(Updated) NEC ND-2500 "8x/8x" DVD±R/RW Drive OEM "$88" Shipped; LiteOn 8x "$98"; Pioneer DVR-107 $108; Optorite 8x "$98"

[swNYC]

Originally posted by: rich123

Is it the 1300A drive with new firmware?

Rich123, this is a shot of the PC board of the ND-2500A from the Japanese review site:
PC Board Pic

The chipset reads:
NEC
D63630GM
0342KP038

Take a look at your ND-1300A and see if there are any similarities. If the chipset is the same there might be some hope of upgrading the 1300A to 8x.

 

[Childs]

Just tried Fuji 4x DVD-R made in Japan (sorry, no media codes, this is on an ibook). CHecked the media in Toast and it thought it could write at 2-8x, but ended writing at 4x. I'll try them at home on my PC later using the copy of Nero that came with the 2500.

 

[swNYC]

I just did some preliminary testing with the ND-2500A:

I burned a Movie DVD from an Nero image file stored in the hard drive. This was a very quick and dirty test.

Imation 2x DVD-R (RITEKG03) burned at 2x
Imation 4x DVD+R (RICOHJPN) burned at 6x
Sony 4x DVD+R (RICOHJPN) burned at 6x

My Plextor burns all the Ricoh media at 8x with no problems. Looks like NEC needs to tweak their firmware a bit.
Interestingly, the ND-2500 has DVD-ROM Book Type enabled by default, and it is selectable in Nero 6.

 

[MysticMan1]

Here's some hot new from Optorite & LiteOn.

Optorite announces 8x DVD dual burner

Optorite announced the successor of the DD0401, supporting 8x recording for both DVD+R and DVD-R. The drive is based on the Sanyo LC897490 chipset. Availability is expected in mid January.
The great news for all Optorite DD0401 users is that they will be able to upgrade their drive with an upcoming firmware, allowing them to record at 8x on DVD-R discs. Of course, the drive will still offer 8x DVD+R writing, as well as all the current specifications. More information will be available soon.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LiteOn announces 8x dual DVD recorder

LiteOn announced the upcoming SOHW-812S, a dual DVD recorder that supports 8x writing on both DVD-R and DVD+R media. The ATAPI / E-IDE drive supports the LiteOn's SMART-BURN, SMART-X functions, as well as the VAS system.

 

[gba]

Originally posted by: MysticMan1

Originally posted by: Tom61
Cool. I'm in. As long as it comes with something to burn DVDs that's fine by me.
$157.48 total including 10-pack of 8x+R and shipping.

To backup your DVDs a lot of people like to use a freeware app called DVDShrink to Shrink the movie and then use their favorite burning software (like Nero Burning Rom, Nero Express, RecordNow MAX), to write the files created by DVD Shrink to a recordable DVD.

http://www.dvdshrink.info/

New version of DVD Shrink, 3.1, will burn the disk too, as long as you have Nero 5 or 6 installed. I tried it and it worked just fine.

 

[Belzer]

Originally posted by: MysticMan1
Coming soon:

LG GMA-4080 Dual 8x/4x DVD±RW

I don't think you will see a GMA-4080 drive released. The GSA-4081B on the other hand is already available for example @accupc for $130 (8x DVD+R, 4x DVD+RW, 4x DVD-R, 2x DVD-RW, 3x DVD-RAM). Next month the GSA-4082B should follow supporting 8x DVD-R and 4x DVD-RW too.

 

[skrill]

Originally posted by: Jesta
Mine from mwave came with an OEM copy of Nero 6, didn't notice the SW part when I ordered it though.

Can anyone else confirm that the NEC ND-2500 from MWave comes w/ Nero 6? I want to buy from someone else to save shipping charges. But if I get a free copy of Nero -- I'll pay the extra $10.

 

[Netopia]

Well, I just grabbed one from NewEgg for $131 shipped.

Now that I've jumped into the realm of DVD burning, I've a question...

