Optical Disc Drive owners club

[AusWolf]

I'd simply assumed that quality-made drives don't exist anymore, so settled for buying ex-OEM system drives in eBay lots for cheap. Most have little to no use, and for USD5/ea., it hardly matters if they don't hold up.

My Pioneer BDR-XD05 has held up pretty nicely. Its successor, the XD07TS is still available at Amazon, albeit a bit expensive.

 

[80-watt Hamster]

My Pioneer BDR-XD05 has held up pretty nicely. Its successor, the XD07TS is still available at Amazon, albeit a bit expensive.

Yeah, all of Pioneer's BR drives are. On the internal side, apparently they launched the BDR-213JBK last year, but only in Japan. It's for sale on eBay, though. The 212DBK is still available at a few places in the US, but is also not cheap. I've shopped BRs a few times over the last few years, but don't really have a use case that DVD doesn't cover.

EDIT: spelling

 

[nomdeplume]

If you have a 12th gen Intel processor Pioneer advises not buying one of their current BDR models. Have yet to look into whether this specific set of issues exists within 13th gen models on new architecture.

Just a heads up.

 

[AusWolf]

If you have a 12th gen Intel processor Pioneer advises not buying one of their current BDR models. Have yet to look into whether this specific set of issues exists within 13th gen models on new architecture.

Just a heads up.

Why is that?

 

[Veseleil]

Pardon me, but what the CPU model has to do with CD drive compatibility? Doesn't make any damn sense to me.

 

[Gumby]

So this is what I use my Blu-ray drives for.....
Modded for 4K use

 

[neatfeatguy]

Pardon me, but what the CPU model has to do with CD drive compatibility? Doesn't make any damn sense to me.

I think there was a posting some where on TPU (news or general topic someone made a while back about this):

New Intel chips won't play Blu-ray disks due to SGX deprecation

Intel has removed support for SGX (software guard extension) in 12th Generation Intel Core 11000 and 12000 processors, rendering modern PCs unable to playback Blu-ray disks in 4K resolution.

www.bleepingcomputer.com

I'm not sure if the issue was resolved/fixed or not since I never looked into it.

 

[AusWolf]

I think there was a posting some where on TPU (news or general topic someone made a while back about this):

New Intel chips won't play Blu-ray disks due to SGX deprecation

Intel has removed support for SGX (software guard extension) in 12th Generation Intel Core 11000 and 12000 processors, rendering modern PCs unable to playback Blu-ray disks in 4K resolution.

www.bleepingcomputer.com

I'm not sure if the issue was resolved/fixed or not since I never looked into it.

It says SGX is a feature Intel introduced in Skylake... what about AMD?

 

[neatfeatguy]

It says SGX is a feature Intel introduced in Skylake... what about AMD?

I never looked into it before since I don't have any UHD bluray discs. After doing a quick search it doesn't appear that AMD supports anything like SGX so you're basically SOL if you want to try and physically play an UHD bluray on your PC if you're running AMD or any Intel CPU of the 12th gen or later. Watching normal bluray movies works just fine on any system as long as you have a program that'll play bluray discs; I make use of Cyberlink PowerDVD to watch bluray discs on my computer.

I guess if you really wanted to be able to watch UHD on your PC you'd need at least a bluray drive and copy it to your computer. I use MakeMKV (it's free to use while it's in beta - I'm not sure when/if it'll come out of beta) and then Handbrake to covert it to .mp4/.m4v to be able to run it off my plex server.

A bluray movie is usually around 24GB; putting it through handbrake can bring them down to about 1/4th or 1/5th the size depending on settings you use (I use the HQ 1080p preset for bluray movies and then I set the Encoder Preset to VerySlow. It usually takes around 1-1.5 hours at this speed to put a bluray movie through Handbrake with my 5900X). I just ripped a bluray movie last night, the .mkv file was around 27GB, the .m4v file is around 6.5GB

Looks like an UHD movie can take upwards of 45GB. If transcoding it through handbrake brings it down at least 1/4th the size then you're looking at around 11-12GB.

I guess it depends on how much space you have for data storage. You could leave the file in .mkv format or take the time to compress it through handbrake. Since Plex isn't setup to read .mkv files so I have to convert them to .mp4/m4v. I've got just shy of 1000 movies and 35 complete TV series all taking up around 4TB of space. If they were left in .mkv format I would need around 16TB of space.

If you want to use MakeMKV you can find it here: https://makemkv.com/
Here's a direct link to the free temporary registration key while it's in beta (the key usually lasts 2-3 months, then you'll have to come back to this link and get the updated key): https://forum.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1053

 

[AusWolf]

I never looked into it before since I don't have any UHD bluray discs. After doing a quick search it doesn't appear that AMD supports anything like SGX so you're basically SOL if you want to try and physically play an UHD bluray on your PC if you're running AMD or any Intel CPU of the 12th gen or later. Watching normal bluray movies works just fine on any system as long as you have a program that'll play bluray discs; I make use of Cyberlink PowerDVD to watch bluray discs on my computer.

