I need a dvd drive for my computer. The only thing is I don't know how to pick one. Where can I figure out the compatibility of my computer to the drive (space, interface requirements). I;m thinking about getting this one ->http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8197863&productCategoryId=abcat0504007&type=product&tab=1&id=1165609038260#productdetail, and i have a dell dimension 4500 w/ a free bay. gracias

1/10/2008 3:08:11 PM

If you can't open your computer up and tell what you can plug in there and what you can't, then you probably should be asking best buy to do it for you at a premium. Otherwise you're going to be making a thread here in a week on how to install this shit and you'll get laughed at.

1/10/2008 3:10:00 PM

thanks stankinmonkeyass, all i need to know is if its compatible...i can figure out how to get it in...i installed my own memory after i figured out which one to get

1/10/2008 3:21:10 PM

so you want us to look up the model of your computer on the internet and find out by simple guessing how you configured your computer (assuming you know how to do that) and then let you know if it's compatible?











yea ok



20/hr and i'll do it for you

1/10/2008 3:30:16 PM

Do you have any SATA slots free? If so get a SATA 20x burner. They're only like 30-40$ and it'll allow you to get rid of that ugly IDE cable (unless you've got an ancient comptuer with IDE HDs).

1/10/2008 3:42:59 PM

if you read my question, it states where can i figure out...theres a website i went to to figure out what types of slots i needed for my memory card...based on this site http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=313-4664&cs=04&c=us&l=en&dgc=SS&cid=25747&lid=585573 i figure it has a 5.25" bay and SATA. tx neo. so now i just have to search for the right drive.

1/10/2008 3:53:41 PM

Something like this then?:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118002

1/10/2008 4:07:50 PM

good find, tx

1/10/2008 4:45:22 PM

Hold your horses for a minute, there. You said a Dimension 4500? I really don't think that is going to have onboard SATA. That's, what,a 4 year-old machine? Highly unlikely. Either crack open the case and find out (yes, kind of irritating on the clamshell-case Dells, but simple enough) or go with an IDE model. You're not going to gain anything on a machine of that vintage from going with a SATA drive, even in the unlikely event that it does support it.

Which I'm pretty sure it doesn't. I'm typing this on a Dimension 4400 BTW.

1/10/2008 5:22:37 PM

I've got a Dimension 4600, and no SATA. So I doubt the earlier model has it.

1/10/2008 5:33:22 PM

yeah, yall are right, it is an IDE. I just got it in from newegg. I'm hoping to get the audio, configuration jumper, IDE, and DC input cables tommorrow. a question though: do I need an audio cable?

1/16/2008 9:55:55 PM

no, you don't need an audio cable, everything's digital now...

the power cable comes from your power supply, you don't need a "dc input cable"

the drive should come with a jumper on it

the big drive bays on a case are 5.25", the smaller ones are 3.5"

IDE: big flat ribbon cable

SATA: small 1/2" wide cable

1/16/2008 10:45:35 PM

since i have a cd-rw, could I just disconnect it and use its cables on the dvd burner?

1/17/2008 9:10:43 AM

yes

1/17/2008 1:19:40 PM

you could even keep the cdrw installed

IDE cables have 2 connectors on the distal end

configure 1 drive as master, 1 as slave

voila

1/17/2008 3:17:29 PM

YES! I did it!

1/18/2008 9:00:36 PM

and thanks for all the help

1/18/2008 9:03:13 PM

Quote :

"Do not consecutively reply to a topic - If you are within the alloted timespan for editing a message that no one has replied to and you think of something to add, EDIT the message. DO NOT REPLY AGAIN. Constant abuse of this will not be tolerated."

1/18/2008 9:21:05 PM