DVD Writer. Internal or External???

stockton_2

Hi All,

I am doing some modifications to my system case and I need an extra 5.5 inch bay on the front. The only way I can get it is by removing the internal DVD Writer and using it as an external drive. I do have a Sata/USB adapter so this would not be a problem.

I have read that internal DVD writers are now not fitted in some new computers as they are no longer considered essential.

Was just wondering if anyone else who no longer has an internal DVD writer has regretted not having it? I do not use the DVD writer much except when I am installing a new O/S. Would an external Writer be able to carry out all the functions of an internal Writer, especially where installing a new O/S is concerned??

Tropez

I didn't put an optical drive in my most recent build. I also have a laptop without an internal optical drive but it did come with an external optical drive. I used the external drive to install Windows 8.1 on the new build desktop (although that could have also been done with a USB flash drive) and that is the only time that external drive has been used.

I've had no need for an optical drive since.

stockton_2

Tropez wrote: »

I didn't put an optical drive in my most recent build. I also have a laptop without an internal optical drive but it did come with an external optical drive. I used the external drive to install Windows 8.1 on the new build desktop (although that could have also been done with a USB flash drive) and that is the only time that external drive has been used.

I've had no need for an optical drive since.

Thank you for that. That is what I had been hoping to hear. I really need the bay for other things; so it is coming out.

jeallen01

OTOH, you could get a bigger case with more bays - more flexible in the long term (for a long time I used an old server case - huge with many bays = 4 external 5.25" bays and more internal ones! - just fits under my desk, so I called it the Eiffel Tour!)

prowla

I'd go for the external DVD.
An alternative could be to go for physically smaller HDDs and use an adapter which allows two to fit into one bay. (I have a machine with a 2.5" SSD and a 2.5" HDD in a single 3.5" bay.)

Nilrem

You can get external DVD writers cheaply these days (often not much more than internal ones)..

I've been using an external Samsung writer for about 2 years because it's easier than using the internal ones in my machine.

Roland_Sausage

The wife and I bought new laptops recently which came without DVD drives, which didn't really bother us as we rarely use them anyway.

6 months later and I have not missed having one as most stuff gets downloaded these days, instead of being installed from disc.

As a compromise though, I did remove a working drive from an old laptop (one screw on the base holding it in) and bought one of these SATA to USB enclosures for it. So I have a working external drive in case of emergency, for under £10.

Mr_Toad

My 2011 iMac came with an internal DVD writer and I've never used it. I can see why new machines no longer have them. The same thing applies to my MacBook Pro, that's got one I've never used too.

I used to use DVD RWs to move data about but I haven't done that for years, they are slow and by today's standard hold little data.

You can buy large USB memory sticks for moving data or a 1TB external USB HDD for £50 that fits in a pocket. If it's for backups £150 gets you a 3TB NAS drive.

If you have a need for one then a portable external one is probably the way to go, they are certainly cheap enough.