Best quality DVD-/+R discs out there? Need for archiving

[Marcos]

I did read the other thread in the bargains section but would like a new thread with less clutter and more opinions/links.

I'll start off by asking what you think of Hyundai?

http://www.bigpockets.co.uk/product....2f58fc29cf213a



I need discs that are good for some years

[islasian]

Never used Hyundai?.....

I've always used TDK(from CD-R to DVD-/+R/RW). They've never failed me. If you really want some durability, use the Armor Plated DVD by TDK...

http://www.tdk.com/recmedia/dvd/

[Marcos]

Is Traxdata one of the main good quality ones?

http://www.bigpockets.co.uk/product....2f58fc29cf213a

I'll check out that armor plated, sounds good

[Rave]

For archiving, I'd get an MCC003 or MCC004 disc (Verbatims should be good) and burn them at half their rated speed (4x for 003, 8x for 004). Then do an error scan just to make sure it's a good burn, before storing them somewhere dark, dry and safe.

DVDs which cost £7.49 for 50 (15p a disc) are unlikely to be top notch quality

[Marcos]

For archiving, I'd get an MCC003 or MCC004 disc (Verbatims should be good) and burn them at half their rated speed (4x for 003, 8x for 004). Then do an error scan just to make sure it's a good burn, before storing them somewhere dark, dry and safe.

DVDs which cost £7.49 for 50 (15p a disc) are unlikely to be top notch quality

how do i error scan?

Also, is MCC003 a dye code? If so, this verbatims dont have that dye:

http://www.bigpockets.co.uk/product....2f58fc29cf213a

Is that more along the right price?

Sorry for all the questions , just want to get this right so i can stop buying the wrong stuff

[nvening]

do you have Nero? If you do u can select it just befor you press burn, under the writing speed.

[islasian]

I'll check out that armor plated, sounds good

Here's a link to one of the reviews for this Armor Plated DVD...

http://www.pcauthority.com.au/review...=1447&CatID=90

It was a simple straight to the point review. There are more, but you get the picture of how durable these are

[Rave]

how do i error scan?

well you need a DVD drive that supports P0/PI error reporting. I bought a Lite-On DVD-Rom just for that since my NEC 3500 doesn't support error reporting. Then you can use Nero DriveSpeed, DVD InfoPro or (for Lite-On drives) KProbe to run a scan. It reports the number of errors on the disc.

Also, is MCC003 a dye code?

Yeah, stands for Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, 003 and 004 are their +R discs.

If so, this verbatims dont have that dye:

http://www.bigpockets.co.uk/product....2f58fc29cf213a

Mitsubishi own the Verbatim brand, so it puzzles me a bit why some of them are CMC- perhaps they own them too, I don't know. Anyway it matters not, because MCC and CMC make some of the best discs around. Taiyo Yuden also have a superb reputation- beware though, there are a lot of fake TY discs around, buy with caution! Real ones tend to be pretty expensive, like maybe 50p a disc.

Is that more along the right price?

Yeah that's a fair price for Verbatim discs.

[Marcos]

Thanks for the help

It doesnt say anything about how long those armor discs last though, as in, shelf life etc, if i burn them now will they still be good in 5 years? Thats what im most worried about

[arthurleung]

Taiyo Yuden discs are best quality. But they are very costly here (like twice~triple of USA). SVP carries them

MMC03 is pretty good too. But I heard MMC04 does not burn well at 8x.

[Marcos]

I dont mind about speed, 4x would do me well as long as they are reliable and last a long time unattended

[islasian]

Thanks for the help

It doesnt say anything about how long those armor discs last though, as in, shelf life etc, if i burn them now will they still be good in 5 years? Thats what im most worried about

I still have a TDK CD-R that I burned back in '99.. still going strong, so if that's saying anything for their other media (DVD).. you should be okay, this is a fairly new DVD style they have with the armor coating, but I'm sure the quality is still the same if not better for archiving your movies... as long as you keep them out of the sunlight, you should be okay....
You'ld have to basically google some info on DVD shelf life....

[Marcos]

I still have a TDK CD-R that I burned back in '99.. still going strong, so if that's saying anything for their other media (DVD).. you should be okay, this is a fairly new DVD style they have with the armor coating, but I'm sure the quality is still the same if not better for archiving your movies... as long as you keep them out of the sunlight, you should be okay....
You'ld have to basically google some info on DVD shelf life....

Well thats just it you see, I think CDRs are solid, i have old ones that work perfect, survive drops etc. But DVDs are so WEAK , you just look at one funny and its corrupted, just want some decent, solid DVD-Rs, why are DVDs so weak?

[islasian]

... But DVDs are so WEAK , you just look at one funny and its corrupted....

.. I will have to try that when I get home... never knew that could happen .....lol....

I don't think DVDs are weak... I have some home movies(almost 2/yrs old now) I've archived to DVD and they are still going strong, my kids use to watch it on a weekly basis for the first 3 months... ...

I've always gone with major brand when I want something to last, and that's the reason I've been sticking with TDK media... I've tried Memorex, Maxell... etc.... didn't really like those, so I never buy them anymore...

Good luck with finding the correct media for your archives..

[Marcos]

I'll try Verbatim next, if that doesnt work i'll try TDK

Also, this is my nero burn menu:



No error check?

[Rave]

No error check?

No, you error check them after you've burned them, it's a completely seperate process. Like I say you need a drive capable of reporting errors- the only burners I know for sure will do them are Lite-On and Benq; presumably Sony drives are fine too since they're made by Lite-On.

As for discs degrading, I too have not noticed DVDRs are more fragile than CDRs, although I've only had a burner for a few months. I reckon (but can't guarantee) that if you store any decent disc properly, so it doesn't get scratched, doesn't get damp and isn't exposed to light, it'll last for a good long time (like 5+ years).