Dual-layer DVD duel - bit-tech.net Forums

WilHarris · 5th Dec 2005, 16:59

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200...eer_dvd/1.html

Firehed · 5th Dec 2005, 17:24

I'll keep twiddling my thumbs for a viable SATA option then. Oh well. At least I dumped having floppies a good three years ago, and using... ever since my first CD burner - the blazin' fast 4x uberdrive (about 20min for a full burn, with probably 40% success rates at $1.50 a disk, vs now ~2:30 99% 15c)

Probably time for my fourth DVD burner... I kinda broke my 16x DL drive when I decided I needed to open it to apply a carbon fibre skin. Shame... of course all my media is 8x, as is my other drive, so it doesn't do anything except waste the $40 I paid. Luckily I have no need at all for dual-layer burning as media is still too expensive to be useful... I'd rather wait for a DVD recode and use 30c media than get 1:1 (after killing off previews) and use much more expensive and slow-burning DL media.

geek1017 · 5th Dec 2005, 17:44

You'd still need a PATA drive to install Windows right?

Did this drive just recently make it to the UK? I think I've seen it on Newegg at least a month ago.

I await the day I can rid myself of all legacy devices. I just need to get around to Slipstreaming SATA drivers into windows or finally giving linux a good go.
Oh, and getting a PC to play on again would be nice as this laptop just isn't as fun.

Zach · 5th Dec 2005, 17:50

i got the pioneer in black, best £30 i spent.

Tim S · 5th Dec 2005, 17:52

you don't need SATA drivers on the newer motherboards - it can recognise them as PATA devices.

Kipman725 · 5th Dec 2005, 18:00

the only sata capable mobo I have fiddled with has been the DFI sli-d lan party and it only needed drivers for sata if you were using RAID.

LoneArchon · 5th Dec 2005, 18:01

I still use a PS/2 mouse on my computer. I may as well use those port for my keyboard and mouse and free up 2 usb port for other uses. I only currently see one advantage to using the sata dvd burner and that is to have a cleaner inside by way of better wire mangement. But the price gap is to large for the lack of performace 118.99 for the plextor sata vs 49.99 for the pioneer pata(prices on newegg for retail versons).

MrWillyWonka · 5th Dec 2005, 18:13

I have a dual layer slot loading DVD-RW drive, although it's IDE not sata, I can stay it rocks! It's fast and I like it.

How do you do the benchmarking? Because I want to see the speed increase over IDE.

user0001 · 5th Dec 2005, 18:22

I have the MSI SATA DVD/CD-RW and it pwns! Quiet, burns fast, reads fast, looks great!

At this point, although the cost of dual layer DVD-R drives has come down quite a bit, I still would think the most practical option would be for an external drive. I know most of us have more that one computer so why shell out $70-80 or so twice? Throw it in a nice external enclosure and take it whereever its needed!

I_Slider_I · 5th Dec 2005, 20:30

Great review, nice and to the point and provided me with viable recomendations. Good job.

Firehed · 5th Dec 2005, 20:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoneArchon

I still use a PS/2 mouse on my computer. I may as well use those port for my keyboard and mouse and free up 2 usb port for other uses. I only currently see one advantage to using the sata dvd burner and that is to have a cleaner inside by way of better wire mangement. But the price gap is to large for the lack of performace 118.99 for the plextor sata vs 49.99 for the pioneer pata(prices on newegg for retail versons).

Agreed. If the backplate of my mobo was 10 USB ports, lan, audio and maybe firewire (I never use it, but just in case), I'd ditch my PS/2 keyboard. I had been using my USB>PS/2 adaptor on my mouse as well just to save the port, but it kept falling off so I just sucked up the loss of port.

Yeah, NF4 supports 10 ports. Four are on the back. Most cases support two on the front; as I'm set up I have none. Two for internal misc stuff, plus another two on a PCI filler bracket, so I have six readily available, two effectively unusable (unless I dig up another PCI plate set). And they fill up quick enough.

Anyways, same. I'd like the neatness of SATA for my optical, but the price difference just doesn't warrant it yet.

Sim0n · 5th Dec 2005, 21:02

Ive had the very plextor listed here atleast 4 months now.
Never made any coasters with it.. its quiet, and just nice.
It replaced my samsung DVD-DL drive in my shuttle 95, and its made it look so much tider without the PATA cable in there.

