Although blu-ray burners have become more popular, there are still several good DVD burners to choose from. Consider if you want an internal or external drive, look at the form factors available, and pick the best load type for your setup. Technical aspects like burn speed, cache size, and ROM access time are also important so take a look at those numbers and pick the fastest, most efficient model you can. Other considerations like the interface type and manufacturer are also important, and ultimately you just want to find the right combination of each element to fit your needs.
Internal vs External
This is probably the single most important decision as you look at different models on the market.
Internal devices are installed inside your computer and connect directly to your motherboard. These are usually the fastest models on the market, thanks to the direct connection and stability, but you cannot easily swap them between computers. External DVD burners can easily be unplugged from one system and connected to another, but they are also usually slower than internal devices.
If you value speed above all other considerations and only need to use your burner with one system, then pick an internal model. On the other hand, pick an external device if you want to be able to swap your burner between different computers or devices and you do not mind having another device in your work area.
Interface Type
The interface is the type of port that physically connects your DVD burner to your computer. Internal devices usually have SATA connections, though you might find a few that use USB ports instead. External DVD burners typically have USB connections, but some have eSATA connections. As you look at external devices, check out the USB version supported by a drive to ensure fast connection and data transfer rates. USB 2.0 is the bare minimum you should accept, with USB 3.0 being preferable.
Burn Speed
Burn speed indicates the maximum speed at which a burner can write data to a physical disc. In general, you will usually find that internal devices can burn faster than external models, so keep that in mind.
When picking an internal DVD burner, you should look for a model with a maximum speed of 24X, which is pretty standard at this point. While you might see slower models available, there is no reason to pick one over a burner with faster performance. You can find external devices that burn at up to 24X, though slower models are a bit more common in external models and are usually less expensive.
Form Factor (Physical Size)
As DVD technology has improved, the hardware involved has also become much smaller, creating opportunities for slim designs. Full drives are larger, taking up a 5.25-inch slot in a computer case, and external models are about the same size. Conversely, slim designs are narrow and take up less room within a computer case or outside of it when deployed in your work area.
This choice comes down to the space you have available either inside your system or on your desktop, but make sure you have the room and proper mounting available for any internal device you choose.
Cache Size
The cache in a DVD burner refers to memory present in the device used to temporarily save data before burning it to a disc or accessing it by your computer. The more memory you have in the burner’s cache, the smoother data can flow between the burner and your system. For both internal and external burners, you want at least 1MB of cache memory, but 2MB is preferable and not particularly hard to find.
ROM Access Time
The ROM access time of a DVD burner indicates how quickly your system can read data from a disc and access it. Faster speeds mean lower times, so you want to look for a burner with the lowest time you can find. Anything around 150ms is quite good, and below that is what you want to look for. 145ms is great for both internal and external devices but look for an access time of around 130ms for the best read speed possible.
Load Type
There are a few different load types you are likely to see, and personal preference will play a big part in which one you choose.
Slot Loading
Slot loading burners simply have a thin opening you insert the DVD into, while tray-loading drives eject a tray that you place the disc in, and then the tray retracts into the burner. Slot types have fewer moving parts to worry about but are somewhat rarer.
Tray Loading
Tray-loading burners can be problematic as they tend to cause the tray mechanism to stop moving in and out after years of use. Plus, you need to be sure you have room for the tray to come out from the front of your system.
Top Loading
External burners can also have a top-loading design where the top opens up and you place the disc inside the device. These models are less likely to have physical issues compared to the tray-loading ones, but the top can break off if you are not careful and you have to be sure you have room for it to open on your desktop or work area.
You are probably best off choosing a model based on write speed and performance, but make sure you have room to utilize whatever load types you choose.
Manufacturer and Warranty
Be sure to choose a reliable manufacturer that provides an excellent warranty to cover your investment in a DVD burner. As these have become niche products, the range of manufacturers has shrunk, but there are still some good companies producing them. Look for manufacturers like ASUS, LG, and HP to be sure you end up with a burner that can handle hundreds or thousands of hours of use. A one-year warranty on these devices is pretty standard, but you should not accept anything less than that.