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General discussionDVD drives(32 posts)(32 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted May 02, 2020
Right now I have an LG GH24NSC0. I have it since 2016 and despite moderate use, it stopped reading DVD discs and gives timing errors when ripping CDs (EAC).

Is there anything on the market right now that's better than most cheap crap? I'm looking at a Plextor PX-891SAF (42€ amazon.de), but is it actually better* than any other drive that costs half that (or less)?
* with "better" I mean: more durable, longer lasting. I'll be using it *mostly* for ripping audio CDs.

I find it almost impossible to find in-depth reviews of current DVD drives, and I have little hope that somebody here actually knows more than what specifications can tell me....

Edit: In case it's unclear: I'm looking for an internal SATA drive.
Post edited May 02, 2020 by teceem
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Posted May 02, 2020
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teceem: I find it almost impossible to find in-depth reviews of current DVD drives, and I have little hope that somebody here actually knows more than what specifications can tell me....
An early death could just be "luck of the draw" rather than an indicator of brand quality as they are normally one component that outlasts everything else 2-3x over. I have an LG BH10LS30 (BD-RE) bought in 2010 and it's still going strong. ASUS, Lite-On are good brands. Good modern optical drive reviews are hard to come by but DVD-RW drives are so cheap you could always simply buy an extra one as a spare.
Posted May 02, 2020
Plextor hasn't been Plextor for ages. I wouldn't pay a premium for a new drive with that name.
Posted May 02, 2020
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AB2012: Good modern optical drive reviews are hard to come by but DVD-RW drives are so cheap you could always simply buy an extra one as a spare.
I know... but I just don't like the idea of "throwaway tech". I was just wondering if there's anything out there that's in between "whatever" and the quality of the old Plextors.
Posted May 02, 2020
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teceem: I know... but I just don't like the idea of "throwaway tech". I was just wondering if there's anything out there that's in between "whatever" and the quality of the old Plextors.
About the best resource are forums like myce:-
https://club.myce.com/c/cd-dvd-and-blu-ray-writers
Posted May 02, 2020
I use cds, dvds hanging from bamboo sticks to scare off pigeons. Sorry, not much help, but haven’t used physical media in years. I imaged everything some 5years or more back, ever looked back.
Posted May 02, 2020
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teceem: I know... but I just don't like the idea of "throwaway tech". I was just wondering if there's anything out there that's in between "whatever" and the quality of the old Plextors.
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AB2012: About the best resource are forums like myce:-
https://club.myce.com/c/cd-dvd-and-blu-ray-writers
Thanks. I've been browsing around there for a bit... but I don't get the feeling that it's going to help me much.

I know Plextor drives are just re-brands nowadays - but maybe(??) they add some quality control? Like how some CPU/GPUs are just cherry picked cheaper ones, to allow for higher factory overclocking.
It sounds like wishful thinking while I'm typing it :-/
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nightcraw1er.488: I use cds, dvds hanging from bamboo sticks to scare off pigeons. Sorry, not much help, but haven’t used physical media in years. I imaged everything some 5years or more back, ever looked back.
You don't care much about music... or... you just listen to DRM'd streaming? ;-)
Post edited May 03, 2020 by teceem
Posted May 03, 2020
I have had a lot of them and none lasted many uses. My current one is ripped out of something left out in the rain so a bit rusty, yes actual rust stains.
Posted May 03, 2020
I usually go Samsung. They seem pretty reliable.
Posted May 03, 2020
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AB2012: About the best resource are forums like myce:-
https://club.myce.com/c/cd-dvd-and-blu-ray-writers
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teceem: Thanks. I've been browsing around there for a bit... but I don't get the feeling that it's going to help me much.

