ragoo
We are not amused.   SSHOLE |
Posts: 663 Registered: 9/4/2004 Offline
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11/1/2004 at 16:08  |
Okay, I think most of you guys are more technically inclined than me, so I'm looking for your advice.
My CD/DVD-ROM drive is goin' south on me, which is a real pain because my daughter complains loudly that she can't play the Polly Pockets game she just got for her birthday. So on that basis, a replacement drive is a must-have. But I also like the idea of burning some of these great torrents I've found (even some of the non-porn ones). So I'm thinking of upgrading to DVD burner.
My computer's a few years old, but serviceable (a Dell with a Pentium 3, 400 MHz, running XP). I know there are many DVD burners out there, with many options, but I don't want to spend a ton of cash for a drive that's wasted on my machine's capabilities.
So here's where you swarmers come in: any suggestions for a reasonably priced and reliable burner?
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ghostrider
liberal exit  SSHOLEPosts: 2444 Registered: 7/29/2004 Offline
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11/1/2004 at 19:59 |
can't help ya Bro, my computer equipment is so old, I have to stop every 23 minutes and refill the kerosene resevoir.
I can tell you your fly is open, and tuck in that shirt, you slob.
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dragonstaff
Too old to Rock and Roll...too young to die  SSHOLEPosts: 756 Registered: 8/19/2004 Offline
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11/1/2004 at 20:11 |
I do not know where you are or what is available in your market, but Pioneer is the best we can get here.
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To surrender to ignorance and call it God has always been premature, and it remains premature today. - Isaac Asimov |
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Stump
SENATOR BABYHEAD  Posts: 310 Registered: 6/18/2002 Offline
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11/1/2004 at 20:31 |
From the reviews I've read Pioneer and Sony are among the top with Plextor the top or close (all depends on who you ask). You may want to check a few burner specific hardware sites. Some drives are firmware upgradeable so you may be able to get a cheaper model of a +/- R/RW drive and upgrade it to a dual layer drive. I found instructions on cdrinfo.com to transform a Lite-on drive to dual layer, it may be a good place to start. |
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LORDKAHUNA
Don't make me fuk your moustache  SSHOLEPosts: 1622 Registered: 8/5/2003 Offline
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11/1/2004 at 21:10 |
The best hardware you can buy is the type that you buy out the trunk of someone's car in an alley someplace.
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the rice I had yesterday came out practically verbatim |
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vasudeva
Bad Taste in your Mouth  SSHOLEPosts: 4459 Registered: 3/8/2002 Offline
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11/1/2004 at 21:21 |
The NEC 3500A is crazy cheap and I've heard very good things about it.
I have the 2500A, which I bought a few months ago for $100 -- and it doesn't do dual layer.
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slippedhole> I am on to you and your evil intentions. I am the true protector of this website and am willing to do battle with you. |
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freakmachine
Web Fucko Extraordinaire  SSHOLEPosts: 590 Registered: 4/15/2004 Offline
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11/1/2004 at 21:37 |
I don't think your 400mhz pc will be able to sport a dual layer capable dvd drive any more than Vaudeva's emaciated body could sport a woodie. They usually require a 800+ mhz system if you want to avoid making lots of coasters. I found only one so far that will work with a system as slow as 500mhz, and that requires USB 2, so that would mean a usb card is necessary.
The upshot is, you will need to uprade your computer to get all the good stuff (dual layer.) I only know this because I did a little research to get one for my pIII 550.
Good luck |
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vasudeva
Bad Taste in your Mouth SSHOLEPosts: 4459 Registered: 3/8/2002 Offline
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11/1/2004 at 21:58 |
freakmachine: I don't think your 400mhz pc will be able to sport a dual layer capable dvd drive any more than Vaudeva's emaciated body could sport a woodie. They usually require a 800+ mhz system if you want to avoid making lots of coasters. I found only one so far that will work with a system as slow as 500mhz, and that requires USB 2, so that would mean a usb card is necessary. Ah, didn't catch that bit. Good looking out.
--vasudeva, fat WITH boners
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slippedhole> I am on to you and your evil intentions. I am the true protector of this website and am willing to do battle with you. |
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freakmachine
Web Fucko Extraordinaire SSHOLEPosts: 590 Registered: 4/15/2004 Offline
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11/1/2004 at 22:38 |
Truthfully, 9 out of 10 sexninjas say that Vas has a dope phat woodie. |
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fastlane
Zombie scream style  SSHOLEPosts: 672 Registered: 2/7/2004 Offline
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11/2/2004 at 02:07 |
I didn't read all of it but this might help.
Picking the Right Drive
http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=2260
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ragoo
We are not amused. SSHOLEPosts: 663 Registered: 9/4/2004 Offline
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11/2/2004 at 03:02 |
Thanks fastlane, and everyone else too. I think I'm gonna have to bite the bullet and get a better system, something with a bit more horsepower. Updating old technology piecemeal gets to be a pain after awhile--and an expensive one at that.
Thanks again d00ds.
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Interjections show excitement or emotion. They're generally set apart from a sentence by an exclamation point, or by a comma when the feeling's not as strong. |
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fastlane
Zombie scream style SSHOLEPosts: 672 Registered: 2/7/2004 Offline
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11/2/2004 at 05:01 |
Heres another related question. Which format is the best to burn a DVD. Avi, mpeg, etc, or does it make a difference?
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I love the sound of silence. It gives me something else to break. |
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