I was going to buy a Plextor PX-716A drive, and then I ended up getting a PX-740A.
Checking the specs at http://www.plextor.be/ it would seem to me that the PX-740A can burn DVD+R discs a little faster (8× vs 6×), and that it lacks some fancy Plextor features.
Would you say that the 740 is an economy version of the 716 or what? To me it doesn't seem like there's a whole lot of difference.
Full Version: PX-716A vs PX-740A
QUOTE(NeoRenegade @ Sep 11 2005, 06:24 PM)
I was going to buy a Plextor PX-716A drive, and then I ended up getting a PX-740A.
Checking the specs at http://www.plextor.be/ it would seem to me that the PX-740A can burn DVD+R discs a little faster (8× vs 6×), and that it lacks some fancy Plextor features.
Would you say that the 740 is an economy version of the 716 or what? To me it doesn't seem like there's a whole lot of difference.
Checking the specs at http://www.plextor.be/ it would seem to me that the PX-740A can burn DVD+R discs a little faster (8× vs 6×), and that it lacks some fancy Plextor features.
Would you say that the 740 is an economy version of the 716 or what? To me it doesn't seem like there's a whole lot of difference.
the 740A is a BenQ DW1640. IMO it's a better drive than the 716A, they each have unique strengths.
The best thing about the 740A is that you can use BenQ firmware, which is not nearly as picky with media.
QUOTE(NeoRenegade @ Sep 12 2005, 02:24 AM)
Would you say that the 740 is an economy version of the 716 or what? To me it doesn't seem like there's a whole lot of difference.
Yes, from what I remember reading at the time it was intended as a more economy version of the 716, with none of the fancy GigaRec-type features (or whatever it is they're called
) for example.
Hi NeoRenegade
The main difference between the two drives that you've mentioned above is, that the PX-716A is a drive made by Plextor and that the PX-740A is a drive bought by Plextor from an other manufacturer (Benq 1640-OEM).
Regards
- Realityfreak
Edit: I guess I was a bit too slow!
The main difference between the two drives that you've mentioned above is, that the PX-716A is a drive made by Plextor and that the PX-740A is a drive bought by Plextor from an other manufacturer (Benq 1640-OEM).
Regards
- Realityfreak
Edit: I guess I was a bit too slow!
Hmm, now I'm having trouble deciding whether to keep the 740A or see about swapping it for a 716A.
I mean, from what I know, BenQ is a cheap manufacturer of many things, aren't they?
Is it really worth paying $130CDN for the BenQ when I can get the *real* Plextor for $160?
Another question... if I use the BenQ firmware on the drive, will it still fully work with Plextools?
I mean, from what I know, BenQ is a cheap manufacturer of many things, aren't they?
Is it really worth paying $130CDN for the BenQ when I can get the *real* Plextor for $160?
Another question... if I use the BenQ firmware on the drive, will it still fully work with Plextools?
I can't help you with the BenQ question, because I've never owned a BenQ drive. If you can sell it at the original or near the original price, I'd consider selling it and either buy a BenQ DW1640-OEM drive (which is cheaper than the PX-740A / 52.57 CDN here (just as an example)) or a PX-716A
I've been very satisfied with all of my Plextor devices (didn't care what manufacturer they're from) that I've owned so far, it's just that I prefer the drives manufactured by Plextor because of their functions and because it's a Plextor . I currently own a PX-716A and a PlexWriter Pemium (both Plextor drives), and I'm very happy with them and their results.
My next drive will also be a drive manufactured by Plextor.
- Realityfreak
I've been very satisfied with all of my Plextor devices (didn't care what manufacturer they're from) that I've owned so far, it's just that I prefer the drives manufactured by Plextor because of their functions and because it's a Plextor
. I currently own a PX-716A and a PlexWriter Pemium (both Plextor drives), and I'm very happy with them and their results.My next drive will also be a drive manufactured by Plextor.
- Realityfreak
The BenQ drives are amazingly robust drives, especially with +R media. There was a short period of time when there were QA issues with the 1620 drive. They are also great readers. Plextools will not work with the BenQ firmware.
Keep the PX-740A if you don't need...
