no.1 DVD+-RW + BD-ROM (combo drive) atm?

[jalyst]

I'm wanting an internal as part of a HTPC build I've almost finished.
I've heard optical drives wear less dramatically if they're external, don't know if there's any truth to that?

But going internal will allow me to "cherry-pick" a drive that'll be better than any of the "ready-to-use" external units.
And I can always get an enclosure for it later if I want to go external...

Just not sure if I should go for a DVD burner + BD burner, or DVD burner + BD-ROM.
I won't use optical drives as a storage medium for the vast majority of my content.
So I'm thinking BD burners -at least at this stage- is a little unnecessary....

What do you reckon? And what's the best DVD burner + BD-ROM around IYO?
Thanks again!

[Ian]

If you're looking for a BD combo drive, there are a handful of options. The best ones out there right now are probably the LG UH10LS20 and Lite-On iHES208.

And no.. drives don't wear less if they're external.

[jalyst]

Only a handful?
I'm taking about a DVD +-R/RW/RAM & CD/DVD/BD-ROM capable drive (AKA combo?)
I'd thought there'd be dozens to choose from by now!?

Okay thanks very much for suggesting what you feel are the best options around now!

A friend (who's advice I normally highly respect) was of the opinion that internal drives tend to wear more quickly due to dust build-up in enclosures etc.
But as this is your area of focus, and you've not heard of this, I'll take your word for it!

Thanks again.

[Ian]

No, surprisingly there aren't. I forgot to mention that Samsung also has 8x and 12x BD combo drives.

I didn't think about dust in the enclosure. If thats an issue, then yeah, an external would be better. Most people I know seem to wear out their drives from use before dust can take its toll.

[jalyst]

If you're looking for a BD combo drive, there are a handful of options. The best ones out there right now are probably the LG UH10LS20 and Lite-On iHES208.

And no.. drives don't wear less if they're external.

Aren't there LG UH10LS30 and WH10LS30 now?
Does the "30" mean they're better in some way?

You meant this samsung?
http://www.cdrlabs.com/News/samsung-ann ... drive.html
Winder if its now the best now?!

So choosing between the iHES208, xH10LSx0, & Samsung.
Which would you pick and why?

Thanks/night!

[Ian]

There is a WH10LS30 but not a UH10LS30. The last two digits just show that they're based on a different platform and/or chipset.

Yep, that's the Samsung I was talking about. I don't have one (hint hint Samsung) nor have I seen any reviews yet so I really can't comment on it.

If you're looking for the best bang for your buck, the iHES208 is probably the way to go.

[jalyst]

If I'm just looking for the best, what do you reckon?
I know that's an overly simplistic question, I guess they all have strengths/weaknesses?

Thanks, 350am yikes, definitely good night!

[jalyst]

You get this Ian? Thanks!

[jalyst]

...

[Ian]

Yeah, there is no one size fits all "best" drive. I would look at your budget and needs and find a drive that fits both.

[jalyst]

I guess I'm wanting a combo on the assumption that something that focuses on just being a CD/DVD burner/reader + BD reader.
Is going to do all (or most) of those things better than something that tries to be a CD/DVD burner/reader + BD burner/reader.
If that's not the case in your opinion, then I'm also willing to consider ODD's that also have a BD burning component.

Kerry from MyCE (formerly CDFreaks) has suggested some of the same stuff as you
http://club.myce.com/f61/no-1-dvd-rw-bd ... ost2538510

[Ian]

Kerry brings up some very good points. I wouldn't be too concerned about "older tech" for DVD writing though. Unless you really have the need for speed and you gotta shave off an extra 30 seconds off your burn time, 16x is fast enough. Not to mention, there really isn't a lot of media out there that works at 20x or higher.

Unless you think you're going to start burning BD's, I really wouldn't bother with a BD writer. There are a number of decent drives out there, but for what you want to do, I really can't recommend any of them over a BD combo drive.

Besides playing Blu-ray movies and burning DVD's, is there anything else you want to do with the drive? Write quality testing? Ripping movies?

[jalyst]

Good point RE not much media working above 20x anyway.

Most of my content I'll actually store on my NAS, most of my burning I imagine will be on CD/DVD for Linux distros etc.
I guess I may also burn back-ups of my Xbox/PS3 Games occasionally?

I guess I'd want to be able to do some write quality testing.
And I will eventually start to do a fair few BD rips!

These are the makes/models I'm trying to decide between.
I've got them ordered by review date, ascending.

03 Sept 09'
http://www.cdrlabs.com/Reviews/lite-on- ... usion.html
07 October 09'
http://www.cdrlabs.com/Reviews/pioneer- ... usion.html
29 Nov 09'
http://www.myce.com/review/pioneer-bdr- ... lusion-12/
28 Mar 10
http://www.myce.com/review/plextor-px-b ... lusion-11/
17 May 10'
http://www.cdrlabs.com/Reviews/lg-wh10l ... usion.html
07 Aug 10'
http://www.myce.com/review/liteon-ihbs1 ... lusion-10/
16 August 10'
http://www.cdrlabs.com/Reviews/lg-uh10l ... usion.html

The Samsung SH-B123 also looks like it may be a contender.
http://www.cdrlabs.com/News/samsung-ann ... drive.html
Unfortunately there's no reviews on MyCE or CDRLabs yet.
Some quick googling reveals none elsewhere either, it's only relatively new though.

[jalyst]

Ian?

Sorry for the regular bumps, working to a very tight time-frame.
Plus I think we're in different time-zones anyway.

I do appreciate all your thoughts thus far.

[Ian]

I'm sticking to my original recommendations: LG UH10LS20 and Lite-On iHES208

[jalyst]

I think I'll get the SH-B123, feel like an extra drive for testing?
I can buy from a US site and have it sent to your address?
I'd want it back of course, but I'm not in any rush...

[Ian]

lol.. Just let us know what you think when you get it. I haven't heard much about the drive yet.

[jalyst]

....

[jalyst]

I'd of course pay for all postage, but if you feel you don't have time, that's fine.

I've seen one reviewer get irritated by a users complaints that he didn't review things properly.
He quite rightly made a few points, one of them being: "why don't you donate your drive then?"
The complainant went silent after that...

Do you think there'd be other reviewers on the site that might be interested?

[Ian]

Sorry, I've been on vacation for a few days. I appreciate the offer, but I've still got a pile of reviews I need to finish and I'd hate to hang on to your drive when you could be using it.

[jalyst]

No worries,
The offer's still there if the backlog disappears sometime soon.
And thank-you for not ignoring me, all the best.

[jalyst]

Does a lightscribe enabled version of the same drive (e.g. SH-B123L Vs SH-B123A) typically perform not quite as well as the drive without it?
(considering the LS enabled drive typically has an extra hardware sensor etc)

[Ian]

In most cases, they perform about the same.

[jalyst]

I don't suppose you could be a little more specific by what you mean by "in most cases"?
Wouldn't it just be in all or no cases?

[stix]

I don't suppose you could be a little more specific by what you mean by "in most cases"?
Wouldn't it just be in all or no cases?

Dude, give it a rest..