Comparing CD-RW, DVD, and Blu-ray Drives
Buying an optical drive for your computer is no straight-forward task with the vast range of options available when it comes to the types of disc, it can read as well as the types it can write. There are three basic forms of optical storage used in computers—compact discs (CDs), digital versatile discs (DVDs), and Blu-rays—with optical drives from companies, such as BenQ, that can read or write various combinations of these. Knowing which drive is right for you requires a basic understanding of the different disc formats and their application.
What Is a CD-RW?
CD-RW stands for Compact Disc-Rewritable and is a digital optical disc storage format that can write and read multiple times. Introduced in 1997, they aren't compatible with CD readers introduced before then, although drives labeled as "MultiRead" are able to decipher them.
- You can use CD-RWs for the temporary storage of files or as backing up discs, as well as when you need to transfer data from offline to online or vice versa.
- A CD-RW needs to be blank before you can write data onto it, with the option to fully blank the disc or partially blank its metadata in what some refer to as "fast" blanking.
- Most standard CD drives can support the reading and writing of CDs as well as the reading but not writing of digital versatile discs.
What Is the Difference Between a DVD and Blu-ray Drive?
While DVDs and Blu-rays may look very similar, yet they differ significantly when it comes to storage capacity, image resolution, and compatibility. They use a different laser technology to operate, and the discs are physically different in their construction.
- A standard DVD player does not play a Blu-ray discs since its red laser is too large to read the small grooves in a Blu-ray.
- Blu-ray players are backwards-compatible to read digital versatile discs (DVDs), although the image displayed is not as clear as a Blu-ray disc.
What Should You Look for When Buying CD-RW, DVD, and Blu-ray Drives?
When buying a drive for your computer, there are various options available depending on whether you want to be able to read or write CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs.
- Blu-ray drives typically come in three types—readers, which can read any of the formats; combo drives, which can read Blu-ray discs while reading and writing CDs and DVDs; and burners that can read and write all three formats.
- Most optical drives contain a rating figure that refers to the maximum speed it can operate when compared to the original CD, DVD, or Blu-ray standards.