My current computer has: DVD+R Write Once 4X DVD+RW Rewritable 2.4X I currently use clone dvd and any dvd software. I was thinking about upgrading to the HP light scribe dvd, which is 16X. I was wondering if that would make a difference in the time it takes to copy a dvd with clone, or should I wait until they come out with an even faster one, the reason I ask, is that it appears that if you want to use the light scribe dvd's, they are the dvd-r and it says it is only 8 times on that media: DVD+R: up to 16x, DVD+R Dual Layer 2.4x, DVD+RW: up to 4x, DVD-R: up to 8x, DVD-RW up to 4X Also, is there a better one out there now than the HP? I pretty much use the computer exclusively for copying. We both joined netflix and get 5 or 6 dvd's a day to copy, so I want to try to speed up the process wherever possible. Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Personally I would go with a normal DVD burner and use something like the Epson R200 to print onto the surface of the disk. You can either copy the image off the original or download it from cdcovers.cc. Onced laquered they look as good as the originals and are hard to tell apart until you look at the write side. The light scribe disks are far more expensive. Although you can burn a fast as 16 x for DVD it is better to keep the speed down for writing. You could use you ROM and burner the copy the films at the same time onto HDD and then burn them onto blanks in your own time after sending the originals back. However if you are determined to get the light scribe then go ahead now, as the next jump up is not in the pipeline yet, I think you'll be looking at HD-DVD or Blue-Ray before 32 speed DVD.
I've got the HP 640c lightscribe here,sitting in a box-barely used. It's performance was well below my benq 1620s. Burn errors,couldn't re-rip those hp backups,and more trouble getting stand alone players to recognize those backups. If lightscribe feature is what you want,get the benq 1625!!!!!!! Booktyping capability as well as benq quality. I use the Epson r-200 printer. Very nice looking backups-near original.
Thanks for the info. that is why I'm on here, I'm new tocomputers and still a baby in the info. department. So I guess the real question might be, if lightscribe is not something I really need and want to upgrade to a new dvd burner. Which is the best one out there if I'm going to be copying 3-5 dvd's a day. I currently use clone dvd2 and any dvd, just because I don't know any other way and it does work, it just takes 2 hours or more per dvd with the 4x unit I have now.
circuit city has the BenQ Internal DVD+/-RW/R Drive - Black (DW1620) for $69.00. Is that the route to go. I don't mind paying more if there is a better one out there??
I still keep my backups at 4x max! 2.4x has been giving me some issues lately,but the 4x has better PIE/PIF scans.I sometimes try out different 8x media,so I give them a vigorous 12x and 16x burn and seem to be ok. But with some of these quality 16x writers,8x should be no trouble. You just want to make sure your stand alones will be able to handle them. The poor quality viewing will tell you if they were burned too fast or on crappy media,even a crappy burner. Quality media is also a key to speeding up your burning. Avoid the cheap manufacturers and stick to some good ones like taiyo yuden and verbatim.It'll prevent a lot of issues later. Say 6 months down the road,you want to make another copy of one of your backups.That's where all the quality comes down to-errors.By keeping down on the errors,using quality media/slow burnspeed/ and quality burner,re-ripping those backups should be no trouble at all. By the best? I consider booktyping a huge asset.Higher stand alone compatability using the plus format booktyped to dvd-rom with a quality burner.If you are going to play those backups on 5 or more different drives,the booktyping would be the wise choice. Plextor- More clams,but the top dog among dvd burners Benq-1620/1625/and my future 1640. All but the 1625 for well under $50 and they made a believer out of me. Lite-on LG Sony-Rebadged lite-ons like the 800A Non booktyping,but able to with hacked firmwares: Pioneer Nec 3500 series- Also quality burner for well under $50 Edit: Newegg has been out of the benq 1620s for a while,and recently out of the 1640. I do love both my 1620s.They are getting harder to find and I hardly even found any media that they don't like.
Seems to be a very long time to backup a DVD (2 hours) I normally use AnyDVD in the background then rip to HDD from a Liteon 16P9S in file format using Decrypter, then if using Recode or Shrink and burning at 2.4 speed with an NEC ND3540 the whole thing is done within 30 mins. If using rebuilder then I just walk away and leave it for a couple of hours. I always use 8x Taiyo Yuden full face printable disks as well.
So it sounds to me if I can get a BenQ 1640, that should be all I really need and should be happy. I just checked circuit city and they have this: BenQ Internal DVD+/-RW/R Drive - Black (DW1640) Price $69.99 after $20.00 savings Plextor DVD±RW Dual-Layer DVD Writer (PX-716A/SW) $149.94 I guess my question would be: Is the Plextor worth over twice the price? I don't mind spending the extra money if it is worth it.
All I know how to do at this point is to use the clone dvd, let it copy the dvd and then put in a blank one and it writes it. The results are great, but it does take about 2 hours. That is why I was wondering if changing out the driver would speed up the process, I currently have the 4x model.
Ok, I just ordered this: DVD Burner Model DW1640-0C3 BenQ DVD Burner Model DW1640-0C3 Usually Ships: Same Day In Stock : Yes Platform: Universal Manufacturer: BenQ Part #: 588170 Mfr.Part #: 9J.B5U15.0C3 Our Price: $39.99 From reading what people say, I think this is a good unit for the price, which ended up at $42.98 with shipping.
Excellent price capgeo. A friend of mine was asking about a dvd burner and I told her newegg.com had the benq 1640,but when she tried to order it,they were out of them. I'll have to tell her tonight to try again. Good Luck