I guess if you really wanted to be able to watch UHD on your PC you'd need at least a bluray drive and copy it to your computer. I use MakeMKV (it's free to use while it's in beta - I'm not sure when/if it'll come out of beta) and then Handbrake to covert it to .mp4/.m4v to be able to run it off my plex server.

A bluray movie is usually around 24GB; putting it through handbrake can bring them down to about 1/4th or 1/5th the size depending on settings you use (I use the HQ 1080p preset for bluray movies and then I set the Encoder Preset to VerySlow. It usually takes around 1-1.5 hours at this speed to put a bluray movie through Handbrake with my 5900X). I just ripped a bluray movie last night, the .mkv file was around 27GB, the .m4v file is around 6.5GB

Looks like an UHD movie can take upwards of 45GB. If transcoding it through handbrake brings it down at least 1/4th the size then you're looking at around 11-12GB.

I guess it depends on how much space you have for data storage. You could leave the file in .mkv format or take the time to compress it through handbrake. Since Plex isn't setup to read .mkv files so I have to convert them to .mp4/m4v. I've got just shy of 1000 movies and 35 complete TV series all taking up around 4TB of space. If they were left in .mkv format I would need around 16TB of space.

If you want to use MakeMKV you can find it here: https://makemkv.com/
Here's a direct link to the free temporary registration key while it's in beta (the key usually lasts 2-3 months, then you'll have to come back to this link and get the updated key): https://forum.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1053

I don't have any UHD discs (yet), but thanks for the detailed info!

I didn't know about MakeMKV, but it sounds like something that I might find useful in the future. I also didn't know that UHD discs needed SGX while normal (FullHD) BR doesn't.

 

[Vario]

I recently purchased an Asus BW-16D1HT so I can play some Blu Rays. Might buy the OWC Mercury enclosure for it.

 

[R-T-B]

It says SGX is a feature Intel introduced in Skylake... what about AMD?

Doesn't exist AMD side.

 

[80-watt Hamster]

I recently purchased an Asus BW-16D1HT so I can play some Blu Rays. Might buy the OWC Mercury enclosure for it.

Ooh, didn't know about the Mercury Pro; thanks for the tip. Just bought me one!

 

[AusWolf]

Doesn't exist AMD side.

Does that mean there's no way to play UHD BR discs on an AMD system like @neatfeatguy said?

 

[R-T-B]

Does that mean there's no way to play UHD BR discs on an AMD system like @neatfeatguy said?

You can play them with firmware hacks, but officially? No. It's a rather pathetic piracy-encouraging situation.

 

[Vario]

I never looked into it before since I don't have any UHD bluray discs. After doing a quick search it doesn't appear that AMD supports anything like SGX so you're basically SOL if you want to try and physically play an UHD bluray on your PC if you're running AMD or any Intel CPU of the 12th gen or later. Watching normal bluray movies works just fine on any system as long as you have a program that'll play bluray discs; I make use of Cyberlink PowerDVD to watch bluray discs on my computer.

I guess if you really wanted to be able to watch UHD on your PC you'd need at least a bluray drive and copy it to your computer. I use MakeMKV (it's free to use while it's in beta - I'm not sure when/if it'll come out of beta) and then Handbrake to covert it to .mp4/.m4v to be able to run it off my plex server.

A bluray movie is usually around 24GB; putting it through handbrake can bring them down to about 1/4th or 1/5th the size depending on settings you use (I use the HQ 1080p preset for bluray movies and then I set the Encoder Preset to VerySlow. It usually takes around 1-1.5 hours at this speed to put a bluray movie through Handbrake with my 5900X). I just ripped a bluray movie last night, the .mkv file was around 27GB, the .m4v file is around 6.5GB

Looks like an UHD movie can take upwards of 45GB. If transcoding it through handbrake brings it down at least 1/4th the size then you're looking at around 11-12GB.

I guess it depends on how much space you have for data storage. You could leave the file in .mkv format or take the time to compress it through handbrake. Since Plex isn't setup to read .mkv files so I have to convert them to .mp4/m4v. I've got just shy of 1000 movies and 35 complete TV series all taking up around 4TB of space. If they were left in .mkv format I would need around 16TB of space.

If you want to use MakeMKV you can find it here: https://makemkv.com/
Here's a direct link to the free temporary registration key while it's in beta (the key usually lasts 2-3 months, then you'll have to come back to this link and get the updated key): https://forum.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1053

Good info. I was thinking MakeMKV is the way to go for myself once I get my drive. Got tired of some of the more interesting shows expiring from streaming platforms and then being unobtainable, would like to have physical copies.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Does that mean there's no way to play UHD BR discs on an AMD system like @neatfeatguy said?

