Hello All,

This is my first (request) post to the community after reading around many threads and stickies on the forum. For experts. it will be just another routine question but its crucial for me.

My HP 740b burner died on me. I am in the market again after 2 years to get a new burner and media. My machine is AMD3400+ with 1GB RAM and Nero 7.

My drive requirements -
- Absolutely brilliant burn quality, can not afford mess ups.
- I don't care about speed. (I used to burn at 4X on 740b using TDK 16X DVD+R and 8X DVD-R)

Please do not mention just a brand but model as well. I fail to understand the difference between the drives as the comparison websites do not show any difference as such.

My media requirements -
- Matches with the drive
- Doesn't produce coasters (Seriously I have too many and my 2002 discs are dying on me now)
- Life-time archival (If possible) I know many will say that its not possible and I do understand so please read as "long life".

Same as the burner, please direct me to the specific media. I checked up upon Taiyo Yuden on Supermediastore and they have many of them. I am quite confused.

We have a baby arriving in next 4 months and I want my child to see his/her video when (s)he is 18/21. During this period, I should need least copies. I am fine with new copy every 4 years.

I would certainly appreciate store recommendations. I am aware of supermediastore.com Any other store recommendations?

My homework -
- I read Pulsee's 10 DVD burner shootout but my non-geeky medicine brain had to pump more blood in (read headache) to understand PIF. More blood let me know that its some sort of error. Google didn't define it..
- I read FAQ for DVD write and the answer of first question didn't satisfy my query.
- I checked the poll for the best drive for 2008 first quarter. It helped me a bit.
- Couple of other threads like 1, 2 ,3 were bit helpful.

Thank you very much in advance.

Well I prefer to use Taiyo Yuden 8X -R discs (TYG02). They are inexpensive and should last as long as any. All the major on-line sellers carry them and specials pop up now and then.

http://www.rima.com/Merchant2/mercha...ode=TAIYOYUDEN

My latest drive is a Pioneer DVR 115D. I burn them at 12X. Here's a quality scan using my Benq.



This is about as good as it gets. I'm pleased.

Thanks MysticEyes for your reply.

Three things I did not understand,
1. Your discs are rated 8X then how do you burn them at 12X? (I always learnt so far that you should burn at speed lower than the rated one).
2. Why did you perform Quality Scan with Benq drive? (and not Pioneer drive?)
3. Is there any guide on cdfreaks to learn to read the picture that you have posted?

1. The Pioneer has a specific write strategy for the TYG02's. They felt these 8X discs could be burned at 12X, and as such enabled that speed for them.

Just some old myths (more or less) from the past that usually applies when the media is not a good match for your burner. It's important to match the media to your burner and once you find a good combo, stay with it. I don't chase sales, drive around town, wait in lines or play with rebates to save a dime. I know what works and I stay with it.


2. The Pioneer, along with others, don't do 'Quality Scans', the Benq does.

3. There is probably a few thousand posts on various forums discussing them.


Reviewing what you wanted.

All of the above and a speedy burn.

A near perfect a match with some of the most reliable discs made (cheap too). No coasters.

And note Taiyo Yuden and Pioneer pretty much started the whole ball rolling.

Do note that the Pioneer will not bitset/booktype SL +R ( it auto booktypes DL +R). There are some that swear by SL+R and bitsetting, I'm not one of them.

That said there are lots of decent burners out there. As far as media goes you could burn your important stuff twice, on a Taiyo Yuden and a Verbatim.