DVDR Drives
According to our discussions with the product managers, the ninth generation DVDR drives are about to start phasing out in favor of the 10th generation units. BenQ actually already began to phase out their 16X DW160 [RTPE: BenQ DW1620] in favor of the dual layer, dual format 16X DW165 [RTPE: BenQ DW1625], although the only real performance boost is 4X dual layer burning opposed to 2.4X (something that the Pioneer DVR-109 [RTPE: Pioneer DVR-109] and the NEC 3520A [RTPE: NEC 3520A] have done for some time). The next generation drives will really only improve in media support and will probably be the equivalent of releasing new BIOS.So, buy now? Of course. With prices so ridiculously cheap, it's really a "no brainer" at this point. When merchants are fighting over every last penny on a sub $50 drive, you know that the technology has hit the maturity stage. Let's take a look at the pricing on our personal favorite, the NEC 3520A:
We also like the LG GSA-416 [RTPE: GSA-4163B] and the Pioneer DVR-109 [RTPE: DVR-109], but now, when we start seeing cost differences upwards of $10 (20%), it becomes easier and easier to recommend the NEC unit.
The ninth generation LiteOn also dropped in price over the last few weeks, but at this point, all of the units are so similar (with the exception of the DVD-RAM capable LG) that choosing one over another becomes less important. When these were $200 burners, there were several small differences that we could analyze between the drives and thus, pick a winner; but now with most of the drives based on the same build specifications, right down to the servo, with costs all within a buck or two, pretty much choosing any unit guarantees you a winner. Stay tuned next week for more guides including a demystifying "how to buy an AMD processor and get what you want" guide!
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zemane - Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - link
#13:Thanks for the info Kristopher!
knightspawn1138 - Monday, May 9, 2005 - link
I'd like to see the Storage price guide include USB Flash drives (and USB thumb-drive mini-hard drives). Now that these drives are closing in on DVD's for storage size, they should be treated similar to the rest of the storage media. I for one would like to see a price guide for USB flash drives, since I've come to depend on a couple for use as boot disks on my PC.Doormat - Monday, May 9, 2005 - link
Yea! The prices on large (>= 300GB) SATA drives are finally starting to go down. Cant wait for Seagate 300GB drives to be $150/ea - two for $300! I remember when I bought two 60GXPs for that much. Now if I could only find a good inexpensive RAID card... you guys should do a RAID-5/6 card review (raidcore, 3ware, adaptec, areca, etc). I see that other sites have them, but I really dont trust those sites...KristopherKubicki - Monday, May 9, 2005 - link
zemane: I like the 3520A better, but that is mostly due to the price. The write quality on the PX716A is a little better.On the other hand, if you need features like riplock, you don't even have the opportunity to use a modified BIOS on the plextor (unlike the NEC).
Kristopher
zemane - Monday, May 9, 2005 - link
How does the NEC 3520A compares to the PLEXTOR PX-716A?KristopherKubicki - Monday, May 9, 2005 - link
semo: That should read DW1625. Sorry!matthewfoley: I will do my best to implement that. Right now we just list core name as part of the processor name.
Kristopher
semo - Monday, May 9, 2005 - link
i think something is wrong here (or it could just be me):"BenQ actually already began to phase out their 16X DW160 [RTPE: BenQ DW1620] in favor of the dual layer, dual format 16X DW160 [RTPE: BenQ DW1625], although the only real performance boost is 4X dual layer burning opposed to 2.4X ..."
what does dw160 mean and how can it be phased out in favour of itself (or am i not getting this right?)
anyway, it should be added that the dw1625 supports lightscribe technology. it may not be considered exciting or useful by many ppl but it is still worth a mention imo.
flatblastard - Monday, May 9, 2005 - link
knowflatblastard - Monday, May 9, 2005 - link
Can't wait for that one, KK. I'm ready to buy one of them crazy numbered ased AMD processors anyday now....just waiting for ATI or Sapphire to get off their lazy bums and gimme the mobo/chipset that I want! I'm thinking 3500+/3800+ V or 3700+/4000+ SD. So hopefully soon I'll no more than that, hopefully ;)matthewfoley - Monday, May 9, 2005 - link
Could we get some sorting capability on the RTPE? For example, on processors, I'd like to see a separate column for name, core, price, and be able to order by that column.