Best (non pioneer) dvd writer?

[Bossworld]

Ideally want an 8x one i think.

NOT A PIONEER! Don't want to risk getting one that naffs up on DAO mode again.

Is the NEC one for about £50 on ebuyer any good?

[smokafatty]

I've been thinking about getting a NEC also as they are dirt cheap.

Heres some reviews I found on it:
http://secure.newegg.com/app/CustratingReview.asp?DEPA=0&item=27-152-007

[Lazza]

Also Sony 530 seems pretty good too but I would prolly opt for the LiteOn myself if non Pioneer:- http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=59452

[Jesterrace]

Yup, Sony is pretty good.

[hollie.weimeraner]

LG 8X DVD Writer - The GSA-4081B records data up to 4.7GB per side on DVD media and writes in all kinds of formats: DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW, DVD-RAM and CD-R/-RW. The Super-Multi also reads most DVD and CD formats, including DVD+R/+RW.

£57-57 at http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd3N1YmNhdGVnb3J5X3NlYXJjaA==&cat_uid=27

My son bought the 4080 some time ago and its excellent.

[jase1]

Well, the Sony is alternately a LiteOn or Optorite (I think the 530 is Optorite). As Sonys tend to be more expensive than these two I see little point in paying for the badge to be quite honest.

The NEC 2500A is probably the best non-Pioneer all-rounder out there. The LG is good but tends to write a lot of media types slower than their rated speed. LiteOns and Optorites tend to suck with cheaper media, and LiteOns aren't that great with any -R, Ritek included.

The NEC has problems with Ritek -R media as well.

In terms of raw quality of burns, the Benq 822 apparently is the king at the moment according to reviews. But it's +R only, and probably won't do what you want it to anyway.

All drives out at present have their issues, but for DVD writing the Pioneer series are generally the most trouble free.

When you mention DAO problems, are you referring to CDR burning here? If so, my advice in all honesty would be to buy a CD writer in addition to your Pioneer and use that for CD writing. They have better functionality with regards DAO/raw mode CDR burning.

The Pioneer 107 is based on a different chipset to the 105 and 106, and in fact it is the same now as the NEC (the Pio has an NEC chipset, although it is still a totally different design). It's entirely possible that the 107 doesn't have the issue you mention, although I don't know one way or the other.

Give me a procedure to follow to replicate your fault, and I'll try it here and get back to you.

[Bossworld]

I was on about DAO dvd problems, every time it tried to close the disk on my 106 (which i returned after a week) the buffer would fall, and the end DAO would fail.

SAO mode worked fine however.

I would go for the pioneer, although i'm worried about the above fault.

Burn at once/roxio easy CD worked fine, as they use SAO.

Nero, and nerovision, the programs i wanted to use, would burn the disk fine, but i'd wait for the disk to close, and it just never managed it, and i'd get a burning error :(

On decent ritek datasafe media as well.

[vinniedub]

I have a Plextor 708A, it's my first DVD burner and though I've not had it long, it has performed very well. I know I spent more on it compared to most other new burners around today (but still less than those who bought other brands, say 18 months ago) I went for the plextor for a couple of reasons, firstly I need it for Karaoke, it's paired with Plexy 48x CD burner this allows me to burn perfect CD+G on the fly at speeds no other drives could match, secondly for the rep Plextor has. Just before I bought it though, I remember reading a post, either here or the 'other' place, saying something to the effect of 'yeah look at all those who rushed out and got Plextors and the problems they had' the actual 'problems' were never discussed, can anybody throw any light on that for me? As I said I have (as yet) no regrets about buying it, it's just that my nose is bothering me something awful!

[Ogs]

. LiteOns and Optorites tend to suck with cheaper media, and LiteOns aren't that great with any -R, Ritek included.
i have a lite-on 411-s and have never had a problem with a ritek disc .. ive only used 2 types though:

ridisc 4x - purple and silver
datasafe ritek 1x-2x - white with silver stripe

but now ive found media that works i dont change

im just adding this so if u do consider the lite-on u know that these discs are ok.

[tsweet]

got the nec2500 bundled with 25 discs and software for 60 quid
good reviews 8x

[Bossworld]

Looking at SVP they've got the 107 for £60, the 2500 is £50.

Might as well just hope i had a faulty 106 and i'll try again

Cheers.

[handyguy]

Sony doesn't make them anymore they just rebag. Optorite or LiteOn are what they put in the box.

livewarehouse has a 8x double layer Nec for $98, the real deal too with true double layer firmware.

[Jesterrace]

Handyguy, methinks you need to read up on the problems with the Dual-layered burners before you start trying to sell them to everybody. ;) It would still be a decent drive for single layered burning but I would buy a 2500A for $20 less than have a drive with a feature that is more or less worthless. (not to mention the media is scarce and horribly expensive). ;)

[handyguy]

Jesterrace (http://66.197.142.137/forums/member.php?u=6), I don't think anyone sells dual layer writers per se, most seem to call em double layer writers.

[Jesterrace]

Sony (or whoever is manufactering the drive for them now) does have the new 700 model which is available in stores now.

[mo786]

Go for the NEC2500a, I was in the same position as you, got one of these and haven't regretted it! Works great.