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Thread ID: 44691 2004-04-27 08:02:00 DVD Writers csinclair83 (200) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
232467 2004-04-27 11:18:00 It should have firewire port, and Sony make a DVD writer with firewire connection.
Sony DRX510UL

Look in device manager. The USB 2.0 should be "Enhanced Host Controller" if you expand the Universal Serial Bus Controller.

Google suggests its USB 1.1 though (HP's own brochure) but it does have IEEE 1394 (Firewire) it seems (mine does, on the side near the FDD beside the audio sockets).

Your choice of drives will still be somewhat limited, either USB 2 (probably not) or Firewire. Find out exactly what is available before getting lots of well intentioned advice that is unfortunately unable to be applied due to lack of options.
godfather (25)
232468 2004-04-27 11:23:00 okay according to this:

h10025.www1.hp.com

it ( your laptop ) also has a firewire port and the drive I recommended is also firewire cabable, so you could get the drive, forget about usb, which means faster write times.... I'm just not sure at this time the drive comes with a firewire cable, but it does come with a usb cable and your laptop useses 1.1.

That was a quick answer... I'll look into it for ya! ;)

:)
zminos (5010)
232469 2004-04-27 11:32:00 you'll have to stick with the usb cable, as the firewire cable will be an extra cost.... and from sony it aint cheap.

:)
zminos (5010)
232470 2004-04-27 11:36:00 But zminos, the USB 1.1 is too slow for reliable DVD writing.
Thats why its not really an option.
Thats why firewire is an option.

Or do you know something we don't about USB 1.1 on this laptop?
godfather (25)
232471 2004-04-27 11:48:00 yes Godfather firewire is an option and it's cost VS benefit so if Csinclair83 whishes to spend more for the money? then obviously that's the best way to go.

Firewire cables are not cheap.... I just got quoted $120 NZ.

*shrug n shakes head*

USB 2 is backwards compatible with 1.1... the tradeoff is speed and write times. Sure the IDE version is able to burn 4GB in about 20 minutes and can burn a CD in 2 minutes, but external is ALWAYS slower generally, no matter what external bus you use, even at times needing to reduce system resources just to burn.

:)
zminos (5010)
232472 2004-04-27 11:50:00 In case you don't understand the issues, the slowest a DVD writer can burn is 1x, which is 1.385 MBytes/second. It needs continuous data at this speed.

USB 1.1 has a maximum theoretical speed of 12 Mbits/second.

8 bits to the byte, plus a couple more for handshaking and error correcting gives about 1.2 MBytes per second, slower than the DVD writer can go at minimum speed.

Not recommended unless you like a lot of coasters.
godfather (25)
232473 2004-04-27 11:53:00 Just thinking, I haven't tried this (but I'm willing to be shot down in flames) but could you buy a external hard drive case with firewire (roughly 120 dollars) which come with a firewire cable (well mine did) and then take your pick of of any internal dvd writer ? (Probably in the 4x range.) the highlander (245)
232474 2004-04-27 11:58:00 Good idea actually, are they available for 5.25" drives here?
I have only seen them for 3.5" HDD.
At that cost its likely to be cheaper.
Hopefully Windows XP will recognise it?
godfather (25)
232475 2004-04-27 12:02:00 Highlander you might have a better solution... the cost of buying an internal drive plus external case etc, providing the power was fine? and it works with XP, and it is portable I'd give that. :D

Godfather, your math is right, ( had to use my toes and a few hair strands ) but it does work... you just can't use your system for anything else, and you DO have to watch what you're doing ie make sure the screen saver isn't going to kick in.
zminos (5010)
232476 2004-04-27 12:10:00 Yep, mine takes fullsize 5.25s and has standard molex connector plus is externally powered. In theory its should work since my hardrive is recognised as a local disk not a removable drive. the highlander (245)
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