According to what I've read on DVDRHELP's page, the DVD-R is more compatible with standalone DVD players and DVD+R is. That being the case, is there ever a reason to buy DVD+R's? I haven't bought any media yet... figured I'd wait a few days to see what pops up on the forums, but I wanted to make sure that I was buying the right stuff.

TIA

Joe

 

[MysticMan1]

Another Upgrade to 8x DVD-R announced :

Tuesday, 13 January 2004

Sony Electronics is rewarding owners of its 530 series of dual format DVD/CD-recordable drives with a free firmware upgrade that will allow them to achieve up to 8X DVD-R and 4X DVD-RW recording speeds.
Owners of the internal DRU-530A or external DRX-530UL Dual RW drive will be able to download the free firmware upgrade from Sony's Storage Support Web site at http://sony.storagesupport.com/dvdrw/dru530adwn.htm before the end of February.
Note that Optorite will also release a firmware upgrade for DD0401 adding 8x DVD-R and 4x DVD-RW writing.[/b]

 

[Childs]

Originally posted by: skrill

Originally posted by: Jesta
Mine from mwave came with an OEM copy of Nero 6, didn't notice the SW part when I ordered it though.

Can anyone else confirm that the NEC ND-2500 from MWave comes w/ Nero 6? I want to buy from someone else to save shipping charges. But if I get a free copy of Nero -- I'll pay the extra $10.

Its the Nero Express suite.

 

[Tom61]

Got mine yesterday (from MWave), didn't have a chance to try it because my PC wouldn't boot after installing the drive. Turned out the problem was currupted NVRAM (cleared CMOS fixed it).

Anyway, it works now, installed Nero Express from the disc. It burnt the +R "8x" media that came with it at 6x(took about 10 minutes). Thus far I've only been able to get this to read in the DVD+-RW drive. My old 2x Creative DVD Rom couldn't read it, nor any DVD player I tried. Next I tried Some Memorex 4x DVD-R media from Staples (got in on the 10 discs for $10 deal Sunday), it burnt it at 4x (took about 14 minutes). The old 2x drive still couldn't read it, but my brother's Apex 1100W read it and could play MPEG, JPEG, and MP3 files off it. (my old Apex 500W may not have known what to do with a DVD data disc, even though it can play MP3s off a CDR)

 

[MysticMan1]

Here's the latest firmware upgrade for the 8x NEC ND-2500 drive, released 1-12-04

v1.06 for NEC ND-2500A

 

[MysticMan1]

Originally posted by: Tom61
Got mine yesterday (from MWave), didn't have a chance to try it because my PC wouldn't boot after installing the drive. Turned out the problem was currupted NVRAM (cleared CMOS fixed it).

Anyway, it works now, installed Nero Express from the disc. It burnt the +R "8x" media that came with it at 6x(took about 10 minutes). Thus far I've only been able to get this to read in the DVD+-RW drive. My old 2x Creative DVD Rom couldn't read it, nor any DVD player I tried. Next I tried Some Memorex 4x DVD-R media from Staples (got in on the 10 discs for $10 deal Sunday), it burnt it at 4x (took about 14 minutes). The old 2x drive still couldn't read it, but my brother's Apex 1100W read it and could play MPEG, JPEG, and MP3 files off it. (my old Apex 500W may not have known what to do with a DVD data disc, even though it can play MP3s off a CDR)

swNYC say his ND-2500 has "DVD-ROM Book Type" enabled by default, and it is selectable in Nero 6, try selecting the DVD-ROM book type in Nero before you burn a disc if it's available on the Nero Express version.

 

[gba]

Originally posted by: Tom61
Got mine yesterday (from MWave), didn't have a chance to try it because my PC wouldn't boot after installing the drive. Turned out the problem was currupted NVRAM (cleared CMOS fixed it).

