Samsung vs Dynex?

[Janet Mac]

This past summer my DVD-ROM went on the fritz. My computer is still under a service warrenty at Best Buy, so I took it in and they replaced it.

The tech said, if I wanted it replaced with the same type DVD-ROM I would have to wait for them to send for it. However, he said he could replace it with a different one immediately. He also, said the specs on the one he had availibible were actually a little better.

I didn't know one brand from another so I didn't even ask what brand it was.

Now a couple of months later the DVD-ROM has started having trouble identifying DVDs. It has no problem with cds.
The problem has gotten progressively worse. Using a brand new DVD, usually I have to open the door and adjust it in the tray 3 to 4 times to get the disc to show.
Even if the disc does register, I can't remember the last time it made it comletely through a rip.
I have also tried to play the discs with window media player, but no go.

In any case the DVD-ROM shows up as being a DX-DVDR100. From my search results, I believe that to be a Dynex.

Wouldn't that be a real crap brand compared with a Samsung? (Which is the original brand the pc came with. I am also trying to locate the model, I have it written down somewhere. I will try calling Sony the pc manufacturer.)

I can't find much about them. The brand comparisons sites that I have found do not even include Dynex.

I am going to take it in for repair or replacement again. Should I insist on a different brand?

[jmet]

I would demand a better brand. Dynex is cheap stuff! Salesman was just trying to pawn off some left over inventory or had no clue what he/she was talking about.

[nwg]

Samsung is a much better and one of my favourite makes (their TFT LCD technology cannot be beaten).

I would also demand a better drive. Liteon DVD ROM's are excellent and still cheap.

[jmet]

You do know that if you get a DVD burner/writer, it will act as a DVD-ROM too. You would be able to watch DVD's from it just like from a DVD-ROM. I highly recommend the NEC 3540A. I just bought one from newegg.com for under $40, that was after tax and shipping.

[Janet Mac]

Yea, thats what I thought!
I called Sony and they claim the original drive was a DVD-ROM-SA616F.

I question the accuracy of the info, but it does look familar. (I have identfied the drive in the past, just can't remember where I wrote it)

This is not that important for anyone to go attempting to look it up or anything, but does anyone know off hand what the SA and the F might stand for?

I only ask this because when searching I am finding this drive SD-616E, which
looks like a cheap/inexpensive drive.

I assumed the SA was short for Samsung, but maybe not, if some drives start with SD. I assume the two drives would be very similar.

I can't even find my original drive on Samsung's site, but the SD-616E is in the archived section.
So if they don't make the model any more and I insist Best Buy replaces the drive with a Samsung, I hope it would have to be a better drive then this Dynex they stuck me with last time.

[Janet Mac]

Oh, maybe the orginal Samsung wasn't so cheap. If you can get decent Burner/reader for that price.

The pc already came with a Pioneer-108 in it.
Do all the Burner / reader drives rip slower then just the readers?

Because thats the main difference I noticed when having to use my burner to rip. It takes longer.

However, since that Dynex has been on its way out, now it usually rips slower then the Pioneer 108. Its just been getting slower and slower all along.

[nwg]

The OEM versions of Pioneer burners (which would come with a new PC) have riplock. My Pioneer 109 couldn't rip faster than 5x. I had to hack it to remove it. It now rips up to 12x.

[jmet]

Like nwg pointed out, slow rips are %99 of the time due to "Rip Lock", which restricts you to a slow ripping speed. Your best bet to increase ripping performance is to upgrade to "Modified Firmware" that removes the rip lock.

[nwg]

The Pioneers can be hacked (flashed) using the retail versions of the firmware and loading it on the OEM drives.

This is the link for the retail DVR-108 firmware. It also makes the drive region free. The file you need is DVR-108D v1.20 - RPC-1 + 12xRip.zip. It contains instructions.

http://flashman.rpc1.org/Firmware/PIONEER/DVR-108/STANDARD/

*Do at your own risk.

[Janet Mac]

Upgrading firmware?

I tried to upgrade the firmware on the pioneer 108 before, but was unsuccessful. The firmware is old, version 1.00.

I used official pioneer firmware, but it would not work.

I read up on it some. From what I understand its because the drive currently has OEM firmware I would have to Flash the drive if using hacked or official Pioneer firmware???

But if Sony (my pc manufacturer) was to supply me with an upgrade for the OEM firmware it would be a much easier process???? And this is why I could not upgrade my drive using official Pioneer firmware???

Please let me know if I am understanding this correctly???

Actually, I am not that concerned about ripping speed, as Best Buy still owes me a DVD-ROM. Region is not a concern either. I am in the US and I have never came across any thing other then a Region 1 or Region free DVD.

My reason for wanting to upgrade the firmware is that the drive seems to be picky regarding blank discs.

These are the brands I have tried

Brands that work are:
Fugi Film (FUGIFILM03 & TYG02)
Value Disc (CMC MAG. AF1) I was shocked but, they worked great!
Verbatim (MCC 01RG20)

Don't work:
HP (CMC MAG. AE1)
KHypermedia (CMC MAG, AE1) notice same ID as HP
Sony(SONY08D1).
TDK (TTG02)

Pioneer even recommends TDK (TTGO2) discs for use with the drive! So I assume it must be Sony's OEM firmware thats giving me the problems.

One thing I don't understand is.... If the drive has OEM firmware why does Sony use a version number for the firmware that is the same as one of Pioneer's official version numbers?
And can this mean that my drive's (Sony's) version 1.00 is not as old as Pioneers version 1.00

I even called Sony about a firmware upgrade and they didn't even know what I was talking about! (I purchased the pc exactly 1 year ago)

[nwg]

Sony is nothing to do with the Pioneer 108. It is a OEM and they can be flashed using retail Pioneer firmwares to make the drive have the same spec as retail one.