Feasible for new gaming build NO optical drive?

Mittens

Mittens

Mittens

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As thread title really... I was thinking of a new sparkly build to take advantage of skylake and M.2 drive motherboards, but I have never really liked optical technology.

I remember burning cd's back in the day, carefully placing them into jewel cases and storing them in a drawer, out of direct sunlight - then 4 months later getting them out and putting them in the cd drive just to be greeted with a 'Bad CRC ' error message.

So obviously these days you can buy an OS on a usb stick, or put an OS on a bootable usb stick but I'm wondering how someone without an optical drive goes about installing motherboard drivers or even buying new games (unless on steam of course)

has anyone gone down this path? if so, what's the solution - usb optical drive?
 
Still have a DVD-RW drive in mine but haven't used it in ages, possibly a couple of years - even longer for installing a game. Wouldn't worry at all about forgoing one.
 
They're cheap. Sling one in, if you don't ever use it, it's cheaper than the external drive you'll end up buying on that rare occasion you decidevyou need one.
 
I know we're living in a digital age, but it's worth having one. We pride ourselves on the fact that PCs are backwards compatible, do we not? Besides, they are inexpensive!

My PC is used for gaming, but also for Blu-ray films. I also collect retro PC games, so an optical drive comes in handy.
 
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I don't have one and never have need of one. I used to occasionally burn CD's to use in my old car, but I don't even need to do that anymore, USB or Bluetooth has taken over. :p

I wouldn't even consider buying one when building a PC tbh.

Why would you ever need one? CD's and DVD's are totally defunct for most techie people these days, and you don't even need one to install an OS, just do it from USB.

Even if you buy a game with a disk it is quicker to download the game unless you have stone age internet! And who buys physical copies of PC games, unless its a collectors edition?
 
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Latest build doesn't have one. Smaller uATX case now, the lack of a bulky drive helps airflow.

Even when I had one I don't think I used it for years. It was just sitting there doing nothing.

Time to get rid, OP.
 
Not bothered with one for a good few years. Just not required for me.

However, you really need a second PC/laptop so you can actually download drivers or setup OS boot usb.
 
I got a case without one in February and only used my USB one about 3 times since. Worth getting an external one but choose a case you like rather than making sure it has drive spaces.
 
Don't have one in mine, makes the case look ugly. I have one in another machine and just have that shared over network for the rare occasions I need it
 
Mittens said:
As thread title really... I was thinking of a new sparkly build to take advantage of skylake and M.2 drive motherboards, but I have never really liked optical technology.

I remember burning cd's back in the day, carefully placing them into jewel cases and storing them in a drawer, out of direct sunlight - then 4 months later getting them out and putting them in the cd drive just to be greeted with a 'Bad CRC ' error message.

So obviously these days you can buy an OS on a usb stick, or put an OS on a bootable usb stick but I'm wondering how someone without an optical drive goes about installing motherboard drivers or even buying new games (unless on steam of course)

has anyone gone down this path? if so, what's the solution - usb optical drive?
Click to expand...

Yep! I've done this! Mini ITX board, M2 SSD, GTX970 and a H100i AIO water cooler. Quiet, powerful and compact.

Not touched a CD/DVD in yonks - all digital now! :)
 
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