Optical Drives, Burners and Blank Discs

Reader, writer or duplicator: what the job needs

Start with what the drive must do. A ROM drive only reads, a Blu-ray combo reads Blu-ray but writes only DVDs and CDs, and a writer records every format it lists. Blu-ray drives read DVDs and CDs as well, so one drive covers all three disc families. For a single copy at a desk, a DVD and CD writer is enough; for a batch, a duplicator copies one master to many discs, USB drives or SD cards without a computer.

Interface, drive height and the disc that fits

Desktops take 5.25-inch half-height drives on SATA, while old machines may have only IDE. Laptops and small PCs use slim drives about 9.5 or 12.7 mm tall, and USB models work with anything that has a port. Discs must match too: CD-R holds 700 MB, DVD-R and DVD+R hold 4.7 GB, dual-layer DVD 8.5 GB, and Blu-ray BD-R 25 GB or 50 GB per disc. Browse blank CD, DVD and Blu-ray discs and check that your writer supports the disc type and speed rating.

Questions about Optical Drives, Burners and Blank Discs

Can a Blu-ray drive read DVDs and CDs?

Yes. Blu-ray drives are backward compatible with DVD and CD discs. What differs is writing: a Blu-ray combo only reads Blu-ray discs, so look for BD-R in the writing specifications if you want to record them.

Which size of drive do I need, standard or slim?

Desktop cases use a standard 5.25-inch drive, while laptops and compact PCs use a slim drive only 9.5 or 12.7 mm thick, against about 41 mm for a standard drive, often with a different connector. Measure the bay and check the thickness in the listing before choosing.

What do R and RW mean on a blank disc?

R discs record once and cannot be erased, which suits archives. RW discs can be erased and rewritten many times, which suits temporary copies. Plus and minus versions of DVD are competing formats, and current writers handle both.