As you ask in the article, WHY ISNT THERE MORE SUPPORT FOR SATA !!

Regarding USB, i only use a single port on my computer, which feeds into a USB hub screwed under the desk.. why ? i hate seeing 100 wires coming out the back of my computer, when i can hide them away where they dont need to be seen.

thecrownles · 6th Dec 2005, 00:31

maybe we can all finally throw away our floppy drives once the windows devs get off their fat arses and actually add support for driver CDs on startup instead of needing floppies for RAID drivers. Anyone with RAID can tell you why we currently cannot leave our floppy drives out of the equation.

Maybe in Windows Vista....

Sandman111 · 6th Dec 2005, 03:16

Informative, but the article left out the most important part of disc burning - output quality. Burning DVD's is one area where it's not always best to be fast, since burn quality directly affects the usable lifetime of the disc.

Also, which brand and manufacturer of media did you use? That can greatly affect read/write performance, depending on each drive's media table. Plus, some drives just "like" certain media manufacturers, so it's good info to have.

From what I've seen in my own experience, both burners should produce good burns, but it would have been useful to see a quality comparison in the review, along with the read/write times.

Nature · 6th Dec 2005, 03:51

I actually bought that Plextor drive 8 months ago from newegg @ 146.99. The 8mb Cache really had me sold compared to the average 2mb which all other drives have.

Even though I wish I'd seen this article 8 months ago I'm still exceptionally pleased with the quality of this drive. I can't count how many cds/dvds I've burnt and REALLY, not a single coaster. Plextor is great when it comes to their standards. I don't mind waiting a bit longer to have a media disc thats solid.

Zidane · 6th Dec 2005, 08:40

nice article, i had never actually considered optical media on sata. whilst im still a big pata fan (im too cheap to buy a new mobo just for sata), i can see its the way things are moving. maybe next upgrade i'll consider one, especially considering Nature informs us all its an 8mb cache.... im sure im not the only one who often sits watching his optical drives read whispering c'moooooooon....

valium · 6th Dec 2005, 08:48

I'm ordering 2 of them, would be nice to get rid of the bulky PATA cables and go with something a little bit sexier, and the performance is a perk as well.

Solid_Puffs · 6th Dec 2005, 09:27

Why wasn't the NEC 3540A taken into the equasion!?

Hamish · 6th Dec 2005, 10:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by thecrownles

maybe we can all finally throw away our floppy drives once the windows devs get off their fat arses and actually add support for driver CDs on startup instead of needing floppies for RAID drivers. Anyone with RAID can tell you why we currently cannot leave our floppy drives out of the equation.

Maybe in Windows Vista....

vista can even do it off usb thumbdrives

i want a black, slot-loading, sata, 16x dual layer dvd-rw

wolff000 · 6th Dec 2005, 15:31

i have the plextor 716sa and it works great speed is just fine for me. i was really shocked that it did so poorly in the review. cnet rated this drive pretty high which is one of the reasons i got it in the first place. that and i was getting rid of those big fat ugly ribbon cables. my case is now ide free and looking clean. this drive may have bombed in the review but i love it i have had only 2 bad burns and that was using cheapo dvds like 20 cents each (i buy them in bulk). i have also really put this burner thourgh the ringer and it never complains. i prolly burn 2 to 6 cds a day depending on my work load. just my 2 cents.

5th Dec 2005, 16:59	#1
WilHarris Just another nobody Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Oxford Posts: 2,671	Dual-layer DVD duel http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200...eer_dvd/1.html

5th Dec 2005, 17:24	#2
Firehed Why not? I own a domain to match. Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An hour north of Boston Posts: 12,576	I'll keep twiddling my thumbs for a viable SATA option then. Oh well. At least I dumped having floppies a good three years ago, and using... ever since my first CD burner - the blazin' fast 4x uberdrive (about 20min for a full burn, with probably 40% success rates at $1.50 a disk, vs now ~2:30 99% 15c) Probably time for my fourth DVD burner... I kinda broke my 16x DL drive when I decided I needed to open it to apply a carbon fibre skin. Shame... of course all my media is 8x, as is my other drive, so it doesn't do anything except waste the $40 I paid. Luckily I have no need at all for dual-layer burning as media is still too expensive to be useful... I'd rather wait for a DVD recode and use 30c media than get 1:1 (after killing off previews) and use much more expensive and slow-burning DL media. __________________ hire me @ eric-stern.com - web developer and php ninja pics @ my smugmug :: Twitter @firehed :: blog @ firehed.net 40D\|580EXII\|285HV\|AB800\|70-200f/4LIS\|17-50f/2.8\|150f/2.8Macro\|50f/1.8 MacPro @ 8x2.8GHz, 10GB FBDDR2, 3TB HD :: MBP @ 2x2.2GHz, 4GB DDR2, 320GB HD

