DVD-ROM, also good as data reader or not?

[Mahimahi]

Hi Guys,
I heard some contradictory statements.
On one side they state that it is stupid to buy a simple CDROM nowadays because the DVD-ROM can do the job as good as the CD-ROM.
On the other side some say that DVD-ROMs are not that good in reading data CDs which are home burnt and have even troubles in reading CDs with games on it.

I only have four bays, two of them are taken by the HDs one is taken by a plextor CDRW which I would like to keep for burning only.
I would like to have the possibility of seeing movies on the PC.
So the one bay left will be occupied by the DVD-ROM which will also be used as the normal datareader and while direct disk to disk copying.

Anyone who has experience in this matter?

 

[Arrow]

I've read that the Audio CD quality is not as good on DVD-ROMs. But I don't think the difference would be noticeable in real-world situations.

Rob
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[rcf84]

Arrown does have a good point. it is stupid to buy a cd-rom. alot of programs soon will use dvd-rom. even i have dvd-rom creative 5x.

ATI RADEON 32MB DDR RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Guest]

I my opinion it comes down to usage, but seeing that you don't have the luxary of running a mini server case you will be short on slots. What I mean by usage is what you rather have die on you: a cheap CD-Rom drive or and expensive DVD-ROM drive, thinking that the more you use a drive the shorter its life span. I would never use a CD burner to read normal CD's and install files. To the same extent it is probably better to not read normal CD's with a DVD drive. None of this is taking into account performace, which I will admit I know nothing about in this situation.

In the real world would using a dvd drive to read cd's be a bad idea...probably not. But to all of the attics out there it makes all the sense in the world.

pill128
an attic

Take your Pill, and get some sleep.

 

[Guest]

I use a Pioneer 10x slot DVD drive in one pc. Seems to work fine for whatever I do with it. I don't play DVD movies. Borrowed one when I first got the drive it worked fine. Howevever, I really went with DVD so I could get the DVD editions of encyclopedias and the like. It's great not to keep switching CDs.

Music plays fine, but I can't say that I have tremendously high standards! My teenager uses the 16x Pioneer for everything, esp. music and the DVD version of Encarta, and loves it...not that I think she really considers the utility of the thing!

I don't perceive any problems (more than a regular CD) when I use it as a data reader or for CD-based games.

Mike

 

[Mahimahi]

Thanks to all of you for the replies guys!

I think I'm going to follow the advice of Pill, and buy a cheap CDROM for normal data reading and keep the Plextor CDRW and the Acer DVDROM for what they where meant to in the first place. I am going to move one of the IBMs in a recuperation bay that i'll fix on the bottom of the case in front of the 2 intake ventilators. It will be a SUPER HD cooling.. hehe! 🙂
Roger

 

[Guest]

Thanks for taking my advice...hope it works out for you.

pill128

Take your Pill, and get some sleep.

 

[Crashman]

BTW, some DVD drives also have slower CD access time.

 

[seanmcne]

Why would audio quality on a dvd rom be less, it should be just as good because digital is digital is digital. Just data bits being turned into sound. I am just confused as to why it would be different?
-=-Sean-=-

 

[seanmcne]

That is a good idea, I use my DVD against my friend Pill's advice but it has worked so far for almost 3 years for dual purpose but is seeing the end of it's life span soon
If you have the money and resources to have all 3 seperate I agree if not, you can always use them for dual purpose. Good luck.
-=-Sean-=-