longabletv

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I'll list all my other components so you know what my build is like. Basically I need help in choosing the DVD Drive.
I was going to go with this one, http://www.ebuyer.com/268621-samsung-sh-222ab-22x-dvd-rw-dl-ram-sata-optical-drive-oem-sh-222ab-bebe

But people say there is no cables? Where do I get cables then? What cables? I'm totally lost haha. help! Also my old computer has a DVD drive, wondering if I can use that. Someone told me if it has a wide slim cable then I can't, Well it does.

All my other parts.


Ram http://www.ebuyer.com/274413-corsair-8gb-2x4gb-ddr3-1600mhz-red-vengeance-memory-kit-cl9-9-9-9-24-1-5v-cmz8gx3m2a1600c9r

Cpu - http://www.ebuyer.com/252535-intel-core-i7-2600k-3-4ghz-socket-1155-8mb-cache-retail-boxed-processor-bx80623i72600k

Mother board chttp://www.ebuyer.com/281367-asus-p8z68-v-lx-socket-1155-onboard-graphics-output-8-channel-audio-atx-p8z68-v-lx

Graphics http://www.ebuyer.com/201348-his-hd-5830-icooler-v-turbo-1gb-gddr5-dual-dvi-hdmi-display-h583fnt1gdg

Power suplly http://www.ebuyer.com/204353-ocz-stealth-xstream-ii-600w-psu-ocz600sxs2-un


Case - http://www.ebuyer.com/233740-coolermaster-elite-430-all-black-interior-mid-tower-case-with-side-window-rc-430-kwn1 ADD ONE FAN TO THE CASE THEN BUY AN EXTRA.

Hard drive http://www.ebuyer.com/272944-seagate-500gb-3-5-sata-iii-6gb-s-barracuda-hard-drive-7200rpm-16mb-cache-st500dm002
 
I'll address the cable issue AND the DVD choice:

Cables:
Before SATA was PATA which used ribbon cables. SATA uses the, usually yellow, SATA cables. You also need a SATA power cable, although if you don't have a SATA one directly you can get a MOLEX->SATA adapter.

Many new motherboards support BOTH the PATA and SATA interfaces although PATA devices are pretty much gone.

DVD Device:
If your older DVD drive still works AND your motherboard supports PATA you can use it, although for the price of a new DVD drive I recommend you get a new one. It will be SATA. Let me explain why.

DVD and disc compatibility:
Disc compatibility is done via firmware updates. Most companies support updates for roughly one year after the drive is manufactured. Firmware only adds information about new DVD's and CD's on the market to prevent burn failures and burning at full speed.

Theoretically Windows could get this information directly but it's not done this way to sell new DVD burners.

So save yourself a hassle and buy a $30 DVD burner. Which one? Go to NCIX (even if you don't buy there) look at the top drives they have (ignore BluRay) and get one with a lot of positive reviews. LG is a good choice but there are others. Might as well get Lightscribe since it adds little to the price now and discs are cheap.

Discs:
Make sure to read reviews and avoid ones with a lot of bad burns. Verbatim is often good, but for dual-layer which gets expensive I got lucky with Memorex on sale for 40% of the Verbatim price.

Software:
If you don't have Nero, a good, free, option is Burnaware. CDBurnerxp was good but I heard bad things about adware. You should investigate this yourself.

Summary:
- get a new DVD SATA drive (see NCIX even if you buy elsewhere)
- SATA drive needs SATA power and SATA data cables
- PATA may be compatible but prone to burn errors, but FINE if not burning discs
- Burnaware may be best free software? (I use full Nero. Have tested Burnaware and CDBurnerXP)
- Always read reviews of discs you intend to purchase. Some are highly prone to burn errors (which worsens with older drives because without a firmware update it might not burn quite properly.)
- *Always update the FIRMWARE on a new DVD burner until updates are no longer suppported.

(and be angry that they sell new burners rather than simply providing an automated update through Windows which would be easy for the disc manufacturers.)