CD, DVD, Blu-Ray

The optical drive is still needed for old discs with photos and movies, for installation discs, archives, and music collections. Here you will find external DVD writers with USB, compact models with USB-C, built-in devices, and Blu-ray writers for high-capacity discs.

How to choose

• External or internal. Most laptops and many cases no longer have space for an optical drive, so the external USB model is the most convenient choice. Internal devices for installation connect via SATA and are for cases with a 5.25-inch bay.
• DVD or Blu-ray. A DVD writer reads and writes CDs and DVDs and is sufficient for most needs. The Blu-ray device reads and writes discs with much larger capacity – suitable for archives and Blu-ray movies.
• Connection. USB 2.0 is more than enough for DVD speed. Models with USB-C or dual cable connect directly to new laptops.
• Size. Slim models are easy to carry in the laptop bag and are powered only by the USB port.
• Software. Some devices come with recording and playback software. Windows can record data on its own, but a convenient program saves time for video discs and music copying.

What to watch out for

• Some slim devices require two USB ports or a more powerful port to have enough power.
• To watch Blu-ray movies on your computer, you also need a program that plays them.
• Built-in devices for laptops have different sizes and connectors than those for desktop computers.
• Recorded discs are best stored in a dark and dry place.
• If you will be writing many discs, choose good quality blank media – cheap ones often cause reading errors over time.
• Writing to Blu-ray requires blank Blu-ray discs – regular DVDs are not suitable for this purpose.

Compatibility

External USB devices work with Windows, macOS, and Linux without additional drivers. Internal devices require a free 5.25-inch bay in the case and a free SATA port on the motherboard. If you are making an archive for long-term storage, consider a copy on a hard drive, as different media complement each other.