Anyway, it works now, installed Nero Express from the disc. It burnt the +R "8x" media that came with it at 6x(took about 10 minutes). Thus far I've only been able to get this to read in the DVD+-RW drive. My old 2x Creative DVD Rom couldn't read it, nor any DVD player I tried. Next I tried Some Memorex 4x DVD-R media from Staples (got in on the 10 discs for $10 deal Sunday), it burnt it at 4x (took about 14 minutes). The old 2x drive still couldn't read it, but my brother's Apex 1100W read it and could play MPEG, JPEG, and MP3 files off it. (my old Apex 500W may not have known what to do with a DVD data disc, even though it can play MP3s off a CDR)

THX for the info... yeah, my Sony DVP-NC655P Carousel does not "know what to do" with mp3s burnt to DVD's either.

 

[SirSnipe]

I'm either getting the 811S or the 411S, but I wanna see if Liteon will give the free upgrade to 8x -R, so I'm holding back, cuz if they do I'll pick it up in a second, lol

 

[OCDuron]

The GSA-4081B already supports 8x DVD-R.

 

[gba]

THX for posting this firmware update. This installer didn't see my my NEC ND-1300A as an ND-2500A (I got an error messge). I have not had a chance to open up the drive to compare it to the photo yet.

 

[selene]

I got a super deal on my NEC 2500 !!!!

I ordered my NEC with a pair of MSI FX 5200 cards for work.. they probably read the label wrong and send me a pair of MSI FX 5700. Paid 60 bucks for 170 dollars card... just retired my old Ti4600 (going on ebay).

This nec burns my 2x disk at 4x.. sweeeet

 

[MrBond]

Has anyone had trouble getting the ND-2500 to work in Nero? I ordered one for my dad, installed it, but Nero doesn't show it as a selectable drive. CloneCD does see the drive. I think it's 5.5.x, don't know for sure.

He's running Win98, which is unavoidable, we tried to put XP on it last weekend and it crashed spectactularly.

Nevermind guys, I got it. I just had to reinstall Nero for some reason.

 

[selene]

Originally posted by: MrBond
Has anyone had trouble getting the ND-2500 to work in Nero? I ordered one for my dad, installed it, but Nero doesn't show it as a selectable drive. CloneCD does see the drive. I think it's 5.5.x, don't know for sure.

He's running Win98, which is unavoidable, we tried to put XP on it last weekend and it crashed spectactularly.

Im using nero with it right now.. 5.5.10.35 Enterprise Edition

 

[Tom61]

swNYC say his ND-2500 has "DVD-ROM Book Type" enabled by default, and it is selectable in Nero 6, try selecting the DVD-ROM book type in Nero before you burn a disc if it's available on the Nero Express version.

Not with Express, not that I've found anyway. I'm gonna see if regular Nero will take the reg code from Express. If not, I may have to see what discounts they offer for Express OEM users.

Here's the latest firmware upgrade for the 8x NEC ND-2500 drive, released 1-12-04

v1.06 for NEC ND-2500A

I think I might try that.

One thing of note is that CompGeeks had these drives (NEC 2500A) briefly for $130 bare, listing the following specs:
8x maximum write speed (DVD-R)
4x maximum rewrite speed (DVD-RW)
8x maximum write speed (DVD+R)
8x maximum rewrite speed (DVD+RW)
12x maximum read speed (DVD)
32x maximum write speed (CD-R)
16x maximum rewrite speed (CD-RW)
40x maximum read speed (CD)

So, typo, or newer firmware? I don't have any +RWs around so I can't try before/after the upgrade. The NEC site still lists 4x +RW.

Edit: The upgrade says it's 1.06, and says my drive has the 1.06 firmware. So, I guess there is no point to installing that update. If anyone stumbles across a newer one, let us know.

 

[MrBond]

Is there an english language version of the firmware? I don't want to just run it without reading anything, then hose my Dad's new drive

 

[Fiat1]

Review of NEC ND2500A

http://www.cdfreaks.com/article/134

 

[nealh]

NEC 2500 is quite slow at 8x speeds...about 1min slower vs other 8x drives..though it is the only one capable of 8x dvd-r

 

[manko]

Any good retail deals on the Pioneer yet?