Thread: Slim DVD & IDE to USB - DVD QLTY

USB or Firewire enclosure for slim DVD/CDRW drive

Take a look at this thread to find an external case for your notebook drive. I think it would be the cheapest route. I have the one from bixnet and the DVD quality it just as nice as my other DVD players.

Thanks for the thread. I managed to find that one earlier in a search but didn't pay a great deal of attention to it - doh.

I've been taking a look and the USB 2.0 external drives aren't that expensive.

I'll need to get the dimensions but both AOpen and Iomega have some nice products.

I have my panasonic dvd-rw up in the dash buried by the shifter. DVD playback is as smooth and problem-free as i would expect from any dvd drive. I used a ide-->usb2.0 converter in the enclosure found at (http://www.akida.net/.sc/ms/dd/10917...D-Dark%20Gray-) Used the enclosure/fan for a hard drive case/cooler. And i got the slimcd-->ide converter from (http://store.yahoo.com/directron/cddvdadapter.html).

Isn't firewire better than USB 2.0 for HDDs and DVDs??
I've heard it has more stable speeds and won't limit ur bandwidth for other USB devices...


Does the USB bandwidh concern each port or all USB ports on a motherboard?? Each port has it's own bandwidth?

I'm not to sure, but i have a powered 4 port usb hub at the end of a 15ft cable going to my carputer in the trunk, all ports are used, one being my dvd drive. And it plays dvds just fine. So whatever that means (3 other devices are IR receiver, powermate, and touchscreen... so maybe that doesnt mean too much)

But if u have an audigy usb too???

Originally Posted by DjBac

Isn't firewire better than USB 2.0 for HDDs and DVDs??
I've heard it has more stable speeds and won't limit ur bandwidth for other USB devices...


Does the USB bandwidh concern each port or all USB ports on a motherboard?? Each port has it's own bandwidth?

Good question....

Originally Posted by DjBac

Isn't firewire better than USB 2.0 for HDDs and DVDs??
I've heard it has more stable speeds and won't limit ur bandwidth for other USB devices...


Does the USB bandwidh concern each port or all USB ports on a motherboard?? Each port has it's own bandwidth?

FireWire 800 is the latest FireWire standard I have heard about and it has a throughput of 800 Mbps as opposed to USB 2.0's 480 Mbps. If I remember correct the highest throughput of IDE is 133 Mbps so both USB and FireWire will easily work as an IDE converter. Although FireWire is less software dependent and more hardware dependent so you are usually much closer to it's max speed than with USB 2.0.

About USB bandwidth being a concern, it all depends on your motherboard or USB card. Some times all the USB ports on the motherboard are their own port but usually they have two USB ports that get split amongst the rest.

Originally Posted by sssssss27

FireWire 800 is the latest FireWire standard I have heard about and it has a throughput of 800 Mbps as opposed to USB 2.0's 480 Mbps. If I remember correct the highest throughput of IDE is 133 Mbps so both USB and FireWire will easily work as an IDE converter. Although FireWire is less software dependent and more hardware dependent so you are usually much closer to it's max speed than with USB 2.0.

About USB bandwidth being a concern, it all depends on your motherboard or USB card. Some times all the USB ports on the motherboard are their own port but usually they have two USB ports that get split amongst the rest.

Thank you - very helpful info.