help - want a internal DVD-rom for dell dimension 5100

pre-reg

Hi all,

I have a dell dimension 5100 with a double layer DVD rewriter already fitted. I want to ADD a second dvd drive so that if i am copying DVD`s i dont have to keep swapping. Wondering if anyone could help

1. Which is a good internal DVD drive? it has to be black to match the computer.

2. I am prepared to spend upto £40 is it better to go for a DVD rewriter even though i already have one?

3. DO i need another cable? or is there one in the computer?

4. I already have roxio easy media creator. Shall i go for a OEM or retail? what about the fittings e.g screws that need to go with the drive?

I appreciate all the help. I have never fitted a DVD drive drive and dont want to break it even before i fit it!!!

Many thanks

gizmoleeds

Doesn't look like anyone knows I'm afraid.

As some general advice, https://www.dabs.com and https://www.maplin.co.uk are good places for looking for a DVD drive (and all other PC stuff for that matter). A lot of other MSE-ers use https://www.ebuyer.com too (although I have no experience of them).

If you open up the PC then you can see the cables which connect your current DVD-drive to the motherboard. Have a look and see if the biggest one has a spare plug on it (it will be a long thin wire, often with plugs in the middle as well as on the ends). There are only two wires which need to be connected - that one and the one from the power supply (which is about 3/8" x 1" and has four pins in a row).

I wouldn't bother getting a DVD-writer, as you have one and I can't envisage any situation where you would need to use two at once.

pre-reg

thanks gizmoleeds...SVP seem to have a decent Lite-on DVD rom in black which i will probably go for... its the £18.99 one at the bottom of the page


http://www.blankdiscshop.co.uk/acatalog/drivescddvd.html

tosh

Pre-reg

Make sure you install the faster drive at the end of the cable See Here.
Your new DVD-ROM will probably be faster than the re-writer. Setting them to slave/master probably doesn't matter - they all seem to come preset to line-select nowadays.

(Screws and stuff should be included with the drive and you use these to attach the Dell drive mounts which are inside your computer case. - check the user guide.)

Also check BIOS settings under SATA drivers. There should be an entry for Primary IDE channel - Slave. Make sure this is enabled or your drive will only operate at very slow speed.

Dude

I am slightly confused, according to Dells site the 5100 is a laptop? See here http://support.euro.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1089268&l=en&langid=1&c=uk&cs=UKDHS1&s=dhs So are we talking about a laptop or desktop?

If it is a desktop have a look at the review here http://www.pcpro.co.uk/labs/77651/plextor-px740a.html

gizmoleeds

Dude wrote:

I am slightly confused, according to Dells site the 5100 is a laptop? See here http://support.euro.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1089268&l=en&langid=1&c=uk&cs=UKDHS1&s=dhs So are we talking about a laptop or desktop?

I presume as the OP is looking at ordinary internal DVD drives that Dell used to use this number for a desktop.

pre-reg

the 5100 was a desktop that replaced the dimension 5000. Thanks

pre-reg

sorry here is the link

http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim5100/en/sm/about0.htm#wp1074027