How to decide what optical drive to get

Revolt · 9 Jan 2011 at 12:50

There's lots of optical drives: CD & DVD-ROM, DVD-RW IDE and DVD-RW SATA. How can I decide which one to pick?

RJC · 9 Jan 2011 at 12:52

What are using the dvd drive for, do need light scribe.

I tend to look at SATA drives.

NVid'did'it · 9 Jan 2011 at 13:12

www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CD-060-SO&groupid=701&catid=10&subcat=951

Sata is pretty much the standard.
This link above is an internal drive.

GoogalyMoogaly · 9 Jan 2011 at 16:03

If you need/want a multi-region drive I'd suggest this one:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CD-096-LO&groupid=701&catid=10&subcat=951
as LiteOn drives tend to be the easiest drives I've found to make multi region (as you don't need to flash the firmware).

Revolt · 9 Jan 2011 at 21:35

whats multi-region?

Semple · 9 Jan 2011 at 21:39

Multi-region allows you to play DVD's from certain part's of the world - Europe, America etc iirc.

Also just to clear some technical jargon up for you..

CD & DVD-ROMs will only read cd and dvd discs
DVD-RW allows you to write to a disc
and IDE and SATA are the type of connections they use, IDE was used for older computers, that's the thick "ribbon-like" grey cable. And SATA is used in new computers it's a thin cable usually red.

Revolt · 10 Jan 2011 at 16:13

what so your saying if I got just a regular optical drive it wouldnt work in other countries or somefin. sry i dont understand but your helping a lot ty

Revolt · 10 Jan 2011 at 17:03

oh and what is lightscribe and labelflash and is it the faster the speed the better?

MikeeyMon · 10 Jan 2011 at 17:41

Juvenile said:
what so your saying if I got just a regular optical drive it wouldnt work in other countries or somefin. sry i dont understand but your helping a lot ty

No, you would not be able to say play a film from the USA, unless you are using a multi region internal drive it is not possible.