Hello everyone im really torn on this issue of what burner to go with here. I bought a NEC 3540 because it is supposedly one of the best. I really think that the lightscribe feature would be nice to have though. Im trying to compare the two drives here to come to some sort of desicion. A few differences that I found were that the NEC supports DL-R is this really needed? Or can I pretty much do anything I want without this support? I mainly use the burner for backing up my DVD's and PS2 games. Also I see that the NEC can't write to a 99 minute CD which I dont know if this is a big deal or not. With the BenQ I have read that there is alot of trouble getting the burner to write to dual layer disks, and its pretty slow. All in all I really would enjoy the lightscribe feature , but I dont want to give up to much quality or give up to many options. If I return the NEC and get the BENQ is this completley crazy or am I really not giving up that much quality to get a feature that I want. Any imput is appreciated. If by getting rid ofthe NEC I would be limiting myself to quality when backing up my dvd's and games then I wont exchange it, but if the BenQ will still do all of this and provide a quality product then I would exchange. Again any help is appreciated. Thank You
Keep in mind Lightscribe media is very expensive at the moment. I personally recommend the BenQ 1640 dl burner. With the new QSuite 2.0 one can write 16x on 8x dvd branded write media. Newest firmware has Solidburn technology. This drive is affordable... http://www.benq.com/ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827101651
I've got 2 benq 1620s and I can vouch for their overall performance. My booktyped plus format backups to dvd-rom play virtually everywhere,except 1 ps2 that is v-1.That's a lot of drives I test them on! Over 99% success rate using quality media,even the crappy cmags burn very good,even with the original firmware. If it's lightscribe capability you want,then the benq 1625 would be the best bet.I've got the HP 460c lightscribe and it couldn't even come close to my old benqs in overall comatability and success rate! Nec 3540 should be a very good burner,but I am unsure of its booktyping capability.Some members say you have to have a special hacked firmware. The booktyping feature is a big asset if you play your backups in a lot of machines. My next dvd-rw drive will be either the 1625 or the 1640. The features on the 1640 sound tempting. Either route you go,you are getting a very good burner.
Did you read this article on the nec very nice drive i love mine!! http://www.cdfreaks.com/article/214
Yes and NEC 16x dvd burners are rock solid! The new BenQ 1640 dl burner has soo many features and low priced it's hard not to pass up. Check out some hardware reviews on the BenQ 1640 dl media. http://www.cdfreaks.com/article/193 http://www.cdrlabs.com/reviews/index.php?reviewid=270 New QSuite 2.0 allows 16x burning on 8x branded write media and new Solidburn technology, only for the BenQ 1640.
Just got the BenQ 1640 from newegg.com 39.99 plus 4.00 shipping. Love it. I had the NEC 2500A, in fact still have it as a companion drive. Tom
TMcCallie - indeed let us know about how it works out for you ! I'm a staunch NEC man Myself -2500& 3500 & I love'em both but at the same time technology moves ahead despite my reputation as a Techno- Curmudgeon while I was heavily into Conumer electronics ( Audio & video) and to somewhat of a limited extent with computers one must swim or die like sharks do ! And I am also intelligent enough to know no one company has all the answers!and as much as I love & use my NEC's they don't booktype without flashed & hacked firmware - they don't lightscribe although the NEC 4450 is supposed to when it hit's So I am leaning towards addinga BenQ to my menagerie of Drives ! I am particualarly impressed by the solidburn technology if it works as promised and the ability to booktype is always a good thing! Lightscribe Is a good idea if the media cost comes down but I can live without it . PLextors are supposed to be that Shiznit but I really don't plan to use all the extra features they have and Benq's are cheaper ! The idea idea of never having to update firmware to keep up with improved media is a good thing (SolidBURN) and from what I've read other than some advanced afterdawners most people don't update their firmware ! So TMcCallie by all meanns let us know how you like your new drive especially the SolidBurn process and quality in general ! thanx - Peace & happy BUrnin!
SolidBurn is in the latest firmware for the BenQ 1640(BSKB) and works with QSuite 2.0. Here is a link to the BenQ FTP website. Go do dvd-rw folder>firmware>dw1640 and download BSKB firmware. Go to the software folder and locate QSuite 2.0 and download as well. If you never updated your firmware you can go to BenQ's main website for more instructions. BenQ main website. http://www.benq.com/ BenQ FTP: ftp://62.101.64.70/ <copy& paste to your web browser
Shoey- Thank you for your fine support - went to Benq site as you suggested and downloaded the firmware updates Qsuite 2.0 ect! and read the flash/ firmware update section ! I think I cna or could do it when I get my benq Now I just have to wait to decide whether I'm getting a 1640 from newegg or the new external drive they're releasing wiith solidburn technology ! I'll probably go internal as they are usually cheaper ! but I'll see eventually ! My main query was does the solidburn live up to the hype in improving burns and media compatability with the burner! have you used it yet and what is your opinion if you have ! I mainly use Verbatims & Taiyo Yudens but occasionally try & use other media . thanks for yoyr help Shoey! peace & happy Burning ! Ps #1 it's gotta be da' shoes!
SolidBurn technology has lowered the PIE erros on great quality dvd media such as Taiyo Yuden and Verbatim.I can't speak for any other media as Taiyo Yuden and Verbatim is all I use. I recently did a overburn with QSuite 2.0 on Taiyo Yuden dvd media and I was impressed with my scan score(Nero CD/DVD Speed). I wrote 16x on 8x branded write Taiyo Yuden media. One gets great quality writes disabling WOPC, Overburn and of course enabling SolidBurn.My burns to Taiyo Yuden CD-R media are superior as well even burned at high speeds. This dvd burner isn't riplocked and rips dvd's very fast. I wouldn't get a external dvd drive if it were me. I posted some of my BenQ 1640 scans over at brother "CD Freaks" forum(BenQ/Phillips)
Shoey- thanx for the rapid reply after my last post I started thinking that I could'nt update the external drive without removing the drive and installing it as a internal drive & if I have to do that might as well just buy the internal! which is probably what I'll do when I buy one ! I'm not much of a scan person not putting anyone down that does the scanning thing !If my backups play without deffects I'm a happy camper! besides I don't use nero or have a drive set up for scanning! My interest in the Benq is for the Booktyping & solidburn as well as to use it as a ripping drive (what my Nec-2500 does mostly now) also My nec's are pretty good with the DVD+R media but my Philips DVDR-72 & APEX 1010W are kinda picky with +R media - My Norcent Player will play pizza if the cheese is'nt to0 greasy ! I got depressed I burned a Fuji /Taiyo yuden 8x DVD+R copy of Gladiator on my NEC-3500 @ 16 X came out fine but the philips & apex would'nt play it! made a dvd-r backup and read just fine And having bought a generous supply Of +R Fuji's /taiyo's I plan to Benq them soon and BOOkTYPE to DVD Rom and see what plays then neither player has problems with Commercial DVD's (originals) so it should work! Well Shoey Thank you again for you help & wisdom ! Peace & Happy Burning! " I seek not to know all the answers ! But merely to understand the Questions!" Ciao!
