Pioneer one is IDE and LiteOn is SATA.

Which one is better. Both are same price but don't know which one to get. I was thinking the Pioneer.

I have always used NEC in the past but looking at the forums now, they dont seem to be the best.

Please advise?

7200S is a very good option. First time I say something like that.

Your're right.

AD-7200S look good too and only £16 quid.

Also the Optiarc AD-7191S 20X DVD±RW/DL/RAM LightScribe Serial ATA looks good too and can be cross flashed to a Liteon and supports lightscribe.

I bought a 7203 today and I have 7191S crossflashed to 20A3L.
It doesn't seem better than 7200/7203 though.

Got a 7203S too and I am impressed so far!

Agreed.Something didn't expected.
I am using 1.01 firmware.

Hi
Personally, I'd go with the Pioneer DVR-115(D).
A lot of folk have brought the NEC 7203 into this thread.
The NEC 7203(A)(S) uses the same NEC chipset (As the Pioneer 115/215)..
However again, I feel that Pioneer's tweaks give it the edge.

Are you sure?
The 7200 uses the NEC MC-10044 and the 115 the 10041, dunno what the 7203 uses...

At least with the scans I am seeing 7203 is a better drive. I was ready to buy a 215 to replace me very new LG20NS10 (it's just 29 Euros) but I don't see it being better than the drives I have already.

Hi
Nope! Not sure at all.
Just going by what some-one else said (they claim to have both drives).
I only have the Pioneers (115/215).

I'm still banging my head against a brick wall.

I want a very good SATA writer\reader (inc Reading Disk Quality) and may as well have the option for lightscribe, whether i'll use it or not. If Lightscribe compromises the reading\writing quality??? i'll leave lightscribe then.

Liteon LH-20A1L
or
Samsung SH-S203N /SH-S203P (Dont know what the difference between N or P is.)

????

ill be watching this thread as i would like the same answer myself..

All of those years I use Lightscribe I haven't noticed any compromising in quality.

reading the reviews on this site, i'm going for the

Samsung SH-S203N or SH-S203P once i know what the difference is.

looking the the Samsung Firmware page

http://www.samsungodd.com/eng/Firmwa...oduct_code=SDR

The SH-S203B is at Firmware SB03
The SH-S203N SB01
The SH-S203S/P SB00

SH-S203B seems to be getting regular Fimware updates so may be better.

If you want lightscribe, the N may be the option since the P has no firmware updates.

but if you look at play.com, the P is the best option.

This is so confusing.

and now the SH-S203N is being discontinued in several places i looked at.

Looks like i'm getting SH-S203P as soon as play.com have them in stock.

so whats the real difference in the b vs n model then?? i thought it was just lightscribe .... why would they not update the n and continue so fast to update the b model? doesnt make sense

the "N" supports DVD-RAM,the "B" don´t

Think you got it wrong there bloodwurst.
Both S203B and S203N support DVD-RAM, write and read. Newegg link.

My dad says DVR-115D is a better drive though.

Don't get the Liteon LH-20A1L!!!
I'm looking for a replacement right now, this is the worst DVD burner I've ever had. I get very poor burns on almost every type of media. I've bought several Lite-Ons but after this drive, I've lost all faith in Lite-Ons and am looking at other brands. I am looking for recomendations on a good SATA drive that will burn common cheap media such as TYs or MBI.