Is this enough specs for a DVD burner ?

[rfdrfd]

Wanted to ask, do you think this set-up is "powerful" enough to burn DVDs? Backup my existing DVDs or simple backing up hard drive files (photos) onto DVDs.

Toshiba 1.6 Ghz, P4 laptop
512 RAM
USB 2.0 (via PCMCIA card)
External DVD writer plugged into the USB 2.0


Any particular brands of DVD writers you would suggest?

[willy]

Looks fine to me. DVD burning is not CPU or memory intensive. Since you are using a laptop, the HD might be a bit on the slow side. If you are not running too many tasks at the same time, it should be able to handle the job with ease.

I personally like NEC burners.

[rfdrfd]

Thanks! Glad to know it "should" work. For sure, I can disconnect internet, etc. and just have DVD burning.

I have heard good things about NEC too. Where are some cheap (but good) DVD externals on sale ? Tiger? Canadacomputers?



Looks fine to me. DVD burning is not CPU or memory intensive. Since you are using a laptop, the HD might be a bit on the slow side. If you are not running too many tasks at the same time, it should be able to handle the job with ease.

I personally like NEC burners.

[matkun]

If you find DVD burning to be CPU intensive, check to make sure that the IDE Channels that the DVD burner is on are not in PIO mode. That will completely destroy performance. Make sure they are set to "DMA if available" and should be in some DMA or UltraDMA mode.

[willy]

If you find DVD burning to be CPU intensive, check to make sure that the IDE Channels that the DVD burner is on are not in PIO mode. That will completely destroy performance. Make sure they are set to "DMA if available" and should be in some DMA or UltraDMA mode.
I think OP will install the DVD burner externally ...

[rfdrfd]

Right, its a laptop, so I am planning to use it externally (USB 2.0)

Thanx for the tip, though I wasn't really sure what all those terms meant.

I think OP will install the DVD burner externally ...

[willy]

Thanx for the tip, though I wasn't really sure what all those terms meant.
You don't need to deal with IDE channels/PIO/DMA if you install your DVD burner externally ...

[M-e-X-x]

should be fine...

i prefer pioneer burners :)

[Canadianpsycho]

If you can afford it a Firewire unit would be better then USB. USB 2.0 may be rated higher then Firewire, but typically Firewire uses less CPU cycles, making it more efficient and less of a hog then USB. If you don't have Firewire, just ignore me ;)

[rfdrfd]

Oh i see. Thanks for the info. Sure, I can certainly buy a PCMCIA card that gives me firewire (and USB 2.0 if I wanted).

Do External DVD burners come with both Firewire and USB 2.0 connections? I mean in the SAME burner. Or I have to choose one or the other ?


If you can afford it a Firewire unit would be better then USB. USB 2.0 may be rated higher then Firewire, but typically Firewire uses less CPU cycles, making it more efficient and less of a hog then USB. If you don't have Firewire, just ignore me ;)

[willy]

Do External DVD burners come with both Firewire and USB 2.0 connections? I mean in the SAME burner. Or I have to choose one or the other ?
It's the functionality of the enclosure, not the burner itself. 99% of the interal DVD burners on the maket uses IDE interface. You can choose an enclosure to have USB2/FW/Both to suit your needs & budget.

Alternatively, you can buy some pre-built external DVD burners. Of course, you do not enjoy the same level of choice of drive/enclosure combination.

AFAIK, it is not possible to reach 16x burning with USB2. The problem appears to be in the USB2-IDE chipsets. Some high(er)-end FW enclosure can reach 16x. But if you are not too picky about this particular issue, you don't really have to worry about it too much.

[rfdrfd]

AFAIK, it is not possible to reach 16x burning with USB2. The problem appears to be in the USB2-IDE chipsets. Some high(er)-end FW enclosure can reach 16x. But if you are not too picky about this particular issue, you don't really have to worry about it too much.


Would Firewire external DVD writers be able to reach this faster speed in burning then?

[curtis]

You likely won't be getting more than 8x with any laptop. Your limit would be the harddrive. It'd be the laptop hard drive's maximum limit to burn at 16x.

Firewire probably won't make too big a difference for you. You'll find costs for an external dvd writer with a firewire interface much more $$. Best bet would be to buy a 5.25" enclosure and put a drive in. The NEC 3550 is a nice drive. If you buy an LG, make sure you get the 4167

Would Firewire external DVD writers be able to reach this faster speed in burning then?

[rfdrfd]

Thanx, I hear ya. But I'm totally new to enclosures. Any articles I can read on how to do that?

I'm tempted to just go buy those external DVD burners. But they cost so much more than internal drives. Internals can go for $50, those externals are >$120.

Do brands really make that big of a compatibility problem? I really hate these compability issues.



You likely won't be getting more than 8x with any laptop. Your limit would be the harddrive. It'd be the laptop hard drive's maximum limit to burn at 16x.

Firewire probably won't make too big a difference for you. You'll find costs for an external dvd writer with a firewire interface much more $$. Best bet would be to buy a 5.25" enclosure and put a drive in. The NEC 3550 is a nice drive. If you buy an LG, make sure you get the 4167