Playback freezing near end of movie

[Savage03]

so any of those on that page? brings up several

[Floppy]

yes I'm having problems pasting the whole link for the 3 drives I selected. but hold on.

Manufacturer: Sony
Model: DWU18AB2
DVD-ROM Read Speed: 12 X (DVD, DVD-R)
PRODUCT INFO 8x Internal IDE DVD / DVDRW - + Drive OEM Black
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manufacturer: Sony
Model: DWU18ABK
DVD-ROM Read Speed: 12 X (DVD, DVD-R)
PRODUCT INFO DWU18ABK DVD±RW Writer (Black)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manufacturer: Sony
Model: DWU18A
DVD-ROM Read Speed: 12 X (DVD, DVD-R)
PRODUCT INFO DWU18A DVD±RW Write

Its the same drive you mentioned yesterday but one has a black front. click on the 3 and choose compare and you will see

[Savage03]

was the last one on your list but the place i saw listed it with 8mb buffer and on yours says 2mb, how much diff do you notice with that much buffer?

[Floppy]

I have a 8mb buffer on mine and it's fast enough.

I'm not sure if Cache and buffer are the same???

But the drive in question was repoted on that site you mentioned yesterday as having a 8mb buffer

http://www.toolspcs.com/frgrshdw8xdv.html

Boy I got myself confused now.

I would just ask. E-mail those idiots and ask.

[Savage03]

i think their wrong cause everywhere i looked says 2mb, nice price here tho

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-131-226&depa=1

[Floppy]

I wold buy a retail drive this time around but if I only could afford a OEM this is a great price $62

[Savage03]

the only diff between oem and retail is software?

[Floppy]

To answer your question directly:

Sometimes

OEM (original equipment manufacturer), which is a misleading term for a company that has a special relationship with computer producers. OEMs buy componet in bulk and put them together/customize them for a particular application. They then sell the customized computer under their own name. The term is really a misnomer because OEMs are not the original manufacturers -- they are the customizers

Ence why companies wont provide support for OEM hardware and it's up to the reseller to provide support.

Most OEM equipment will contain specific componets to restrict drives to a certain specification (thus preventing a drive from being upgraded to a different/equivalent model on a retail family)

The firmware flashes/updates are specific to either but are not interchangeble, unless of course the OEM drive is a exact replica of the retail (this is becoming less ordinary).

In other words I would not take chances in using what is known as patched firmware (simply because I work hard for my money) and this may render the drive unusable. Not to mention void warranty.

[Savage03]

Thats good to know, thank you....might stay away from oem then

[Floppy]

Nothing wrong with OEM.

I have a OEM Sony DW RW U10A never failed me yet. (touch wood)

I would just get a Retail drive because of being able to get support direct from the horses mouth.

I never "shoot the messenger" but heck I would "shoot the middleman"

[Floppy]

Have a look at that one.

http://www.a2zcomp.com/buy.asp?REF=12&SKU=348626

[Savage03]

thats a nice rig, but my friend actually bought my burner for me for doing some work for him and now were gonna head back and return them before out deadline and today they happen to have this pioneer on sale, i read all the comments and not a bad comment on it, what do you think?

http://www.videohelp.com/dvdwriters.php?DVDnameid=221&Search=Search&list=2#comments

[Floppy]

Your choice.

The sony has a 8MB buffer though.

[Savage03]

found this also its local

http://computerwarehouse.com/sbi/details.asp?item=SO33402

[Floppy]

We looked at that one earlier and it said a 2mb cache?

I would check first.

If it is a 8mb then It is a good choice.