Advice Needed - Three SATA Optical Drives Needed

[Apoptosis]

Well I just had two old DVD-RW drives go out on me... One was an AOpen and the other a Sony, both with manufacturing dates of 2003. I guess it's time to upgrade all the optical drives on the test bench, so what do you guys suggest?

I need to buy three SATA DVD-Rom's

Newegg has these....

ASUS Black SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DVD-E616A3T OEM - $18.99
or
ASUS Black SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DVD-E616A3T Open Box - $15.99
or
LITE-ON Black SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DH-16D2S-04 - OEM -$17.99

Two drives to pick from... The open box ASUS DVD-E616A3T for $15.99 seems like a bargain.... Anyone use this drive here? I don't need to burn as on the test bench it's just all loading windows, games, and benchmarking applications. If anyone knows of a better drive or a SATA drive for less than $15.99 let me know.

[Bio-Hazard]

I don't kno much about the older 16x SATA drives, but I'm currently using the 20x Lite-On version and I couldn't be more pleased with it. I do have a older 16x PATA Lite-On DVD Rom and it's really sort of loud during run up and the like, so it's not something I would want to use in a HTPC or the like, but the 20x is a lot quieter..........

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827106057

[camaroguy1998]

Your probably not going to find a DVD for less than $16!
I use Lite On, I have the drive Bio-Hazard has and I also have the LightScribe version of that same drive
and both perform flawlessly.
I still have a 4x Lite On that I've been using for quite a few yrs now without any problems!
I've never heard anything bad about ASUS drives, so if I were in your shoes I would consider all 3!
The prices are hard to beat and its Newegg!

[Apoptosis]

I don't kno much about the older 16x SATA drives, but I'm currently using the 20x Lite-On version and I couldn't be more pleased with it. I do have a older 16x PATA Lite-On DVD Rom and it's really sort of loud during run up and the like, so it's not something I would want to use in a HTPC or the like, but the 20x is a lot quieter..........

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827106057

Older 16x DVD rom drives... One of the ones I use daily is an old AOpen DRW4410, which has a maximum DVD read speed of 8x! So a 16X SATA DVD-ROM would be twice as fast!

The best price on price grabber is $27.99 shipped each, so the $15 open box price seems like a good deal to me.

I just tried to buy a couple and even though I checked out and put in all my credit card info it says my sales order number is invalid... did it again and same thing.... guess they are sold out or something.

[Major_A]

Aren't ASUS drives rebranded Lite-On drives? Since you are just getting a DVD-ROM I'd say get the cheapest one available. But for under $30 now you can pick up a SATA DVD burner. If you do decide to get a burner instead and noise is a factor skip Samsung drives. My brother in law has an IDE Samsung Light Scribe burner that sounds like a 747 taking off.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827106057
This is the drive I bought a while back. It isn't that loud and has only produced a couple of coasters. I guess it was my fault since I was using a hacked firmware and trying to burn 16X media at 20X. If you find HP blank media (usually Circuit City has it on sale in the Sunday ad) it can burn 20X with no problems.

[dicecca112]

I know I'm not the only one thinking this. Why 3 Opticals?

[Apoptosis]

because I have three test systems up and running at any given time. in the first post i stated it was for the test bench ;)

[The Black Pumpkin]

I've got a sata Samsung burner, and it's whisper quiet for me. Then again, my case sounds like a napalm fueled explosion, but...

[Darkstar]

I have a half dozen Lite-on drives (16x - 20 x) and have never had a problem with them.

[DaIceMan]

I have Samsung and love them. They work great, if only I hadn't been a moron when I ordered them and picked the IDE drives.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827151153 Samsung 20x SATA Those are the ones I'm ordering to replace my current drives... hopefully this week.