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An Exhaustive 16X DVD Burner Roundup

Posted by timothy on from the you-must-be-exhausted dept.

CrzyP writes "AnandTech has put together an extensive roundup on eight, count 'em, eight 16X DVD burners capable of writing to dual-layer media. Some of the big names on the list include Pioneer, NEC, LG, Sony, MSI, and more. They explain in detail the current technologies implemented into the newer drives, like bitsetting and error control as well as run their reading/writing benchmarks on 16X and dual-layer media."

7 of 221 comments (clear)

  1. NEC rules of course by dwgranth · · Score: 5, Informative

    according to the review its at the top of the list... the drive is only about 65-70 bucks and it has very hackable firmware, and I personally (since i own one) have never had any coaster from the drive ... btw.. use Riteks

  2. Re:As usual by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I know what you mean! I got married a couple of years ago, but already, she's not as cute as the newer models coming out... oh well, I guess that's what you get for using women!

  3. Re:The future.. by wo1verin3 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    You need to remember that 1x DVD burning is equal to approximately 8x CD burning.... We aren't going to get much faster then the current 16x...

  4. Re:What does hacked firmware get you? by BestNicksRTaken · · Score: 5, Informative

    Faster rip speeds (not limited to ripping movies at 2x instead of 16x)

    Region free (watch any movie)

    Better media compatibility (write at 12x to those pesky Riteks)

    Single layer bitsetting (DVD+R and DVD-R appear as DVD-ROMs)

    I expect someone to even turn on the DVD-RAM reading capability in the NEC's chipset.

    --
    #include <sig.h>
  5. Pays for itself by totoanihilation · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here in Canada, CDR's cost about 45 cents apiece for 700 megs.
    DVD-Rs cost about 80-130 cents apiece.

    - For a CD-R, you're paying 6.5 cents per 100 megs
    - For a DVD-R you're paying between 1.8 to 2.9 cents per 100 megs.

    Any way you put it, DVD-Rs are WAY cheaper than CD-Rs. Since I got my DVD burner last summer, I've burned around 50 DVD-Rs. The spindle was around 75 dollars, taxes included. For the same capacity, I would've needed more than three 100-disc CDR spindles. Those generally go for 50$ each, taxes included. In all I've saved about 75$ right there. That's half of what I paid for my burner. Another spindle, and it'll have paid for itself...

    1. Re:Pays for itself by klui · · Score: 5, Interesting

      DVD-Rs (DVDs) are actually more durable than CD-Rs (CDs). The reason being the upper layer of a CD-R (CD) comprises of a thin layer of lacquer that is easily scratched and damaged. DVD-Rs (DVDs) in contrast, has an upper layer of polycarbonate on top of the bottom polycarbonate with the data sandwiched in between.

  6. Poor review by code65536 · · Score: 5, Informative

    To be blunt, Anandtech should stick to reviewing CPUs. In my experience, reviews of optical drives by those who don't specialize in them (such as Anandtech or Tom's) tend to be very poor. They look at the wrong things (put emphasis on things that are not important and not put emphasis on things that are) and their testing methods are not always accurate.

    For example, there are many who feel that the BenQ is actually a very excellent drive. The active OPC produces *better* results (not worse, as the reviewer thinks). Though slightly slower, it has the ability to overspeed media (burn 8x media at 16x, for example) with excellent quality. It also doesn't help that the review used a very outdated firmware for the BenQ review.

    And to answer another question that someone had, none of these firmwares have DRM.

    A better place for reviews:
    http://www.cdrlabs.com/

    And a review of this Anandtech review:
    http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.ph p?t=18064