out there that has accepts the widest array of media out there. For all the reasons you mentioned, I bought the Plextor PX-716SA. But if, there's another dual format burner out there that offers better performance and reeliability for around $60. I have no problem spending the moola. I can scremp on a printer or monitor, for now. But I want my computer to be the cat's ass (well, within reason). $3-4,000 I will sacrifice for my pleasure. I listed my setup earlier, besides the dvd-rom drive, what do you think !