No, it just means that the processing in question with have to be done in software instead of having a hardware solution.

 

[nomdeplume]

Thank you @neatfeatguy for stepping in with a very complete response.

BD is certainly being pushed away from the PC environment.

 

[lexluthermiester]

BD is certainly being pushed away from the PC environment.

Correction, optical is being pushed away from the PC environment. Short sighted non-sense in my opinion.

 

[AusWolf]

Correction, optical is being pushed away from the PC environment. Short sighted non-sense in my opinion.

Or a deliberate attempt to make you dependent on your internet connection and whatever (garbage) streaming services offer.

 

[ThrashZone]

I never looked into it before since I don't have any UHD bluray discs. After doing a quick search it doesn't appear that AMD supports anything like SGX so you're basically SOL if you want to try and physically play an UHD bluray on your PC if you're running AMD or any Intel CPU of the 12th gen or later. Watching normal bluray movies works just fine on any system as long as you have a program that'll play bluray discs; I make use of Cyberlink PowerDVD to watch bluray discs on my computer.

I guess if you really wanted to be able to watch UHD on your PC you'd need at least a bluray drive and copy it to your computer. I use MakeMKV (it's free to use while it's in beta - I'm not sure when/if it'll come out of beta) and then Handbrake to covert it to .mp4/.m4v to be able to run it off my plex server.

A bluray movie is usually around 24GB; putting it through handbrake can bring them down to about 1/4th or 1/5th the size depending on settings you use (I use the HQ 1080p preset for bluray movies and then I set the Encoder Preset to VerySlow. It usually takes around 1-1.5 hours at this speed to put a bluray movie through Handbrake with my 5900X). I just ripped a bluray movie last night, the .mkv file was around 27GB, the .m4v file is around 6.5GB

Looks like an UHD movie can take upwards of 45GB. If transcoding it through handbrake brings it down at least 1/4th the size then you're looking at around 11-12GB.

I guess it depends on how much space you have for data storage. You could leave the file in .mkv format or take the time to compress it through handbrake. Since Plex isn't setup to read .mkv files so I have to convert them to .mp4/m4v. I've got just shy of 1000 movies and 35 complete TV series all taking up around 4TB of space. If they were left in .mkv format I would need around 16TB of space.

If you want to use MakeMKV you can find it here: https://makemkv.com/
Here's a direct link to the free temporary registration key while it's in beta (the key usually lasts 2-3 months, then you'll have to come back to this link and get the updated key): https://forum.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1053

Hi,
Wow great info man
I was just thinking of trying makemkv on a at least a couple dvd's I can't find decent downloads for
I'm at about half the movies and only 6 tv series that interest me

I was going to try old MS movie maker and see if it can read mkv files and save to mp4
But then again just using obs studio to record the playing mkv might be the easiest way to get a good quality mp4 and get a smaller files size.

 

[neatfeatguy]

Hi,
Wow great info man
I was just thinking of trying makemkv on a at least a couple dvd's I can't find decent downloads for
I'm at about half the movies and only 6 tv series that interest me

I was going to try old MS movie maker and see if it can read mkv files and save to mp4
But then again just using obs studio to record the playing mkv might be the easiest way to get a good quality mp4 and get a smaller files size.

I think VLC can be used to convert .mkv to .mp4, but I never tried it myself.

 

[ThrashZone]

I think VLC can be used to convert .mkv to .mp4, but I never tried it myself.

Hi,
I have obs studio tuned pretty good as a last resort
I'll have ghetto mod my cd/dvd burners back on at least one build seeing I removed them all to add another 2.5" ssd/ hdd twin hot swap bay :/

 

[nomdeplume]

Correction, optical is being pushed away from the PC environment. Short sighted non-sense in my opinion.

To whatever extent that view has merit. It is not directly related to the deliberate wall separating BD from the PC environment. A CD or DVD will still play and hardware support is not being altered. That is true for both PC and home theater equipment.

You are missing the fine point being made.

Or a deliberate attempt to make you dependent on your internet connection and whatever (garbage) streaming services offer.

As an act of user moderation I'll suggest agreement in full as well as the idea this veers into off topic. However deeply related and lamentable.

What is apparent and worthwhile should be the regional variance in continued development and refinement of optical drives. There is a deeper comment to be made on handling acts of advancement by constantly requiring new technology purchases or giving qualitive ones a very long and rich lifespan that layers into the larger scheme of enjoyable uninterrupted usage. By sticking within the lines here.

 

[AusWolf]

As an act of user moderation I'll suggest agreement in full as well as the idea this veers into off topic. However deeply related and lamentable.

It'sjust a thought with no intention to start a conversation along that route.