New DVDRW

D-Dan · Sep 20, 2009, 18:06:39

After a happy history, my ageing IDE LiteOn LH18W finally showed signs of giving up the ghost, taking several attempts to eject and more than I'm used to bad burns, so today I decided to pop along to Aria (I live close enough for visiting) and get a new one. I also have an LG SATA drive in the PC, which is less reliable at burning (I originally had a matched pair, but moved one to PC 2 so that I could put the LiteOn back).

My original choice was a Pioneer drive, since they seem to be getting consistently good reviews, but alas they were out of stock (and judging from comments I found around the net, although highly praised, seems to have been discontinued), so I elected for a Samsung SH-S223B. Early tests are promising, but I thought I'd ask if anyone has one of these, and if I can expect any problems?

Oh, first thing I did was flash the latest firmware (SB02).

Steve

Lance · Sep 20, 2009, 18:40:51

Sorry Steve, I've never used a samsung drive!

Rik · Sep 20, 2009, 20:42:19

Ditto. I've got all Optiarcs atm.

Simon · Sep 20, 2009, 22:23:04

Mine have all been Pioneer or Sony. Can't complain about either. Pioneer used to do a cool 'slot' drive (rather than a tray), but not sure if they still do.

Sebby · Sep 20, 2009, 22:27:20

I'm a fan of Opitarc as well, Steve.

gizmo71 · Sep 20, 2009, 22:51:03

I've got a Samsung - it's my first and only SATA DVD writer, an older model than the one you're looking at. No problems at all with it, in fact I've been very pleased with it, it only makes coasters when I cock up.

Haven't got round to buying any LightScribe disks and trying that aspect of it out yet though. And I've had it about 18 months.

drummer · Sep 21, 2009, 01:03:34

It's a flipping nightmare buying CD/DVD drives these days.

Couple of years ago I bought a Sony drive which was actually a Sony-badged Lite-On device.

Optiarc have now been assimilated into the behemoth known as Sony. Don't know if that's good or bad, but four of the five DVD burners in my various boxes are Optiarcs.

This site is very useful for appraising almost anything to do with DVDs.

Lance · Sep 21, 2009, 06:32:42

I used to have a Sony drive in a old machine and it never let me down (and now sits in the spares box).

sparky · Sep 21, 2009, 20:19:22

I have a Samsung SH-S223F.

It doesn't seem to be great when working with CD's. I have had several coasters made out of CDRW's, yes that's right, RW's. It complains about being unable to write to them, they are then un-useable in any other writer. They had previously been OK. The other major gripe I had about this drive, is that, and I know this is a rare requirement these days, there is no way that I could get it to write a standard audio CD from an MP3 album, that I could play in my car or home stereo. I have no problems with it writing to DVD's.

Buying a Pioneer DVR116-D overcame both of the above.

sparky · Sep 21, 2009, 20:24:24

..............sorry. Before anyone asks.....

No, It wont copy a standard audio CD that will play in my car either. I tend to get pops and cracks in the audio and it skips tracks.

No problem with the Pioneer though............................

Rik · Sep 22, 2009, 10:04:42

Have you tried slowing down the write speed, Sparky?

sparky · Sep 22, 2009, 14:28:37

Hi Rik,

Yes, tried various write speeds down to the lowest, but no joy and used different software to try and create the audio CD. No problem with the Pioneer though, so it must be something flaky with the drive.

Rik · Sep 22, 2009, 15:18:45

I have seen that in the past, I'm trying, and failing, to remember what brand the drive was.

D-Dan · Sep 22, 2009, 20:59:15

Well - I'll take the comments re the "F" on board. The Samsung for DVDs (which it seems to doing pretty well at) and the LG for CDs (which doesn't do so well on DVDs)

Steve