DVD+/-RW Drive that Work with Macs

[alfiesy]

I have an iMac G4 800 with a 2X DVD+/-RW Drive. Would like to attach an external DVD+/-RW Drive using an external firewire casing. What's the best / most reliable / fastest drive that would work with Mac OS X? Anybody who can recommend a good firewire casing?

Also, should my friends borrow my drive, what's the minimum processor speed required for burning?

Thanks in advance for any help on this.

[Henjie]

Originally posted by alfiesy
I have an iMac G4 800 with a 2X DVD+/-RW Drive. Would like to attach an external DVD+/-RW Drive using an external firewire casing. What's the best / most reliable / fastest drive that would work with Mac OS X? Anybody who can recommend a good firewire casing?

If you're going for an 8x dual-format burner, the only one officially supported (meaning with iTunes, iDVD, and Finder burning support) is the Pioneer DVR-107D (aka DVR-A07).

The NEC ND-2500A's a bit better as far as burning quality is concerned. iApps support can be had by installing a free driver from LaCie.

Another quality drive is the Lite-On SOHW-812S. You need to use Patchburn II to give it iApps support.

All three are capable of burning to DVD-R and DVD+R blanks at up to 8x, depending on the quality of the blanks you're using. Out of the box, all three are recognized and supported by Toast Titanium.

For the external Firewire enclosure, I'm using the Firewire-only version of the ME-320. Oxford 911 chipset. Around P2,500 from Dynamic Personal Computer, Acacia Lane, 2/F Virra Mall. Other Virra Mall shops also have the item.

Also, should my friends borrow my drive, what's the minimum processor speed required for burning?

Even a G4/400 machine is capable of burning DVDs. As long as their hard drives can keep up with the required data rate (1.385MB/s for 1x burning; 5.54MB/s for 4x burning; 11.08MB/s for 8x burning), then your friends are okay. ;-)


~Henjie

[Macmon]

Originally posted by marvinp
I'll also vouch for the Pioneer DVR-107. I recently bought one online for only $96.00. I've re-flashed the firmware to a hacked v1.13 which allows region-free operation, up to 12x DVD rip speeds, and 8x burning for all types of media regardless of rated speed. Sweet! ;-)

hi marvin,

Did you encounter any problems so far after the firmware update?

[Henjie]

Originally posted by Macmon

Originally posted by marvinp
I'll also vouch for the Pioneer DVR-107. I recently bought one online for only $96.00. I've re-flashed the firmware to a hacked v1.13 which allows region-free operation, up to 12x DVD rip speeds, and 8x burning for all types of media regardless of rated speed. Sweet! ;-)

hi marvin,

Did you encounter any problems so far after the firmware update?

I'm guessing he hasn't. Nil's hacked firmwares for the Pioneer DVR-107D are pretty good. Kinda like the hacked firmwares for the Lite-On drives and Herrie's firmwares for the NEC ND-2500A. The hacked firmwares are oftentimes better than the official firmwares, with extra capabilites to boot (no rip speed limit, bitsetting, region-free, etc.). ;-)


~Henjie

[Macmon]

Is there any potential problems in updating the firmware? as in failing during the setup process? Need any particular precautions?

[marvinp]

Hi Macmon,

Like what Henjie said, I haven't encountered problems using the new firmware. As for potential problems while updating, pray that the power DOES NOT get interrupted while flashing the drive. It usually takes just 2 minutes for the update to finish. To be sure, plug in your Mac to a UPS.

[Henjie]

A bit OT:

Marvin: do you have a source for DVD blanks (- or +) apart from CD-R King or the Virra Mall shops?


~Henjie