OEM Optical Drive. What am I getting into?

[KKenDivine]

Hey guys/gals I'm building my first computer and I am down to my last item (Optical Drive).
I'm looking at this one http:// I'm reading reviews and from my understanding it comes without the SATA cable, Software, and installment hardware. Please correct me if I'm wrong on that information and please tell me what else is missing that will complicate my installment. Since this does not come with software does that mean I will have to buy software for it to work (read/rewrite)? I have chosen this one because it seems to be the best buy for what I need. I'll be using it for gaming, watching blu-rays, and possibly some dvd and cd burning. I have no need to burn or rewrite blu-ray disc. Is this black drive going to make my white case look like crap?
Thank you guys!

My build is bought but not put together
INTEL i7 4770k cpu
ASUS Maximus Hero mobo
Evga Classy gtx780 gpu
Team Vulcan 2x4gb 2400 ram
Corsair AX860 psu
Thermaltake Armor Revo Gene (WHITE) Case
WD Black 1Tb 7200 HD
Kingston 128gb SSD
Windows 8.1 x64 OS

 

[HiTechObsessed]

The problem with OEM Blu-Ray drives is the need for software, which is generally crappy and/or expensive. For $60, just buy a separate and much better standalone Blu-Ray player.

 

[bigpinkdragon286]

If you don't need the ability to play Blu-ray discs on the computer, I would agree with HiTechObsessed, that a stand-alone Blu-ray player would be lower cost. Otherwise, expect to purchase Blu-ray playback software if you want the optical drive to be useful for watching Blu-ray movies on your computer.

Other functionality, such as burning DVD or CD discs is easily handled by free software these days:

http://infrarecorder.org/
http://www.imgburn.com/

 

[mbarnes86]

Hi

Retail optical drives cost more but usually include software to play DVD or blue ray movies and burn DVD or blue ray
I got a Samsung blue ray reader DVD writer with cyber link power DVD software

Some retail DVD drives come with silver/beige /black fronts which clip on

Regards

mike Barnes

 

[bigpinkdragon286]

If the software coming with new retail drives is like it used to be, expect it to be a trimmed down version of the commercial product, missing multi-channel audio output. If you can at least bit-stream from it, that however should be more than sufficient for some setups.

 

[unplanned bacon]

The problem with OEM Blu-Ray drives is the need for software, which is generally crappy and/or expensive. For $60, just buy a separate and much better standalone Blu-Ray player.

I got this one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00AK29B26/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Mine came brown boxed which it shouldn't have, but who cares now, it's in my rig. It does everything OP is after and has the software, (and cables/screws for install) needed to actually play blu rays etc.

 

[HiTechObsessed]

Yeah, my point is though that that is almost twice as much as the one he's looking at, or for $15 he can get a DVD drive, and $50 get a nice Blu-Ray player and save almost 50%, and get more features out of the Blu-Ray player.

 

[bigpinkdragon286]

I agree with HiTechObsessed.

 

[unplanned bacon]

Yeah, my point is though that that is almost twice as much as the one he's looking at, or for $15 he can get a DVD drive, and $50 get a nice Blu-Ray player and save almost 50%, and get more features out of the Blu-Ray player.

I was coming from the point where I already had a standalone. The built in in my rig was needed for gaming, but as it's an entertainment rig and I like my tech ( ) and I had blu ray movies to play I needed a blu ray drive

 

[KKenDivine]

Thank you very much guys! I didn't catch that the blu-ray player was useless without the $60 software. I'm going to go with http:// because of the free shipping, no taxes, and another $10 discount combo, and worry about the Blu-ray drive later since it isn't essential. You guys saved me $50 MUCHO KUDOS!

 

[unplanned bacon]

Thank you very much guys! I didn't catch that the blu-ray player was useless without the $60 software. I'm going to go with http:// because of the free shipping, no taxes, and another $10 discount combo, and worry about the Blu-ray drive later since it isn't essential. You guys saved me $50 MUCHO KUDOS!

I understand you got a standalone, but what optical drive did you pick in the end? How much did you put your build together for if you don't mind me knowing?

 

[KKenDivine]

Thank you very much guys! I didn't catch that the blu-ray player was useless without the $60 software. I'm going to go with http:// because of the free shipping, no taxes, and another $10 discount combo, and worry about the Blu-ray drive later since it isn't essential. You guys saved me $50 MUCHO KUDOS!

I understand you got a standalone, but what optical drive did you pick in the end? How much did you put your build together for if you don't mind me knowing?

http:// is link to my build. It does not include my 2x4gb 2400 team group ram for $76.99. So my complete build cost was $1590.92 including all taxes, mail in rebates, and shipping costs. I used mainly newegg which does not charge me taxes!

 

[unplanned bacon]

Thank you very much guys! I didn't catch that the blu-ray player was useless without the $60 software. I'm going to go with http:// because of the free shipping, no taxes, and another $10 discount combo, and worry about the Blu-ray drive later since it isn't essential. You guys saved me $50 MUCHO KUDOS!

I understand you got a standalone, but what optical drive did you pick in the end? How much did you put your build together for if you don't mind me knowing?

http:// is link to my build. It does not include my 2x4gb 2400 team group ram for $76.99. So my complete build cost was $1590.92 including all taxes, mail in rebates, and shipping costs. I used mainly newegg which does not charge me taxes!

Nice
How come you can get all that in the states for a fraction of what it would cost here (UK). My build hasn't got a part picker list, but it's not too far off yours (only it cost a fair bit more than that part picker list if you did a straight conversion)

 

[sora]

Thank you very much guys! I didn't catch that the blu-ray player was useless without the $60 software. I'm going to go with http:// because of the free shipping, no taxes, and another $10 discount combo, and worry about the Blu-ray drive later since it isn't essential. You guys saved me $50 MUCHO KUDOS!

I understand you got a standalone, but what optical drive did you pick in the end? How much did you put your build together for if you don't mind me knowing?

http:// is link to my build. It does not include my 2x4gb 2400 team group ram for $76.99. So my complete build cost was $1590.92 including all taxes, mail in rebates, and shipping costs. I used mainly newegg which does not charge me taxes!

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3bAe1

Build seems great for the price!

@unplanned bacon
The UK generally has higher prices, IDK why though. Probably has to do with importing fees and companies wanting to make higher gains on the profit margin.