CDRLabs DVD Writer Poll - August

by **Ian** on Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:16 am

Vote for what you think is the best, all around DVD writer. By doing so, you'll hopefully help those looking to buy a new drive. Once again, I tried to chose original drive designs that are currently available or will be soon.

Feel free to leave comments and an explanation as to why you voted the way you did. Also, if there's a drive you'd like to see added to the poll, let me know.

For reference, here's the top drives from July's poll:

1. Pioneer DVR-111/DVR-111D/DVR-A11
2. LG GSA-H62N/GSA-H62L
3. (tied) Lite-On LH-20A1S/LH-20A1L and Pioneer DVR-112/DVR-112D/DVR-A12
4. Plextor PX-760A/PX-760SA

by **Ian** on Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:17 am

The LG GSA-H22N/GSA-H22L was dropped from the poll this month. It's getting kinda old and no one is voting for it. The ASUS DRW-2014L1T and Lite-On DH-20A3 series still aren't for sale anywhere so they're still sitting it out.

by **dolphinius_rex** on Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:39 am

Voted for the Samsung SH-S203B this time... from what I've seen, it's looking the best out of all the listed drives (maybe the Pioneer DVR-111 might be on par or a little better, but right now I think not).

by **SkaarjMaster** on Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:45 am

Samsung?

WTF? Really? I never would have guessed it. Is this a rebadge of something else with a few extra features added or what?

by **Ian** on Fri Aug 03, 2007 12:10 pm

It's Samsung's own design. I'm liking my SH-S203B so far too.

by **SithTracy** on Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:18 pm

dolphinius_rex wrote:Voted for the Samsung SH-S203B this time...

Intersting... Never owned a Samsung... How does it do with CD-R's? Does it scan media? Does it have rip-lock? How are the burn quality's of DVD+R/-R's? If it does this well, it will replace my beloved LG GSA-H62N that burns DVD+R's exceptionally, but sucks at CD-R...

by **dolphinius_rex** on Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:20 pm

You know how every manufacturer has there #1 drive, that is the best drive they ever end up making?

BenQ -> DW1640
Pioneer -> DVR-111
Plextor -> PX-716SA (PX-755a and PX-760a disqualified because they were jerks about PXscan)

Well, this Samsung drive (SH-S203B) seems to be a likely candidate for Samsung's peak drive. Of course only time will tell :wink:

by **SithTracy** on Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:19 pm

OK - I'll hold off voting until I get one.... Else I would vote for the LG GSA-H62N for it's DVD burning capability... I have interest in drives other than LG for better firmware support vs. the LG way... the new model drive a day instead of updating your current product.

by **bicomputational** on Thu Aug 09, 2007 10:18 am

Sith - Bought a Samsung 184m (external 182m) just because the reviews for cd burning were so excellent, and I use my drives more for cd's than dvd's. I haven't been disappointed, it is a great cd burner. Unlike the LG 42 it replaced, what a disappointment LG has become, their drives always used to be top notch for cd's.
Voted again for the Pioneer 111, probably will until it drops off the chart.

by **frank1** on Fri Aug 10, 2007 3:18 am

I voted for the Plextor PX-760A !

Has the "Lead-in" problem on DVD-R with some Samsung burners finaly been solved in the last firmware updates ?
See:
« SH-S182D DVD-R Lead-In »
http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=217594

by **SithTracy** on Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:13 am

After a couple of burns on the Samsung SH-S203B, I'm not sold on it... The LG GSA-H62N works better for DVD+R burns and so does my Pioneer DVR-212D (DVD-R)... Going to save my vote until the end of the month and see how the Samsung fairs.

by **Grain** on Fri Aug 10, 2007 11:37 am

My LG 50N does some great burns, but only verify's at a pathetic 5-7.5X, so no vote, Pioneer 112D great reader, great quality burns, but no DVD+R bitsetting, so no vote, LG 22N great burns, but riplocked, so no vote, ASUS 1814 is an ok writer on DVD5's, shit on DL's, no vote, Plex 716, still a rock, even in an external enclosure, but it's old, no vote, BenQ 1655, it's starting to show it's age(ie seems to be "wearing" out), was a great scanner, but never was an exceptional burner IMO, no vote, which only the Liteons, 20A1H, very decent, but I'm voting for the 20A1S for it's SATA connection, it can't scan for jitter or POF's, if it could I'd feel better voting for it.

by **SithTracy** on Sat Aug 11, 2007 11:04 am

SithTracy wrote:After a couple of burns on the Samsung SH-S203B, I'm not sold on it...

