Which optical drive should I choose for my computer?

Faced such a problem when the Internet for some reason is missing? In such a situation, there is no possibility to download any film or computer game, and you will not be able to remove important software from the expanses of the global network. What to do in this situation? There is, of course, a way out, you can always use the drive. But what if the device is broken or missing?

This article will help you find out which optical drive to choose for your computer and demonstrates the basic selection criteria.

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Optical drive

First you need to understand what is at stake. The optical drive is a device that allows you to read and write CDs and DVDs. Optical drives can be classified into two types: internal and external. Let's talk about each of them in more detail.

DVD-RW

Most modern models allow you to work with reading and writing to CDs and DVDs. There are options for devices that allow you to apply a variety of inscriptions and images to the body.

Blu-Ray

Blu-Ray-drive is the most popular and high-quality device for reading and writing. Playing with such a drive movie in FULL HD will not be difficult for Blu-Ray. The technology of blues has a huge development and even now it does not stand still. But for the progress will have to fork out, because the cost of such devices is almost twice as much as the previous ones.

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External DVD-drive

Such drives are very popular among owners of laptops that do not have their own drive. Most often they are connected using a USB cable and have a higher cost than internal ones. Such a device is not difficult to move, because the dimensions allow you to carry it safely. The body of such devices is usually made of plastic.

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Internal

The talking name suggests that such devices are installed directly into the computer itself. Any basic assembly of a stationary computer implies the presence of this device. But everything has a shelf life, right? How to choose an optical drive for a computer? Now we will talk about the most important parameters of such devices, the characteristics of which are applicable to external drives.

Speed ​​

Each drive has its own speed of reading and writing. Obviously, large read and write speeds are an important criterion of choice.

Important! If you are interested in pursuing speed, be prepared for the system to overheat. The most "powerful" devices must work together with good cooling.

The most optimal speed for reading CD-48x. This speed will be enough. DVD-R and DVD + R are capable of recording only once and have standard speed limits: 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x.

Multipurpose

Some devices, such as DVD-RAM, can both read and write information. If you are still looking for a new drive, choose one that can easily work with all types of drives.

Previously, the most advanced technology was considered to be the production of double-layer disks. This method of manufacturing helped to expand the marginal volumes.

Interface

Another important parameter is the interface. The interface itself connects the device to the computer. Basically two types of interface are used:

• Standard IDE.This technology has been going on for several decades and humanity has long passed to the use of the second type.
• SATA.The data transfer rate is ten times greater than that of the IDE.Such drives are used by all computer owners and each manufacturer equips its product with this interface.

Important! We recommend to bypass the first type, because it has long outlived itself.

Workmanship

A little move away from the technical characteristics and talk about such a simple thing as the quality of assembly materials. Choosing a drive, you need to give preference to metal and durable materials that can save the device from mechanical damage of various kinds. European producers have long gone ahead in this regard. Rarely you will find the European drive in which were stingy at a stage of assemblage.

Important! Material is not the main criterion of choice, but treat the product with attention.

Dimensions

Where is it without compactness? Progress does not stand still and the devices make everything smaller and smaller. But if you decided to buy a device, you should first become acquainted with the size of the connector under the device in your system unit, if the choice, of course, did not fall on the external drive.

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Drives for

Notebooks differ only in size from those drives that are designed for stationary personal computers. They are relatively small, while having the same technical characteristics. But what if the laptop does not have a place for such a device? How to choose an external drive for a laptop in this case? Everything is very simple. You can simply purchase an external optical drive. We will repeat that the cost of such a device will be significantly larger, but this is an adequate payment for comfort in operation.

M-Disc

The developers of this technology claim that such discs can store information for thousands of years. Due to the properties of the material, such discs are resistant to temperature, moisture and light. DVDs of this company have a capacity of five gigabytes, but the manufacturer promises to produce and M-Disc Blu-Ray-discs, the volume of which will reach thirty gigabytes.

Regrettably, but in the world of technologies, marketing controls, so you need to pay attention to another important nuance - the manufacturer.

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Manufacturers of

It is best to put an eye on the optical drive that is produced by a company with a good reputation. Years that companies occupy in this niche speak for themselves. It is advisable to give preference to such manufacturers as Samsung, Lg, ASUS, etc. But everyone understands that such a purchase implies additional payments for the name of the company, for its brand. There are also budget options from no less famous manufacturers: BENQ and SONY.

Important! Do not even consider devices that have just appeared on the market and do not have any reputation. You run the risk of giving an amount for a poor-quality product.

This seems to be all. Remember that the quality of the technical parameters of the reading and writing device directly affects its price. You can always "sacrifice" the quality of the material, but never forget about the risks. This article should help you to consider the nuances from all sides.