suggestions for dvd-rom drive?

[angel]

I'm not up on DVD technology nor what's good or not. I've checked several sites and have noticed a HUGE price difference between what looks like similar specs. I don't need a combo drive (DVD+CDRW, etc) - just a regular DVD for playing games - I doubt I'd be watching any movies.
Oh, and preferably an external as I already have 4 IDE devices but if it would be cheaper to put in an additional IDE controller card and get an internal drive, that's an option too.

Thanks!

 

[angel]

For example, I found <a href="http://www.us.buy.com/retail/computers/product.asp?sku=10297355&loc=449">this</a> on buy.com but that seems awefully inexpensive.

 

[angel]

Sorry, one more question! Am I likely to run into probs having a CD, CDRW and a DVD player on the same system? I know I wouldn't technically need the CD drive anymore but I really hate to take it out cause I already have an extra lying around. (Hate to see money lying around going to waste!)

 

[AlwaysLearning]

Hi. Maybe I'm not up on dvd technology myself, but why even bother at this point if you won't generally use it for movies? I have'nt seen anything on dvd except movies yet.(maybe I don't get out enough?)

 

[angel]

Do I need it? Of course not and probably can't afford it. Do I want it? Yes. There are a couple of games I want that have more features in the DVD version.

Thanks!

I've been reading up and it looks like I'm going to need a 'kit' so it includes an MPEG-2 decoder card because I don't think my graphics card has 'built-in hardware assistance for MGEG-2 decompression'.

 

[AlwaysLearning]

want vs need, been there

 

[angel]

Ya, in my case, the wanting almost always beats out the needing.

So, any suggestion would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Dan O]

A good low end unit is TOSHIBA, I have many of them. I would add an additional IDE controller, about $70 and a IDE DVD, about $129, which will be a lot cheaper and more reliable.

 

[angel]

Thanks, DanO, I'll check them out.
I'll still need a decoder card, right?

 

[angel]

DanO - you don't by chance have any links to the Toshiba DVD-rom drives (preferably a kit and not a combo drive). I checked their website and grabbed a couple model numbers. With those, I searched for prices and the ones I keep finding are listed at about $69 or less so I don't think that's what I'm looking for.

 

[Dan O]

Try WWW.PRICEWATCH.COM

As for a decoder you may or may not need one depending on the game. For movie watching you need one, but some graphic cards have a built-in decoders or you could use software decoding. So you need to do some homework.

 

[angel]

Thanks Dan O. I'm finding them much less than the $129 you thought they would be (~$58). Does that sound right?

 

[Max19]

An internal drive will likely be cheaper than an external drive. Why spend extra money so you can leave in a CD-ROM drive that you don't need? That doesn't make any sense. Buy an internal DVD player and put it in the spot your current CD-ROM occupies. Take it out and keep it as a spare.

 

[Dan O]

Max has some good advice, as a DVD plays CD has well. You found a Toshiba DVD-rom drive for $58 that a great price. I would get it.

 

[angel]

I might just do that. The reason I didn't want to yank out the cd-rom is because I already have an extra so now I'll have two - what a waste.