BleepingComputer.com: Need to Upgrade Cd-Rom

I'm needing to upgrade from my Cd-Rom (Dell Dimension 2350 - # HL-DT-ST CD-RWGCE-8481B) to a DVD/CD-Rom drive.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

I just recently upgraded my RAM to the max.

Given the age of this PC, I'm going to assume the CD-ROM drive is IDE not SATA. Drives are cheap these days.

LITE-ON IDE Combo Drive <<<Note: This is an OEM drive so all that comes in the package is the drive.

This post has been edited by DJBPace07: 07 December 2008 - 11:24 PM

DJBPace07, on Dec 7 2008, 10:23 PM, said:

I'm not too savy...I don't know what IDE or SATA are and when you say the drive itself is the only thing in the package....what else will I need?

I saw that drive on NewEgg but I was looking at the one below it instead.

LiteOn Retail Not OEM

Or is this one better?

LITE ON DVD+R CD+R

This post has been edited by blov10: 08 December 2008 - 11:37 AM

The first one will only read DVDs not burn them
OEM for optical drives means it comes in a box with worthless instructions and not just wrapped in bubble wrap
The last time I bought a OEM it still came with the cable. That's really all you need

garmanma, on Dec 8 2008, 03:20 PM, said:

Thanks.

If I went with the second one, that burns DVD's also, and there isn't a cable in the box...what type of cable would I need?

Thanks in advance.

A standard IDE cable should work. You should also be aware that the first one you chose does not come with DVD burning whereas the second one, and mine, does. The only real difference, hardware wise, between the one I suggested and your second one is that yours has a slightly faster burn speed. If you buy the Retail one, you get everything in the package. Purchasing, and shipping, an IDE cable could easily eat up the money you will save if you go with OEM. You can reuse the old IDE cable currently connecting the drive you are wishing to replace to your new drive.