USB 2.0 burner recommendations?

[MilesAhead]

I just got a new PC and I'm not thrilled with the included DVD burner. I'm thinking of taking the easy way out and just getting an external USB 2.0 burner. I mostly do DVD+R single layer burns and DVD+RW for test burns.

My old PC has an internal burner that uses CAV write method on the DVD+R discs. I've had very good luck with bulk blanks so I'd be inclined to prefer an external that uses a similar write strategy.

Any recommendations(esp if under $150) appreciated.

[blutach]

I'd get a good internal burner - burners on the IDE give far less hassles than USB burners.

Benq make some some ones for far less than $150 (like a quarter of the price).

Check out our Blank Media and Burning forum.

Regards

[MilesAhead]

Thanks for the reply. I have to try out this one and see if it really burns +RW @8x. If so, then it's good enough for test burns or "watch once and erase" videos. I didn't realize externals were a PITA.

[blutach]

Check out the Golden Rules of Burning.

Regards

[MilesAhead]

Searching out the model numbers it seems the burner in this machine is one of the DVD+R @18x variety. Have you ever heard of any technique to get the write strategy table out of a drive? Seems like the only way to check supported
speeds is to insert discs and see what comes up. The brick and morter stores only carry a few brands so it's kind of hit and miss thing. I can't think of a good search query since the words "read" or "extract" tend to get hits not related to reading the write strategy but reading the disc in the drive.

[Chewy]

I doubt cav would have much to do with bulk blanks, what dvd burner are we talking about?

I'm not thrilled with the included DVD burner

[jm1647]

As already mentioned I would stick with an internal burner. if your not satisifed with the one ya got pull it and buy a new one, they are cheap.

If the old one reads good leave it in for a ripping drive if ya don't have a ROM drive. If ya got a good ripping save the burner you don't like for a back up

[2COOL]

I didn't realize externals were a PITA.

I have a Sony DRX-830U and don't have any problems with it. Using WinXP SP2. I can also perform bit-setting on too with this model, which is really a Samsung.

[soup]

Look at my sig & the bit-setting for Dvd+R is automatic, no problems to report on Windows XP Pro SP2.

[MilesAhead]

I doubt cav would have much to do with bulk blanks, what dvd burner are we talking about?

Device manager shows TSSTcorp TS-H653L. I got a pack of Verbatim and one of Memorex DVD+R 16x(RICOHJPN-R03-04) and it liked 'em both. Just didn't like my Prodisc blanks any faster than 8x. So I guess it'll work for me. I'd be curious to know if TY DVD+R 16x would work at Max too since they seem to be priced just a bit below the Verbatims.

What I haven't tried yet is DVD+RW 8x. I can't find any on the shelf and the online stores seem to specialize in spindles of 25..... a 5-pack lasts me about 4 years so I hate to buy 25.. but, curiosity might get to me eventually.

Just in case anyone can use the info... the machine it's in is an HP Media Center m8000a PC running Vista Home Premium.

ImgBurn 2.3.2.0 burnsfine once autoplay is killed for the burner.

[Chewy]

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=209668

that burner seems fine, you might want to read this thread and keep an eye out for newer firmware, this is often the problem with new drives and firmware support

[MilesAhead]

Thanks for the suggestion and replies. I think I'm gonna' be pretty happy I got this machine. It runs cool at prolonged 50% CPU usage with no perceptible fan noise... at least one week into using it I haven't seen the CPU temp peak past 54 C.

So far so good

[MilesAhead]

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=209668

that burner seems fine, you might want to read this thread and keep an eye out for newer firmware, this is often the problem with new drives and firmware support

Hmmm I have some TY blanks on the way but so far everything I burn has a trough in the middle of the burn where the same media will show a pretty steady increase in speed as it goes along in my other burner(hp 640b). So
I guess I have to just burn some movies in both burners and see if one skips while the other doesn't.