second half off topic: DVD-ROM recomendation?

[DCK21]

Hi all again,

Once again I have been unable to find within the forums, google, etc. a good answer for my question (also have been unable to find a good search question due to the nature of the question ...), and again request insight from the global collective knowledge of people ripping on a daily basis ...

Surprisingly, the DVD-ROM and Ripping forums are not providing answers for this issues ...

I know that I should not ask for the best x , but, anyone can recommed me a DVD-ROM unit based on the following requirements:

- fast ripping of DVDs, even for CSS ones.
- RPC-1, or with patched firmware available for converting to RPC-1
- if possible, not expensive
- all other thingies can be considered as prescindible gadgets (CD reading, DAE, DVD-R etc compatibility, etc.)

so, I am looking for a damm *good* fast reliable afordable proven and used DVD-ROM ripping unit to create my SVCDs!

Thanks in advance to all,
and sorry for the partial Off Topic,

DCK21<-HAL

[Jason28]

I have a lite-on DVD-ROM. I have no problems with it, and it rips very fast. On top of that its pretty cheap. I think I paid like $50 or $60 for it. It should prolly be even cheaper then that by now.

I am not to sure what RPC-1 is. Sorry :(

[dvd2svcd]

RPC-1 look here: http://perso.club-internet.fr/farzeno/firmware/

[mrbass]

I've purchased 5 lite-on ltd-163 myself and about 10 or more for friends. The DAE on it is 37X. Which means you can use it as a source for on-the-fly copying. Ripping speed is around 8,000 to 9,999. It's $38 on newegg.com right now.

[DCK21]

Hi,
thanks all. mrbass gave the solution for the fast ripping. According to some test I found (see bellow) it rips movies quite fast: "Transformers: The Movie" at average 12.06X !!
(can anyone confirm that "Transformers ..." is a CSS movie?)


RPC-1 for the LTR163:
---------------------
quote:
A RPC-1 utility is available (only usable in real DOS mode).
This utility can RESET or turn ON/OFF the RPC mode. When the RPC is turned OFF, the drive will became a RPC-1 drive. (Tested with firmware GHR3)
---------------------
anyone has tried it?

Further info for anybody interested that I found trying to get more insight:

A)
DVD speed info:
www.cdspeed2000.com/go.php3?link=dvdresults.php3
in particular for the liteon 163 one have
http://www.cdspeed2000.com/go.php3?link=details.php3&Type=DVD&Brand=LiteOn&Model=LTD163

but ... I think the speed is just data extraction speed ... and most people confuses also DAE (Digital Audio Extraction) speed with video ripping speed, I elaborate:

my actual Toshiba, marked as 16X (that is, 16X DVD-ROM, not CD-ROM,
look for instance at the specs of the LTD163 at
http://www.jlms.com.tw/new_p_E/jlms_163X.htm )

Again, my Tosh. 16X, when ripping CSS movies, tops at 2X (may be a
content system, a design flaw, a hw limit _perhaps the descrambling engine?_, ...; it is said no firmware patch can solve that).

B)
Found DVD-ROM reviews in
http://www.cdrlabs.com/reviews/
including performance, and understanding the movie rip issue

from there:

"Nero DVD Speed 99 0.52 - Movie DVD:

For these tests I am using the US version of Transformers: The Movie on DVD. The disc is over 4GB and single sided.

DVD Speed 99
v0.52
LG/DRD-8160B Toshiba/SD-M1502 LiteOn/LTR163 Pioneer/DVD-106S
Speed
Average: 6.03x 2.01x 12.06x 8.89x
Start: 3.36x 2.01x 6.51x 4.96x
End: 8.06x 2.01x 16.12x 11.69x

etc

Finally, a resume of what I have seen:

LTR 163 rocks at average 12X; RPC-1: utility
Pioner 106S average 9x; RPC-1 patch available
AOpen 16x model ? average 8.6X; RPC-1 patchs or utilities are availabe (which one depends on exact model)
LG DRD-8160B average 6X; RPC-1: patch/utility depending on model
Toshiba SD-M1612 average 3.5X; RPC-1 patch available
Toshiba SD-M1502 average 2X; RPC-1 patch available

HTH,
DCK21<-HAL