I know Plextor drives are just re-brands nowadays - but maybe(??) they add some quality control? Like how some CPU/GPUs are just cherry picked cheaper ones, to allow for higher factory overclocking.
It sounds like wishful thinking while I'm typing it :-/
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nightcraw1er.488: I use cds, dvds hanging from bamboo sticks to scare off pigeons. Sorry, not much help, but haven’t used physical media in years. I imaged everything some 5years or more back, ever looked back.
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teceem: You don't care much about music... or... you just listen to DRM'd streaming? ;-)
I do care about music, hence why I copied all my cds, and now only get music from groupees, bandcamp, and such like where I can download it to my own storage. In the same way, I imaged all my dvds, and computer games, and now have several 30tb raid devices backing each other up! I do stream a bit on Netflix, but try to avoid it as much as possible. I do store everything digital nowadays.
Posted May 03, 2020
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Themken: I have had a lot of them and none lasted many uses. My current one is ripped out of something left out in the rain so a bit rusty, yes actual rust stains.
That sounds perfect... if you want to build a steampunk/fallout-style desktop tower! :-D
Posted May 03, 2020
I'm still using an internal Blu-Ray drive and I will until the day we get some serious online music and movie/TV shop fronts that don't only offer streaming or atrocious quality libraries. But I digress...

For me it's Pioneer. I've been using their internal drives since the 90's and only remember returning one in recent times. Thankfully, it was still under warranty. I tried LG twice and both drives failed within 2 years. Never again. I know it's the luck of the draw and someone can post they've never had a problem with them and I'd believe them, but it was enough for me to try elsewhere.
Post edited May 03, 2020 by Dean478
Posted May 03, 2020
Modern drives are just cheap throw away items. I believe there are really only two or three manufacturers that make all the 'carriage" units- the mechanical/laser part- the parts that wear out. They get sold to the likes of ASUS, Samsung etc. So no matter what brand you buy, or even which model of that brand, you're going to be getting essentially one of just a handful of parts that matter anyway. In other words all modern ones are pretty much the same and how long they last is just luck of the draw and type of usage.

On the other hand if you want reliability, then maybe look for an "old new" drive. Something that is old but still new in box from the good old days when optical drives were still at the forefront and had to have some long term reliability. The Liteon carriage units that were used in lots of Xbox 360's were made to take a thrashing for example, so any PC internal drive using the same carriage unit would last well too.
Posted May 03, 2020
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Dean478: until the day we get some serious online music and movie/TV shop fronts that don't only offer streaming or atrocious quality libraries...
Who knows? But it sounds as probable as GOG being the only shop to sell the newest assassin's creed, DRM free. ;-)
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CMOT70: Modern drives are just cheap throw away items. I believe there are really only two or three manufacturers that make all the 'carriage" units- the mechanical/laser part- the parts that wear out. They get sold to the likes of ASUS, Samsung etc. So no matter what brand you buy, or even which model of that brand, you're going to be getting essentially one of just a handful of parts that matter anyway. In other words all modern ones are pretty much the same and how long they last is just luck of the draw and type of usage.

On the other hand if you want reliability, then maybe look for an "old new" drive. Something that is old but still new in box from the good old days when optical drives were still at the forefront and had to have some long term reliability. The Liteon carriage units that were used in lots of Xbox 360's were made to take a thrashing for example, so any PC internal drive using the same carriage unit would last well too.
I didn't create this topic to hear what I was already thinking!! ;-)

Anyway... yeah, a second hand good old drive... I've been thinking that too. But what about it's usage history? It sounds as much as a 'sure thing' as buying a new drive.
Post edited May 03, 2020 by teceem
Posted May 03, 2020
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teceem: I didn't create this topic to hear what I was already thinking!! ;-)

Anyway... yeah, a second hand good old drive... I've been thinking that too. But what about it's usage history? It sounds as much as a 'sure thing' as buying a new drive.
He means buy a new, old drive - i.e. look for something still in shrink wrap from 15 odd years ago.

To be honest, given the cost of that strategy, I'd just buy a standard new one and replace it when it breaks.
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This is my favourite topic
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General discussionDVD drives(32 posts)(32 posts)
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