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[Diablos]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152047

$37.99.

# NEC Black IDE DVD Burner Model ND-3540A - OEM

Cache: 2M
CD-R: 48X
CD-RW: 32X
Data Transfer Rate: DVD family:16x 21600KB/S max CD family:48x 7200KB/S max
DVD+R: 16X
DVD+R DL: 8X
DVD+RW: 8X
DVD-R: 16X
DVD-R DL: 4X
DVD-RW: 6X
# Model #: ND-3540A Black

NEC makes amazing drives and this is the fastest one out there (8x +R DL!) If you've been sitting on the fence, look no further. I own this drive, it is absolutely flawless.

 

[aoi tsuki]

i saw this on Techbargains earlier today and almost jumped on it. i doubt it'll be around much longer at that price.

 

[tedtropy]

I own the 3500A model and it's been a great, reliable drive. The Emprex one I owned before it was poop in a drive.

 

[Gantz]

I bought it back when it was 60 bucks.

 

[Diablos]

I bought it for $45.99.
Seriously people, if you want a DVD burner, this is it. NEC is quality and the drive has every feature you would want. 16x DVD burning, 8x DL burning.

I'm not getting another burner until Blu-Ray or HD-DVD becomes standard... I have no need to.

The stock firmware is great, by the way. If you aren't interested in hax0ring your firmware for region free, no macrovision, max video rip speed, etc. just make sure you have a dedicated ripper.

 

[border]

Are DL discs cheap enough to make it worth upgrading to a DL drive?

 

[Miroku]

I own 2 of these drives, theyre great.

 

[Diablos]

Are DL discs cheap enough to make it worth upgrading to a DL drive?

No, a 50 pack of 2.4x DL media is still a LOT of money, but that's the thing -- I doubt 8x DVD+R DL media in 50 packs for say, $50 will be a reality for quite some time now. So by buying this drive you get a lot of use out of it between now and the time 8x DVD+R DL media is actually cheap. AND it burns a lot of 2.4x media at 4x according to forums. Once 4x DL media comes out you could probably get it to burn at 8x with the right firmware. Stock firmware may actually allow something like that as the current version does with some media (Verbatim I believe) with 2.4x -> 4x.

Expect DL prices to come down around Christmas time. Believe me, a NEC dual layer drive for the price above is a steal.

IF you want to wait for the next revision of this drive, to be released in a couple months, you would also have DVD-RAM capability (everything else would be the same). DVD-RAM wipes DVD+/-RW all over the floor. But some people (like me) could care less about DVD-RAM on a home PC. If you're making a HTPC that drive would be worth waiting for, but otherwise, I don't really care.

 

[IntestineBoy]

My friend showed me this the other day, I jumped on it just now. It's gonna be nice.

 

[DJ_Tet]

I jumped on it too, thanks for the heads up Diablos!

 

[Link1110]

I own a Pioneer DV-A04, and may have to upgrade, I remember when that 1x burner cost me $350 in 2002.

 

[bobble]

Hopped on it, sweet deal. Thanks for the heads up

 

[Drinky Crow]

MAF On Location

I got a double layer burner at 16x +R and 12x - R (after driver update) Sony Brand for 29.50 at staples. They found it in the lock up all alone, I claimed it as my prize. Funnier is that there's a 30 dollar mail in rebate that I qualify for

http://shop4.outpost.com/product/4331865?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG -- The one I got.

 

[heavy liquid]

Thanks, Diablos. Ordered. Been sitting on the fence waiting to buy a DVD burner for a long time. I suppose now is as good a time and price as any.

 

[atomsk]

i've been waiting for a DL at a decent price, and a friend is buying my old LG 4x for 20 bucks.

 

[Pimpbaa]

With dvd burners being this cheap, why the hell are pc games still released on cd? You should be able to get a dvd read only drive in a cracker jacks box.

 

[Diablos]

You are all quite welcome.

Pimpbaa, that's a good question... when I bought WoW it had like 5 CD's. Thankfully I bought the PC Gamer WoW issue, so if I ever need to reinstall, I'm just using the DVD.

 

[miyuru]

Newegg won't ship to Canada hey?

Any sites with this price that would? Or can someone buy the drive for me and ship it here? I'll paypal (or however you like) you the monies first!!

 

[Mason]

I own the 3500A model and it's been a great, reliable drive. The Emprex one I owned before it was poop in a drive.

I have a 2500A and this thing is like a rock.

 

[MrAngryFace]

Man, transcoding takes an asslong time.

 

[BlackNMild2k1]

thats a deal if I've ever seen one, the cheapest drive I've seen around here that did DL was as Sony drive, and I don't trust alot of Sony made hardware and it was $110.00.

this NEC drive has been bought, thanx for the hook

edit: and you get free or discounted blank DVD-R with your purchase

 

[madara]

Hmm, think I pass dvdfreaks has about 11 people posting issues with this drive just on front page.

 

[JackFrost2012]

like tedtropy I used to have an Emprex and basically didn't burn DVDs for a year because it worked about 1/10 times, maybe.

I got the NEC one a few months ago and it's been super flawless. At < $40 you would have to be a FOOL not to get it if you're in the market.

 

[soulja224466]

sweet deal, picked one up, thanks for the heads up.

btw, can anybody recommend me a good external enclosure so i can hook this bad boy up to my laptop with usb2.0? it seems some enclosures arent compatible with some brands of dvd/hdd's??? im new to all this so id appreciate some expertise

 

[pestul]

MAF On Location

I got a double layer burner at 16x +R and 12x - R (after driver update) Sony Brand for 29.50 at staples. They found it in the lock up all alone, I claimed it as my prize. Funnier is that there's a 30 dollar mail in rebate that I qualify for

http://shop4.outpost.com/product/4331865?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG -- The one I got.

Isn't the Sony brand based off the shitty Lite-On 1633s/1650s I have (not that I've had too many problems, just from reports)? The newer Lite-Ons are supposed to be significantly better however..

 

[goodcow]

Sony brands are shit. Mine stopped burning -R about a year after I got mine.

 

[Diablos]

Sony drives are rebadged lite-ons. I have two lite-on drives myself; one 4x DVD+/-R drive and one CD-RW drive.

The DVD burner just stopped burning properly... halfway through every disc it would just start making noises and crap out. This was after like 1.5 years of use.

The CD-RW still works but not that great. You can tell the laser is starting to go. If I make mp3 discs for the car they always skip in the middle/end because I'm guessing the laser is not strong enough anymore. If I make an mp3 disc with my NEC 3540A or 2500A it's fine.

I don't know why 11 people gave the 3540A bad review. They probably used experimental firmware that has not yet proven to be good for the drive.

 

[Bebpo]

Thanks for the heads-up. Been meaning to replace my 2x DVD/4x CD burner for a while.

 

[whytemyke]

do they make decent external DVDR burners?

 

[PotatoeMasher]

do they make decent external DVDR burners?

You can buy an external enclosure with this drive in a combo deal for around 60-some bucks i think...

 

[MrAngryFace]

WEll if it works great for me awesome. If not, oh well, it was free.