Hey Optorite guys - keep the DD0203 or the LDW-411S?

[UALOneKPlus]

I was lucky enough to pick up the Lite-On LDW 411S yesterday for $80 after rebates.

I only need one burner, and wanted to give either the LDW 411S or my Optorite DD0203 (F/W 2.23) to a friend who needs one.

Which one would you keep? I'm leaning towards keeping the LDW 411S and giving my friend the DD0203, wanted to know your thoughts...

[ozziegn]

someone correct me if I'm wrong but doesnt that Lite On only have a 2MB buffer unlike the Optorite's 8MB buffer?

if so, ditch the Lite On.

[dolphinius_rex]

I'm sorry, but that is a very lame reason for keeping one drive over the other!

I suggest seeing which burner burns the media most common in your area the best, and keeping that one.

[UALOneKPlus]

I'm sorry, but that is a very lame reason for keeping one drive over the other!

I suggest seeing which burner burns the media most common in your area the best, and keeping that one.

I currently have the Fuji 2.4X DVD+R, and the TDK 4X DVD+R media. I'm pretty sure both will work will in either drive.

Given that, how do the drives compare?

[dodecahedron]

if i'm not mistaken:
the Optorite has HD-Burn, the LiteOn has KProbe.
decide which feature you like better and keep it!

personally, i would keep the LiteOn.

[CDRecorder]

I currently have the Fuji 2.4X DVD+R

I've been burning that media with my 411S, and it has appeared to work fine. However, I haven't done any quality testing on it as I'm not sure how reliable it is, and I'm not exactly sure how to do it yet, anyway.

[tig2002]

I own Optorite DD0203.

My home stand-alone DVD player had hard time reading outer part of some CompUSA DVD-R disks that I burned on Optorite. I decided to buy different brand DVD burner, burn the same disks on it and compare the quality.

I stopped at Wal-Mart and purchased Lite-On 411S for $148.88. The same CompUSA DVD-R burnt by Lite-On was not recognizable by my DVD player at all. I tried another one – was recognized, but playback stopped after playing the movie for 2-3 minutes. I also noticed the difference between 2MB and 8MB buffer size while burning DVD with Nero: Lite-On’s buffer was jumping between 78% and 99% like crazy while Optorite’s buffer was constant at 99% during entire burn process. After the test I realized that the cause of playback issues was the poor quality of cheap CompUSA DVD disks. In fact, playback quality of the CompUSA disk burned on Optorite was much better than one burned with Lite-On, and the disk burned with Lite-On played only for 3 minutes while the one burned with Optorite played all the way, but had stuttering at the end of the movie. I had no doubt to keep my Optorite and return the Lite-On back for a refund, but decided to run some DVD/CD read tests while having it. The results of my tests are below:

DVD read tests:
____________________________

LITE-ON DVDRW LDW-411S
Firmware Version FS02
Disc DVD-Video
Capacity 7.36 GB

Transfer Rate
Start 3.51x
End 8.19x
Average 6.24x
Type CAV

Seek Times

Random 97 ms
1/3 102 ms
Full 166 ms

CPU Usage

1X 14 %
2X 23 %
4X 27 %
8X 100 %

Burst Rate 19150 KB/sec

Spin Up/Down Times

Spin Up Time 2.13 sec
Spin Down Time 2.51 sec

Load/Eject Times

Load Time 1.25 sec
Eject Time 0.98 sec
Recognition Time 9.61 sec
--------------------------------------

OPTORITEDVD RW DD0203
Firmware Version 2.23
Disc DVD-Video
Capacity 7.36 GB

Transfer Rate

Start 3.84x
End 4.32x
Average 4.29x
Type CLV

Seek Times

Random 119 ms
1/3 131 ms
Full 227 ms

CPU Usage

1X 8 %
2X 15 %
4X 29 %
8X 100 %

Burst Rate 696 KB/sec

Spin Up/Down Times

Spin Up Time 0.83 sec
Spin Down Time 3.86 sec

Load/Eject Times

Load Time 0.90 sec
Eject Time 1.50 sec
Recognition Time 7.96 sec
----------------------------------

