External DVD R +/- Drive

Any advice on which (and where) External DVD Burning drive can I get....
Would like to keep the cost to a minimum while at the same time keep reliability as high as possible....
Anyone bought a similar drive from CompUSA.com? They seem to have one for $90.
Not really concerned about the writing speed...

Thanks...

 

You can get a usb powered case at Centrix Intl for $20 and NEC 6750 at NewEgg for 70. Plus no tax. NECs are good notebook drives.

 

i bought a piece of **** 60 dollar dvdr drive from fry's. i don't even know what the name brand is. i put it in a piece of **** external case that i bought for 20 bux. i've had it for about a year and in that time, i've burned about 5 x 100 disc spindles. only 1 or 2 coasters so far.

 

If you don't mind 5.25" drives I would recommend BenQ 1650/1655. Or LG 4167 if you want RAM support. As for NEC drves the older 3550 generation were pretty good, the newer 4550, not as much. I have/had NEC 3550 and BenQ 1650 and both were/are good drives.

Some 5.25" enclosures are prefered due to more compatible chipsets, this might be helpful: http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=119149 (a never ending thread of optical USB enclosures )

 

I also have a BenQ DW1655 ($58 newegg) and its works great with USB enclosure ($25 tigetdirect),

JC

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827135063

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817155706

 

^nice; i am all about cheap hardware for stuff like that.

 

jeez... and I thought deciding on a laptop was difficult....
Just too many choices these days.. just too many choices..

 

hmm... How can I check the compatibility between the External Closure and the DVD Drive.....
What I mean to say is I do not want to buy a 8X DVD- R only to realise that the enclosure I bought is limited to 6X DVD- R....

 

I don't think you'll have any issues as long as it is USB 2.0.

 

Enclosures are note limited to a specific speed...is the interface (ATA,SATA,SCSI) that can put limits....but dont worry, those interfaces are almost the same used on Desktop boards and ALL of them will serve to burn 8X and higher.
Just take in consideration that the real limit is what your laptop can handle via USB or Firewire. Maybe you should check how your laptop's USB and Firewire are performing to make your final chioce.
At least my laptop had poor USB performance so I use Firewire now.

 

and how can I check that????

 

connect an USB2 device (maybe a Card Reader?) and:
1- Use a benchmarking/diagnostics software (hdtune,sandra,etc)
2- Just transfer a big file and record the time it takes.
A good USB adapter should give you around 25MB/s...Firewire a little more (around 30MB/s).
For sure Firewire will do better, if you have doubts just go with Firewire...you won't regret it.
Good luck!