5th Dec 2005, 17:52	#5
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	you don't need SATA drivers on the newer motherboards - it can recognise them as PATA devices. __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

5th Dec 2005, 18:00	#6
Kipman725 When did I get a custom title!?! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: UK Posts: 1,753	the only sata capable mobo I have fiddled with has been the DFI sli-d lan party and it only needed drivers for sata if you were using RAID. __________________ Sn45g game server mod My Electronics Site Hardware: 3400+ Sempr0n, 1GB RAM, 1.28TB local storage, x1950pro,Razer Viper,M$ comfort curve 2000,L70S + 17", Fujitsu 17" CRT Audio: HD-650's, PE congress amp, Sound Blaster AWE64, Soundblaster 24bit

5th Dec 2005, 18:01	#7
LoneArchon Supermodder Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Waldorf,MD Posts: 422	I still use a PS/2 mouse on my computer. I may as well use those port for my keyboard and mouse and free up 2 usb port for other uses. I only currently see one advantage to using the sata dvd burner and that is to have a cleaner inside by way of better wire mangement. But the price gap is to large for the lack of performace 118.99 for the plextor sata vs 49.99 for the pioneer pata(prices on newegg for retail versons). __________________ .:NEED MORE ENERGY:. A64 x2 4800+/eVGA Geforce 8800gtx with dangerden Water Block/2GB Corsair 3200/250gb Western Digital/Asus A8N32-Sli Deluxe/24" Acer LCD

5th Dec 2005, 17:44	#3
geek1017 Hypermodder Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Uonuma-Shi, Niigata-ken Posts: 635	You'd still need a PATA drive to install Windows right? Did this drive just recently make it to the UK? I think I've seen it on Newegg at least a month ago. I await the day I can rid myself of all legacy devices. I just need to get around to Slipstreaming SATA drivers into windows or finally giving linux a good go. Oh, and getting a PC to play on again would be nice as this laptop just isn't as fun.

5th Dec 2005, 17:50	#4
Zach Multimodder Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Middle Earth Posts: 138	i got the pioneer in black, best £30 i spent.

5th Dec 2005, 18:13	#8
MrWillyWonka . Moderator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Southampton, Hants Posts: 5,746	I have a dual layer slot loading DVD-RW drive, although it's IDE not sata, I can stay it rocks! It's fast and I like it. How do you do the benchmarking? Because I want to see the speed increase over IDE. __________________ Project Red - HL2 - PSOne LCD S-Video Guide Main Rig: Asus Striker Extreme, Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 OC'd to 2.65GHz, 4GB Corsair XMS, 8800GTS in SLI, 36 & 74GB Raptors

5th Dec 2005, 18:22	#9
user0001 Supermodder Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: wa Posts: 432	I have the MSI SATA DVD/CD-RW and it pwns! Quiet, burns fast, reads fast, looks great! At this point, although the cost of dual layer DVD-R drives has come down quite a bit, I still would think the most practical option would be for an external drive. I know most of us have more that one computer so why shell out $70-80 or so twice? Throw it in a nice external enclosure and take it whereever its needed!

5th Dec 2005, 20:30	#10
I_Slider_I Multimodder Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: The Park Posts: 88	Great review, nice and to the point and provided me with viable recomendations. Good job.

5th Dec 2005, 21:02	#12
Sim0n Ahhh Jimlad Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Nottingham, UK Posts: 1,109	Ive had the very plextor listed here atleast 4 months now. Never made any coasters with it.. its quiet, and just nice. It replaced my samsung DVD-DL drive in my shuttle 95, and its made it look so much tider without the PATA cable in there. As you ask in the article, WHY ISNT THERE MORE SUPPORT FOR SATA !! Regarding USB, i only use a single port on my computer, which feeds into a USB hub screwed under the desk.. why ? i hate seeing 100 wires coming out the back of my computer, when i can hide them away where they dont need to be seen.

