Fast external DVD drive?

[John881]

Hi all,

I'm looking for some recommendations for an external dvd burner (USB2). I mostly intend to use it for reading/ripping purposes. I'm running a Windows XP computer and currently have USB 2 and firewire 400 connection options. I'd really like a "ready made" solution, without having to worry about pairing up an internal drive with a seperate enclosure.

Are there any options out there that are substantially faster than the competition? Possibly with no riplock to worry about?

Here's a few I was looking at, but I'm open to other options too.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106338&cm_re=lite_on_external-_-27-106-338-_-Product

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Super-WriteMaster-SE-S204N-Hi-Speed-LightScribe/dp/B001AO4MZO

Thanks.

[chef]

I would use firewire…

[vroom]

HI and welcome John881,

Both drives are only USB2 but if you only want a drive for reading/ripping then you want have any problems reaching 16x, but if you want to burn 16x or higher would be very difficult.

[John881]

Thanks for the replies guys. I looked around a bit at the dual usb2/firewire options and didn’t see too many modern ready made drives. Any thoughts on the Lacie 301484U (link below)? It almost looks like they used a Samsung drive judging from the front panel. I guess the only problem is that it’s straining my budget a little bit. Would I really see a substantial performance gain by opening up the firewire option?

Amazon.com: LaCie 301484U 22X d2 DVDRW DL Lightscribe USB2.0 and FireWire US: Electronics

[vroom]

This is the moment that you will have to find what you really need and how you will use this drive, as i said before you should be able to reach 16x for reading*, but it would be very hard to reach 16x when you will burn.
But most of the users here only burn at high speed for testing, so if i assume that you will burn at 12x you wont have any problems.

*i’ll try to do some test with my external LG later tonight.

[mciahel]

[QUOTE=vroom;2554345]This is the moment that you will have to find what you really need and how you will use this drive, as i said before you should be able to reach 16x for reading*, but it would be very hard to reach 16x when you will burn.
But most of the users here only burn at high speed for testing, so if i assume that you will burn at 12x you wont have any problems.

*i’ll try to do some test with my external LG later tonight.[/QUOTE]
Didn’t you do that already? http://club.myce.com/f91/hl-dt-st-dvdram-ge20lu10-255528/
Another one: http://club.myce.com/f91/ge20nu10-speed-issues-299885/

I might mention that the GE20LU/NU10 is an old drive, nowadays replaced by the GE20NU/LU11, which is totally different internal hardware.

Michael

[vroom]

[QUOTE=mciahel;2554369]Didn’t you do that already? http://club.myce.com/f91/hl-dt-st-dvdram-ge20lu10-255528/
Another one: http://club.myce.com/f91/ge20nu10-speed-issues-299885/

I might mention that the GE20LU/NU10 is an old drive, nowadays replaced by the GE20NU/LU11, which is totally different internal hardware.

Michael[/QUOTE]

oops! i forgot that.

I understand that this drive is old, but if the OP only intents to use the drive as a reader and he (or she) can live with lets say slow (12x) burn speeds, i dont see any point why getting an external firewire drive.
But in the end that a question that the OP can only answer.

[mciahel]

[QUOTE=vroom;2554402]oops! i forgot that. [/quote]

I understand that this drive is old,

but gold.
With “old”, I simply meant that this drive (unfortunately) has been discontinued, and it is hard to find nowadays.

Michael

[John881]

Thanks again for the replies and those test results. It’s appreciated. I think I’m going to do more research and weigh my options a bit more.