Looking for a DVD drive

[Vic]

I'm looking for an EIDE DVD drive for under £100 UK.

Has anybody got the Toshiba SDM 1212B? It seems to be one of the cheapest around.

There is little in the way of any comparative reviews around yet

Vic

[Jammrock]

I have seen Creative Labs 5x DVD/24x CD-ROM drives for $75USD (about 50 pounds, sorry no symbol on my US keyboard). I don't know if you can get them over there for that much, but it shouldn't be too much more. I use a 6x DVD from CL and it works just fine.

Jammrock

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PIII 450@something higher, 256 MB RAM, 35 GB on 2 WD Expert drives, Abit Hot Rod UDMA 66 controller, CL 6x DVD, G400 32 MB DH, SB Live! w/ Digital I/O, LinkSys Etherfast 10/100, DSI 56k modem, Addtronics 6896A Case w/ a crap load of fans and Dynmat noise dampening in it, MAG DX715T monitor.

Hi, my name is Jammrock. I'm a computer phreak and an EverSmack addict.

[Brian R.]

The Pioneer DVD-103s 6x and DVD-104s 10x players are cheap, slot-loading and quite good. They sell for 85 USD.

[merchant2112]

i just got the aopen slot loading (pioneer drive)10x its great ill never go back to trade load and there is a noticeable shorter spinup time on this drive over my old cl 5x dvd drive. and as a bonus the aopen drive i recived had a digital audio jack on the back. i don't know if it works as i have a vortex 2 sound card (no cd digital in jack) but the plug is on the drive. maybe its a newer version.? 1040 pro model.

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my system has arived. all together and if i new about the usb bug in 98 with this board i would have been fiished a lot sooner.

msi 6167 mobo k7 500 wk41 now at 650.(not overclocked its a real 650 they underclcoked.) 256 meg ram ,addtronics case w 250watt sp power supply, matrox g400, maxtor diammax 2500+ 10gig hd,5x cldvd region free, 3com 10/100 nic and 56k ext modem, xitel p storm sound card. lots of controlers joystick throttle rudder raceing wheel, and 19in monitor, usb logitech mouse.

i found the fix for the mouse hang problem.

[PreDatOr]

I have the Toshiba SD-M1212
Under £75!!!
Region FREE too )
Runs very well.

[Vic]

That's a thought, are all PC DVD drives region free?

Vic

[DentyCracker]

SD-M1212 is very good and fast. Why are things so expensivein the UK. The drive costs $79 online at www.mwave.com in the US.
I have installed 3 of them and have had no problems with them either as DVD or CD. As a matter of fact I copied 121 MB from a CD to my HD in less than 20 sec!

[rickn]

I got my toshiba m1212 from buy.com for $58

[adamhamilton]

Is the Toshiba drive (SD-M1212) nosiy - I have a Toshiba 40x CD-ROM drive and it's quite loud when it spins.

[Gavin]

By the way Vic,

HURRY !!!

:-) Not wanting to sound to pushy, but with the year 2000, all DVD drives will be region locked...the new Pioneers for example already are.

[Vic]

Thanks to all of you who replied.

After much cogitation (!) I've finally gone for the Pioneer slot loading 10X/40X.

Ordered it from DABS @ £81 inc.

Yes I know they're much cheaper in the states, (this is rip-off Britain you know where a litre of petrol costs £0.75! but that's another story)

Vic

[birdy]

sorry to reply after you've ordered the drive but the pioneer 10x drive is not region free. The 6 speed is, but is tricky to get hold of. A good place i have found is www.cclcomputers.co.uk they have great prices on most things

for a 6 speed you are looking at 55+ the dreaded vat

[Vic]

Now you tell me!

I'm really not too bothered about the region thing, anyway there are cracks available already (check out www.dvdutils.com) seems these drives have 'FLASH' eprom firmware.

I like the idea of the slot loading and the performance looks good.

[adamhamilton]

Slot loading is CRAP - stay away from it.
I used to have a Pioneed CD player (slot) in my car, and it scratches your discs around the edge when it "grabs" them!

I'll stick to tray-loading thanks!

[birdy]

i have the slot feed dvd and i have found that they get scratched less than the standard tray loaders, but maybe i'm a clumsy git, maybe not

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p3 450@600. bx6 ver 2. 128mb unbranded pc100. iwill 2930u scsi, diamond pro pci modem, advansys 1505 isa scsi, SB Live!, pioneer dvd103s, hollywood plus dvd card, plextor 40x cd rom, ricoh 1420 cdr, ibm 14gb ibm 7200rpm, G400 @ max settings. All wrapped up in a big case with loads of fans. Belinea 10 30 40 17" monitor