6th Dec 2005, 00:31	#13
thecrownles What's a Relix? Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Chicago, Illinois-US Posts: 732	maybe we can all finally throw away our floppy drives once the windows devs get off their fat arses and actually add support for driver CDs on startup instead of needing floppies for RAID drivers. Anyone with RAID can tell you why we currently cannot leave our floppy drives out of the equation. Maybe in Windows Vista.... __________________ Sam0r: Mr. Winky got a little aroused, needless to say I was tenting. Women... know your place.

6th Dec 2005, 03:16	#14
Sandman111 What's a Dremel? Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2	Informative, but the article left out the most important part of disc burning - output quality. Burning DVD's is one area where it's not always best to be fast, since burn quality directly affects the usable lifetime of the disc. Also, which brand and manufacturer of media did you use? That can greatly affect read/write performance, depending on each drive's media table. Plus, some drives just "like" certain media manufacturers, so it's good info to have. From what I've seen in my own experience, both burners should produce good burns, but it would have been useful to see a quality comparison in the review, along with the read/write times.

6th Dec 2005, 03:51	#15
Nature Supermodder Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Jinan, China Posts: 417	I actually bought that Plextor drive 8 months ago from newegg @ 146.99. The 8mb Cache really had me sold compared to the average 2mb which all other drives have. Even though I wish I'd seen this article 8 months ago I'm still exceptionally pleased with the quality of this drive. I can't count how many cds/dvds I've burnt and REALLY, not a single coaster. Plextor is great when it comes to their standards. I don't mind waiting a bit longer to have a media disc thats solid. __________________ Peace, Love, Empathy, Respect, Generosity, Smiles, and Hugs

6th Dec 2005, 08:40	#16
Zidane Hypermodder Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: At my desk. Posts: 687	nice article, i had never actually considered optical media on sata. whilst im still a big pata fan (im too cheap to buy a new mobo just for sata), i can see its the way things are moving. maybe next upgrade i'll consider one, especially considering Nature informs us all its an 8mb cache.... im sure im not the only one who often sits watching his optical drives read whispering c'moooooooon.... __________________ You dont need a reason to help people. `Zidane Tribal. Bit-Tech Folding@Home Team 33346 -> here Join the Bit-Tech Folding@Home team -> here need a hand joining or setting up? ask us on the bit-tech forums -> here

6th Dec 2005, 08:48	#17
valium Supermodder Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: USA, TX Posts: 288	I'm ordering 2 of them, would be nice to get rid of the bulky PATA cables and go with something a little bit sexier, and the performance is a perk as well. __________________ V2 - AMD 4400+ x2, Geforce 7800 GTX, 2x512 Corsair PC3200XL, 2x74gb Raptors (Raid 0)

6th Dec 2005, 09:27	#18
Solid_Puffs Minimodder Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Netherlands Posts: 38	Why wasn't the NEC 3540A taken into the equasion!? __________________ "We first fought the heathens in the name of religion, then Communism, and now in the name of drugs and terrorism. Our excuses for global domination always change" -- Serj Tankian \| System of a Down

6th Dec 2005, 15:31	#20
wolff000 I am here to steal your secrets. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Never-never Land Posts: 196	i have the plextor 716sa and it works great speed is just fine for me. i was really shocked that it did so poorly in the review. cnet rated this drive pretty high which is one of the reasons i got it in the first place. that and i was getting rid of those big fat ugly ribbon cables. my case is now ide free and looking clean. this drive may have bombed in the review but i love it i have had only 2 bad burns and that was using cheapo dvds like 20 cents each (i buy them in bulk). i have also really put this burner thourgh the ringer and it never complains. i prolly burn 2 to 6 cds a day depending on my work load. just my 2 cents. __________________ The gospel accordong to Myamoto, Chatper three, verse six..."And it is written that the gaming of man will die, and rest silent for two years. But on the eighty-fifth year of the twentieth century, it shall rise again. And its triumphant return shall be heralded by two great plumbers and thou will know gaming has been born again."