The build quality isn't that different. My Plextor PX-712A failed after one year of moderate usage and the new device I received as replacement is picky with temperatures. Once the temperature inside my chassis reaches 50 °C, it will stop reading CDs (DVDs work fine however - no idea why; my damaged unit also had problems with reading CDs and everything else was fine). The only thing I love about Plextor is their service. My e-mails were replied to within a few hours and the whole RMA process was smoother than a baby's arse. It took only two days for the DHL guy to deliver the new unit and Plextor didn't even want to have my old unit back.
- GigaRec
- CD and DVD scanning (C1, C2...)
- Overreading Lead-In / Lead-Out
The build quality isn't that different. My Plextor PX-712A failed after one year of moderate usage and the new device I received as replacement is picky with temperatures. Once the temperature inside my chassis reaches 50 °C, it will stop reading CDs (DVDs work fine however - no idea why; my damaged unit also had problems with reading CDs and everything else was fine). The only thing I love about Plextor is their service. My e-mails were replied to within a few hours and the whole RMA process was smoother than a baby's arse. It took only two days for the DHL guy to deliver the new unit and Plextor didn't even want to have my old unit back.
Isn't BenQ just The-Manufacturer-Formerly-Known-As-Acer™?
Something like that, though there are still products being released under the Acer banner as well.
When you can find the BenQ 1640 for about $40 (see Newegg), I say the choice between Plextor and BenQ is clear.
When you can find the BenQ 1640 for about $40 (see Newegg), I say the choice between Plextor and BenQ is clear.
Dammit, I bought a PX-740A like three weeks ago. Should I be concerned? Is this drive any less reliable than "real" Plextor drives?
I was actually looking for a 716A, but the vendor said this was the new model which burned DVD+Rs a little bit faster.
I assumed it was an evolution, and wasn't missing all mentioned features
EDIT: I just remembered I used to have a BenQ standalone DVD, which died after 3 months of moderate usage. Now I'm worried
I was actually looking for a 716A, but the vendor said this was the new model which burned DVD+Rs a little bit faster.
I assumed it was an evolution, and wasn't missing all mentioned features
EDIT: I just remembered I used to have a BenQ standalone DVD, which died after 3 months of moderate usage. Now I'm worried
Except for a a few QA issues around 12/05 the BenQ drives are damn good.
QUOTE(Sebastian Mares @ Sep 11 2005, 10:10 PM)
Keep the PX-740A if you don't need...
The build quality isn't that different. My Plextor PX-712A failed after one year of moderate usage and the new device I received as replacement is picky with temperatures. Once the temperature inside my chassis reaches 50 °C, it will stop reading CDs (DVDs work fine however - no idea why; my damaged unit also had problems with reading CDs and everything else was fine). The only thing I love about Plextor is their service. My e-mails were replied to within a few hours and the whole RMA process was smoother than a baby's arse. It took only two days for the DHL guy to deliver the new unit and Plextor didn't even want to have my old unit back.
- GigaRec
- CD and DVD scanning (C1, C2...)
- Overreading Lead-In / Lead-Out
The build quality isn't that different. My Plextor PX-712A failed after one year of moderate usage and the new device I received as replacement is picky with temperatures. Once the temperature inside my chassis reaches 50 °C, it will stop reading CDs (DVDs work fine however - no idea why; my damaged unit also had problems with reading CDs and everything else was fine). The only thing I love about Plextor is their service. My e-mails were replied to within a few hours and the whole RMA process was smoother than a baby's arse. It took only two days for the DHL guy to deliver the new unit and Plextor didn't even want to have my old unit back.
The BenQ drive does excellent scanning & reporting of C1, C2.
I'd take the 740A over the 716A any day, it's just a better drive. My BenQ DW1640 burns incredibly well (of course I only feed it quality media
) and generally better than the Plextor 716 scans I've seen on cdfreaks.com forums...It's kinda insane to pay Plextor prices when u don't have to, tho. anitec.ca sells it for CDN$49, and newegg sells it for US$39
EDIT: http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=134784
(everybody's a perfectionist on cdfreaks, every manufacturer gets complaints, but the 716 seems even worse than Liteon for RMAs)
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