Used this suggestion posted at CDFreaks by "Discoboy" and my Samsung burns improved dramitically on Verbatim MCC 004...

Discoboy @ CDFreaks wrote:Hi,
Go into the BIOS of the M/B
From the MAIN tab select the AHCI configuration screen
Set the AHCI port that the drive is connected to from "Auto" to "Not Installed"
This will turn AHCI functions off on this port and drive will still be detected
Save BIOS settings and exit
Worked for me

by **Ian** on Sat Aug 11, 2007 11:13 am

AHCI strikes again!

by **SithTracy** on Sat Aug 11, 2007 11:44 am

Still haven't voted yet... I am actually considering voting for the Pioneer DVR-212D this go around over the LG GSA-H62N and the Samsung SH-S203B...

One note on the disabling AHCI on the optical drive... doing so takes away the ability to boot from the SATA optical drive... not a huge deal, but it may affect someone.

Also, AHCI works fine for my Pioneer DVR-212D, Plextor PX-755SA, and the LG GSA-H62N. I was actually kinda surprised it improved my burns with the Samsung. It would be interesting to hear if anyone else gets improvements... I may disable it on the other drives and try burning a few... but it is the weekend and I am getting outta here for a while with the kids

!

by **Ian** on Sat Aug 11, 2007 3:26 pm

I'm currently in the process of testing the Lite-On LH-20A1L. Compared to the LH-20A1H, its horribe. I'm starting to wonder if AHCI is the issue.

by **Scour** on Sat Aug 11, 2007 5:18 pm

Voted for LG H62, still impressed on some scans I saw in a german Media-forum

by **SithTracy** on Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:16 pm

Last month I voted for the LG GSA-H62N, and there is nothing wrong with that drive... and I almost voted for the Pioneer DVR-212D after firmware 1.22, but I was forced to vote for the Samsung SH-S203B after a few burns today... after applying the latest Intel Matrix Storage Manager drivers (AHCI).

by **Ian** on Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:51 pm

No votes for the Pioneer DVR-112 or DVR-212 this month? I wonder if a Samsung can make it onto the list this month.

by **SithTracy** on Sun Aug 26, 2007 10:01 pm

I've got two Samsung SH-S203B's... Can I vote twice?!!?

The drive is outstanding, and even with CD-R's. I'm 700 miles from home and miss using it, though I did put a BenQ DW1620 in my parents rig some years ago... But, I'm pecking on a laptop now, checking in with the office (kinda) :^o

by **Scour** on Mon Aug 27, 2007 12:14 pm

I´m still not a friend of Samsung-drives :-?

I see thousands scans of MCC004 and T03, but no scans from midrange or low quality media

by **Gen-An** on Mon Aug 27, 2007 6:29 pm

I'm surprised the 760A/SA is still on the list as it's been discontinued and very little stock is available.

by **Ian** on Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:19 pm

Gen-An wrote:I'm surprised the 760A/SA is still on the list as it's been discontinued and very little stock is available.

Me too. People keep voting for it though. #-o

by **MediumRare** on Tue Aug 28, 2007 12:52 am

Ian wrote:People keep voting for it though.

I'd probably vote for the LiteOn 165P6s if it were still on the list (it's more readily available in Germany than the Plextor) and I'm sure the BenQ 1640 would garner a few votes too...

G

by **Gen-An** on Tue Aug 28, 2007 2:32 pm

Ian wrote:
Gen-An wrote:I'm surprised the 760A/SA is still on the list as it's been discontinued and very little stock is available.

Me too. People keep voting for it though.

I keep voting for it since it stays on the list and I like the drive

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