What do you all think is the better buy? The old DVD Burner has more buffer memory but burns at a slower speed while the new burner has less buffer memory but burns at a faster speed?
:confused:

Sony DVD-RW/+RW Drive, Model DRU510A, Retail
Write Speed: 24x CD-R, 16x CD-RW, 4x DVD+R, 4x DVD+RW, 4x DVD-R, 2x DVD-RW
Read Speed: 32x CD-ROM/CD-R, 12x DVD-ROM
Buffer: 8 MB

Sony Internal DVD-/+RW Recorder Drive, Model DRU-530A, Retail
Write Speed: 40X CD-R, 24X CD-RW, 8X DVD+R, 4X DVD+RW, 4X DVD-R, 2X DVD-RW
Read Speed: 40X CD-ROM/CD-R, 12X DVD-ROM
Buffer: 2 MB

Running at faster speeds often just makes it more likely that a disc will blow up in your drive and turn it into junk. However, I wouldn't get either one since a number of other similar drives are available for a lot less these days....

Huge buffers aren't as effective as they used to be. Ever since buffer underrun technologies came out. I've never burned disks at high speeds (40x and above) but generally speaking, newer drives have better hardware and firmware across the board and are thus capable of burning even better and more reliably at slower speeds.

As for getting one of those vs another manufacturer, that would depend on cost and reviews. I know the DRU-510A got many accolades in months past for its good performance, so I assume the 530A continues in that tradition. Other good manufacturers are Plextor, Lite-On, and Pioneer (just off the top of my head). Don't know if they have cheaper models or not, but it's definitely worth a look.

I have seen Liteon for as little as $80 after rebate and Pioneer for a bit more. I haven't seen Plextor really cheap, but they usually don't go cheap it seems....

Does my hard drive specification play any role in this, specifically the buffer on my hard drive?

Western Digital Special Edition
- Specifications -
Capacity: 120GB
Average Seek Time: 8.9 ms
Buffer: 8MB
Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM

I saw on TechTV that they recomended the Sony drives for reliability even though others may perform better. They also said that a 2MB buffer on a drive was enough nowadays due to the Buffer underrun protection.

Someone on another forum posted this quote.

Maximum PC - Special Edition: Build the Perfect PC 2003
Data buffers are crucial to preventing the buffer underruns that cause you to burn coasters instead of usable CDs. Buffers essentially ensure that a constant stream of information is available for your burner's laser. If the data buffer runs dry during the burning process, the laser stops recording, and the disc is ruined. When writing at 16x speed, a data-starved 2mb buffer can survive for just under a second before it drains completely. Buffer-underrun protection technology (such as Burn Proof) can eliminate the consequences of this problem.
Buffer underrun protection - If you're a CD-burning freak, buffer underrun protection is about the greatest thing since Cocoa Krispies. Branded under such names as Burn Proof, SafeBurn, and JustLink, these technologies can pause recording when the data buffer is empty, then resume recording when it's refreshed. These pauses, however, can extend burning times and are considered verboten by nitpicky audio-mastering professionals because they leave tiny gaps between the data streams.

They are talking about the buffer on the optical drive, the one on the hard drive is for speeding up data transfers for the hard drive and really doesn't have a direct impact on the optical drive. It is also true that the buffer doesn't make that much difference anymore....

Originally posted by saphalline
Huge buffers aren't as effective as they used to be.
...
newer drives have better hardware and firmware across the board and are thus capable of burning even better and more reliably at slower speeds.
That may be a reason to go for the 530m since the price difference on Newegg.com is only $20.

Got the burner yesterday. Plan to install it tonight. My only gripe with it is that after 5 times of setting the region code, the DVD-burner will only play DVDs of what ever region it is set to.
:eek: -> :( -> :mad:

My other CD-R/DVD drive will play all regions so I guess I'll have to keep both of them.

Originally posted by Cosmos75
My other CD-R/DVD drive will play all regions so I guess I'll have to keep both of them.
I just learned that my other drive (Samsung CDRW/DVD SM-348B) is the same as well!
:eek:

I think it is part of the deal the hardware makers made with the people that make the DVD moveis and such. They have to build in limits on how often you can switch the region to limit the ability to make counterfeits... Doesn't work to slow down the bootleggers, but it sure messes up some average users...

cool forum.

My Sony DVD RW DRU-530A cant record CD-R Disk or read. It's at Region 1 do you guys know whats wrong? PLEASE HELP!!!!

Nalgas,

This thread is more than a year and a half old... It would be a good idea to start your own thread to get whatever answers you may need... Provide as much info as possible, like: brand of equipment, burning software you are using, Windows version and details about the problem you are having... Please do not post more in this thread...