Lite-on vs. Buslink ?

[Big_H]

The local Best Buy has a Buslink 52x for $20.

Can someone tell me why I should buy a $50 Lite-on brand instead? I've heard Lite-on's are better, but is the difference worth $30?


Thanks.

[Spazmogen]

The local Best Buy has a Buslink 52x for $20.

Can someone tell me why I should buy a $50 Lite-on brand instead? I've heard Lite-on's are better, but is the difference worth $30?


Thanks.

Odds are, the Buslink IS a Lite On LTR-52246S.

Look on the BusLink box, does it have the SmartBurn sticker? Does it have a prodict sticker (usually on the back somewhere) that has LTR-52246S on it?

If it has those, then the BusLink is indeed a Lite On (OEM version).
The Lite On OEM version is sold under many different brand names, TDK, Memorex, BusLink etc.

Check out the Hot Deals forum here. They seem to be updated on Saturday evenings/Sunday mornings.

http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=10000


Big_H: Welcome to the CD-R Labs Forums!

[hoxlund]

yeah, big h, i got my Lite-On LTR52246S for only $10.64 at staples, it was a cendyne with the model #ltr-52246s on the back, but this was a while ago

[Big_H]

Cool. Thanks!

[Big_H]

I just picked it up today, and it is indeed the LTR-52246S. Sweet. Thanks a bunch everyone.

Also, do you think I should update the firmware? Or do I really only need to do that if trying to "overclock" the drive? Thanks

[BuddhaTB]

Also, do you think I should update the firmware? Or do I really only need to do that if trying to "overclock" the drive? Thanks

Yes you should update the firmware.
You can't overclock the drive any more. Lite-On's 52x32x52 CD-RW drive is based on the MediaTek series 7 chipset, while your drive is based on the series 6 chipset.

[Big_H]

Sweet, my drive came with the latest firmware: 6SOC

Buddha> So what you're saying is that my 52246S is the last of the series 6 chips, and because the new drives/firmwares are based on the series 7 chips there's no way to overclock it.
So my drive's the fastest it'll ever be? (Which is totally cool, it's faster than my old drive )
Excuse my need for you to spell this out for me, I'm still really new to the whole field of CD drive firmware and all.

[hoxlund]

actually cd drives aren't the only thing that uses firmware, tons of things have firmware, its just the manufacturer doesn't always release new firmware updates, or they simply don't want you to mess with it and then they have to fix it

other things that have firmware that ive personally updated include:

hard drives, my HP Jornada 565 Pocket PC, routers/switches, dvd drives, set-top dvd players, regular cd-rom drives, motherboards, RAID cards, sound cards, video cards, NIC Cards, cd-mp3 player, Nomad Jukebox 3 20GB mp3 player, xbox, cd-rw drives (of course)

thats about it, can't think of anything else

[BuddhaTB]

Buddha> So what you're saying is that my 52246S is the last of the series 6 chips, and because the new drives/firmwares are based on the series 7 chips there's no way to overclock it.
So my drive's the fastest it'll ever be? (Which is totally cool, it's faster than my old drive )

Correct. Your drive is the fastest it will ever be. The new drives feature a different set of firmware, so they are uncompatible with your drive. Firmware is kinda like the software that tells what the hardware to do. If you flash it with the wrong firmware or a firmware is incompatible, your drive will not function correctly and will be therefore considered "dead".

BTW, Hoxlund, I thought you were going away?

[hoxlund]

haha, good eye, you can't keep me away, plus i was already subscribed to this thread, i keep my eye out for any lite-on help threads