Umm a dvd burner can read and burn dvds right?

xAbre1200 · 01-03-2007, 03:41 AM

Ok, this has got to be one of the dumbest questions you guys must ever have answered. But im really sorry, I just need to make sure of this one thing. Im now looking for optical drives to purchace for my building a PC project, and places seem to be selling dvd burners for $30-$40 and dvd-rom drives for $20.

So if I go and buy a DVD burner, will that device be able to read CDs and DVDs as well as burning them? Will I be able to use the burner to install software as well as games? Im just not sure if its just a BURN only device or if they are able to read as well.

thank you for all your help

heyman421 · 01-03-2007, 03:45 AM

ya, burners can read as well

in fact, i usually just roll with 2 of the same burner, and no read-only drives

burners are typically enhanced to optimize the reading process, and have better ability to automatically slow down, and recognize read errors, rather than just blazing through them like most read-only drives do

it's speed vs. accuracy, really. read-only drives typically read discs FASTER on average, but burner drives do a better job of maintaining decent speed, while knowing enough to limit their speed to the point where no errors are made

PC eye · 01-03-2007, 03:47 AM

You will be surprised to see how many newer games come on one or two dvds rather then a set of 5 or 6 cd-rs while those are still available. The main purpose for a dvd burner is comparable to the one for a cd writer. The difference is the abilty to burn to blank dvd-rs or dvd+rs as well as cd-rs. The only problem seen here a dvd burner was writing to dvd rewritable media lately. I suspect a bad set of disks there. cd drives will read faster however.

01-03-2007, 03:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
xAbre1200 Bronze Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 82	Umm a dvd burner can read and burn dvds right? Ok, this has got to be one of the dumbest questions you guys must ever have answered. But im really sorry, I just need to make sure of this one thing. Im now looking for optical drives to purchace for my building a PC project, and places seem to be selling dvd burners for $30-$40 and dvd-rom drives for $20. So if I go and buy a DVD burner, will that device be able to read CDs and DVDs as well as burning them? Will I be able to use the burner to install software as well as games? Im just not sure if its just a BURN only device or if they are able to read as well. thank you for all your help

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01-03-2007, 03:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
heyman421 banned Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 2,349	ya, burners can read as well in fact, i usually just roll with 2 of the same burner, and no read-only drives burners are typically enhanced to optimize the reading process, and have better ability to automatically slow down, and recognize read errors, rather than just blazing through them like most read-only drives do it's speed vs. accuracy, really. read-only drives typically read discs FASTER on average, but burner drives do a better job of maintaining decent speed, while knowing enough to limit their speed to the point where no errors are made

01-03-2007, 03:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
PC eye banned Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 21,091	You will be surprised to see how many newer games come on one or two dvds rather then a set of 5 or 6 cd-rs while those are still available. The main purpose for a dvd burner is comparable to the one for a cd writer. The difference is the abilty to burn to blank dvd-rs or dvd+rs as well as cd-rs. The only problem seen here a dvd burner was writing to dvd rewritable media lately. I suspect a bad set of disks there. cd drives will read faster however.