CD read tests:
____________________

General Information

LITE-ON DVDRW LDW-411S
Firmware Version FS02
Disc Data CD
Capacity 63:09.04

Transfer Rate

Start 15.87x
End 35.45x
Average 26.89x
Type CAV

Seek Times

Random 108 ms
1/3 130 ms
Full 205 ms

CPU Usage

1X 1 %
2X 3 %
4X 6 %
8X 10 %

Burst Rate 18329 KB/sec

Spin Up/Down Times

Spin Up Time 1.93 sec
Spin Down Time 3.54 sec

Load/Eject Times

Load Time 1.32 sec
Eject Time 1.26 sec
Recognition Time 11.38 sec
---------------------------

OPTORITEDVD RW DD0203
Firmware Version 2.23
Disc Data CD
Capacity 63:09.04

Transfer Rate

Start 16.27x
End 36.17x
Average 27.42x
Type CAV

Seek Times

Random 95 ms
1/3 107 ms
Full 186 ms

CPU Usage

1X 1 %
2X 1 %
4X 3 %
8X 6 %

Burst Rate 1398 KB/sec

Spin Up/Down Times

Spin Up Time 1.53 sec
Spin Down Time 5.03 sec

------------------------------

As you can see, the results of these tests are mostly in Lite-On's favor. Feature wise: Optorite has HD-Burn feature while Lite-On can burn 4X DVD+RW disks at 4X speed. I thought having HD-Burn feature is better than ability to burn +RW’s at 4X.

I did not care about CD/DVD test results since I needed a good DVD burner, and not good DVD reader, and I returned Lite-On back to Wal-Mart, kept the Optorite, and to be honest, I am absolutely happy with it. The burn quality with TDK, Fujifilm, Phillips and other high quality media is outstanding. I had no coasters, no firmware flash problems, and no power calibration errors whatsoever.

[dolphinius_rex]

The optorite also has DVD testing abilities... of at least as good as the LiteON's but the software isn't free. (UM Doctor Pro II from Sanyo).

[integspec]

I can't comment on Optorite but my Liteon 411 hasn't given me any headaches. Another unruly suggestion to keep the liteon:

/Potential OC capability

[UALOneKPlus]

Thanks all for the insight. Very good information, tig2002!!

Looks like I should be happy with either one. I'm probably going to keep the DD0203 - I've not had a coaster with it yet (knock on wood)...

[Stoner]

As much as I love the Optorite DD0203, which burns flawless backups of DVD+R (why burn DVD-R when my stand alone loves DVD+R), I'd have to give it away when my brand spanking new Lite-On 811S comes, just 'cause it'll match all my other Lite-On optical drives, while the Optorite looks out of place.

[ozziegn]

*update*

I've been using the new FW on my 0203 and havent noticed anything either for the better or for the worse so I guess its all good.

then again, I have only used Memorex branded DVD+R media so that might be the reason why I havent had any trouble because I havent tried anything else.

[RJW]

then again, I have only used Memorex branded DVD+R media so that might be the reason why I havent had any trouble because I havent tried anything else.

Memorex just switched from manufacturer from ricoh to cmc for there dvd+r media.

Between the drives I would choose the optorite.
It can meassure disc quality (UM docter) and it has HD-BURN.
At this moment it also is sligthly better for DVD burning. But then again Lite On might release a new firmware which put them ahead.

Still if you burn a lot of cd-r's the Lite On might be a nicer option.

[dolphinius_rex]

the real problem is that both drives have a lot of cool features which are useful, and they are relatively close in quality, depending on what type of burning you are doing (I believe both perform better on DVD+R then DVD-R).... I don't think you'll be overly disappointed with whichever you decide to go with.