Need Help Buying a DVD burner
 

Hey everyone, I'm working on getting a DVD burner, but I need a little help. Basically, I haven't looked into DVD burners before or paid any attention to them at all for that matter, so I'm not entirely up on what's good. So, I think I found one that seems pretty good at a pretty good price, but I'd like to know what you guys think.

It's the <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-152-039&depa=1">NEC ND-3520A</a> [newegg.com].

Here's some info for those who do not wish to click the link:

Write Speed: 16X DVD+R, 8X DVD+RW, 4X DVD+R DL, 16X DVD-R, 6X DVD-RW, 48X CD-R, 24X CD-RW
Read Speed: 48X CD-ROM, 16X DVD-ROM
Interface: ATAPI / E-IDE
Buffer: 2MB
OS Support: Windows XP/ 2000/ ME/ 98SE
Features: High speed writing performance.

Thanks for the help everyone! I'd like to get a DVD burner ASAP, so your help is really going to assist in speeding up the process :)

NEC's are great burners. My ND-2500A has performed flawlessly for over a year now. I don't think I have burned more than 2 or 3 coasters (out of a couple of hundreds). I think it's a great buy.

I cannot recommend highly enough my burner: Pioneer DVR-108. After having quite a few problems with an NEC burner (not the one you are buying) I found this one and I thank God. It is a little more expensive but oh so worth it. Take a look:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...129-157&depa=1

SecretMethod:

I just bought a DVD Burner from Newegg in November, but I got the NEC ND-3500A. It is out of stock right now - but you can see the specs, they are similar if not the same. It's been working great for me, I haven't burnt any coasters yet. It's very quiet - no complaints so far.

MahlerIsGod:

The main difference between the one you got and the one SecretMethod is looking as is that his is Dual Layer. Right now, it doesn't really make sense to burn Dual layer DVDs because they are $8-$10 a disk - but this should be coming down in price soon as they start to produce them more.

I almost bought that burner, the Pioneer DVR-108, it got really good reviews and looks like a good choice as well if you are not looking for dual-layer.

I can't advise re: the 3520A ... but we have a 3500A and it's great, and my job is building computers, and the 3500A is by far the most popular dvd burner at the moment.

:)

Just for the record the Pioneer DVR-108 is a Dual Layer burner as well.

Alright, so it looks like the only difference between the 3500A and the 3520A is that the 3520A burns RW's faster. I don't really care too much about that, so I was going to get the 3500A for $7 less. Problem is, it's out of stock :( Now I have to decide if I wan to wait X amount of time just to save $7 :|

Definitely go with the NEC, if you go to www.cdfreaks.com, there are forums dedicated to it. There are a lot of people making hacked firmwares for the burners that unlock certain things.

No need to be picky. With Blu-ray & HD development you'll replace it within a year anyway.

Watch for officemax/depot & staples sales. They sell dual layer 16x drives for $39 almost weekly. $29 bought an 8x DL the day after Thanksgiving. The box brands are IOMagic or other random packagers but the drives are by LiteOn, BenQ, NEC, etc. Good stuff.

I will agree on the dual layer issue. DL media is far too expensive compared the the 0.25/disc sale price for single layer. With Blu-ray & HD drives coming out sometime this year I have doubts DL media will come down quickly enough to be a factor.

I have a Lite-On 1633S DL burner that I got from NE for $65. Simple installation, works as advertised.

Keep in mind that DL discs are around $10 a pop.

Get a Plextor, Lite-On, Sony.

A lot of name brands out there are re-labeled Lite-On drives. Check the drive you're looking for first to see if people say its a Lite-On drive with an NEC label. If so, get the Lite-On drives.