Optical drive and gaming performance

[Mithrandir]

I'd like to know whether you think there are certain optical drives that perform better for games that run off CD/DVDs?

Also if there's notable performance difference between IDE or SATA optical drives?

Most games I play (such as Oblivion) run off the DVD and just wondered if drives can affect the performance much.

In addition, it must be better to image the disc onto the hard drive right?

[kalniel]

Oblivion doesn't run off the DVD, it just uses it to verify your copy is legit.

The only game I've played recently that ran anything substancial off the DVD was StarCraft..

Virtually no games these days will load data from the DVD, they just use them as a verification system, hence imaging, as well as probably being illegal in most cases over here, doesn't do anything to help you

[s_kinton]

As above. The only time you would notice a difference is when you are installing the game. The optical drive usually only spins up to check that legit media is in the drive, after that it all comes off the HDD install.

[badger]

Potentially dodgy link remoted --Steve is your friend. Install, download the no CD and put the game safely back on the shelf.

Regarding IDE/SATA drives, I've just had huge problems with a couple of brand new SATA drives so I'm switching back to IDE. Having said that, if you decide you do want to buy some drop me a PM and you can have mine for a decent price.

[kalniel]

I don't recommend using no-CD cracks - bypassing copy protection is illegal in this country.

[badger]

I don't recommend using no-CD cracks - bypassing copy protection is illegal in this country.

Yes, because the police will come round and arrest you for that.

[shaithis]

I don't recommend using no-CD cracks - bypassing copy protection is illegal in this country.

Creating an unnecessary annoyance that only affects legitimate customers should also be illegal.

[badger]

Precisely. Just because it's illegal it doesn't mean it is wrong.
No CD cracks allow you to play illegal copies, but they have legitimate uses also and the positive aspects outweight the negative. It's not like the games wouldn't be cracked anyway.

[shadowmaster]

I thought 'cracks' were legal if you had a legitimate copy of the game.

Otherwise it would be a pain to keep on inserting a disk everytime someone wanted to play a particular game (especially if you have a number of pc games on your pc).

[Agent]

I thought 'cracks' were legal if you had a legitimate copy of the game.

Certainly not in the UK!

As for the OP - Most drives use the majority of identical components these days.
Quite simply, either buy a NEC or Pioneer drive and you won't have an issue.

IDE vs SATA ? No difference really as the interface isnt a limiting factor on HD's, never-mind optical ones. SATA is just easier to work with though

[shadowmaster]

Ok so cracks are illegal

What about mounting images- is that illegal as well? I am guessing it is.

[Blitzen]

Ok so cracks are illegal

What about mounting images- is that illegal as well? I am guessing it is.

I use Daemon Tools and mount mini images so there isnt a need for CD's. That way, if you own the original you can just run it.

[Agent]

Ok so cracks are illegal

What about mounting images- is that illegal as well? I am guessing it is.

Its all a grey area of UK law.

In short: In the UK you can legally make a backup of PC software, but there is also another law which says that breaking copy protection is illegal - See an issue here?
Any software with copy protection on it falls into a contradiction of legality, so to speak. Although you could argue that the people putting the copy protection on the disks are not complying with the law, as we are allowed to make a backup of software.

Either way, It needs a court case before we can be 100% sure which way it falls.

If you really want more accurate information, speak to Saracen who is far more up to date on these things that me. The above is all from memory, but it shouldn't be too hard to find out the exact bits of the law with a bit of time on Google.

[Mad-Max]

Just use nocd or a mini image which you can do yourself, most games only use the cd/dvd to check for copy protection uses :mrgreeen:

[Mithrandir]

Thanks for the replies.
I thought some games sometimes access the CD for data alongside file on the Hard drive. Im sure Ive seen the DVD drive activity light on sometimes. Oh well, even better it doesn't use the drives.

I used the imaging software before to mount an image of the CD onto the hard drive. It was quite troublesome from what I remember gave my PC a headache!