LG Electronics GSA-5163D External 16X Super-Multi Triple Format DVD Writer

by LG

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 2.1 inches ; 3.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 5.5 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0007VBQ5A
• Item model number: GSA-5163D
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #107,182 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 21, 2005

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The GSA-5163D Super-Multi triple-format external DVD drive from LG Electronics gives you an incredible 16x maximum DVD burn speed and 5x DVD-RAM writing. And you'll never have to worry about compatibility, since this drive is compatible with all DVD formats: DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM. What's more, it also supports dual-layer DVD+R (8.5 GB) and has one USB 2.0 port and a pair of IEEE 1394/FireWire ports.

Now you can store almost 4 hours of video, hundreds of MP3 files, and gigs of original music, photos, or data, and burning your media will be faster and easier than before. The recorder also performs burns on rewritable media at 8x for DVD+RW and 6x for DVD-RW and up to 40x for CD-R and 24x for CD-RW. With the DVD "plus" format, you'll enjoy full compatibility with most DVD-Video players and DVD-ROM drives.

DVD+RW discs require no finalizing: you can record, eject, and play them with minimal fuss, thanks to "background formatting." This feature, which lowers total burning time, is an advantage over the "dash" formats. Other DVD+RW advantages include on-disc content editing and multisession writing. It's perfect for making your own DVD movies and transferring home videotapes to DVD.

The GSA-5163D's 2 MB buffer uses SuperLink buffer-underrun error protection to ensure accurate burns every time. Supplied software consists of Ahead's Nero Express (CD/DVD recording software), Nero BackItUp (back-up software), Ahead's InCD (UDF packet-writing software), Cyberlink PowerProducer Gold2 (DVD authoring tool), and Cyberlink PowerDVD (DVD playback software). Burn fast, burn right with the LG GSA-5163D.

What's in the Box
DVD drive, software CDs, a USB 2.0 cable, an IEEE 1394 (6-pin-to-4-pin) cable, a user's manual, an AC power adapter, and warranty information.

Product Description

This LG GSA-5163D Double Layer drive can burn a variety of DVD and CD media fast and easy! It can write to DVDR discs at 16x,DVD+R Double Layer discs at 4x.It rewrites to DVD+RW at 8x speeds,DVD-RW discs at 6x, burn DVD-RAM discs at 5x, and reads DVDs at 16x. It is capable of burning CD-R media at40x, 24x CD-RW rewrite speeds, and 40x CD-ROM read speeds. This external drive features both USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 FireWire connections, so you can instantly access DVDs and CDs. Its 2 MB buffer ensures fast, reliable writing every time! Order your LG GSA-5163D Double Layer DVD Drive today!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars like a swiss army knife for CD and DVD media, August 26, 2005

By 

S. Bell (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: LG Electronics GSA-5163D External 16X Super-Multi Triple Format DVD Writer (Personal Computers)

having used this wonderful external drive for a few months, i would buy it again. not only is there a nice software bundle with it, but the drive is external USB, you can take it most anywhere and use it, and it handles virtually every medium and format you might encounter including the RAM DVD formats.

i am very pleased with this drive.
the price is astoundingly low.
i may get one for my home.
the external finish is appealing and the drive
has been exceptionally quiet when in use.

i give it 5 stars.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Built, Trouble Free USB External DVD(-/+) RW, January 8, 2006

By 

Mark Lee (Woodruff, UT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: LG Electronics GSA-5163D External 16X Super-Multi Triple Format DVD Writer (Personal Computers)

I've burned two dozen DVDs with this device, principally using Verbatim DVD+Rs. Works like a charm. In addition to the bundled Nero trial software, I've used Pinnacle to burn directly to this writer. So far, they all run even in older standalone DVD players. While this device claims to burn up to 16x, I've been running it at 8x with the media I've been using. If you end up disconnecting and reconnecting this DVD(-/+)RW/RAM drive, I'd recommend rebooting before burning an important project for guaranteed interactivity between the computer and the drive.

This hasn't just worked well, it looks great. The tray mechanism sounds smooth and not "rattly" like less impressive units. It feels substantive and has "heft." While a rather subjective aspect of the drive, it works for me.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keeps Going, and Going, and Going..., February 21, 2006

By 

Vladimir Ratner "vratner" (Upstate NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: LG Electronics GSA-5163D External 16X Super-Multi Triple Format DVD Writer (Personal Computers)

This thing is absolutely amazing!!! I've owned it for almost half a year now; use it (or I should say abuse it) almost every day to the point when I make 10 various format DVD's/CD's one after another; and this little gadget has not given me a problem even once! It just keeps on going! Here is what I like about it:

Setup - I have a Toshiba Satellite laptop with Windows XP SP2 on it, and once I plugged in this device into one of the USB ports on it, it was instantly recognized and installed. I didn't have to do a thing. Truly Plug and Play!

Format Support - It supports everything from a regular CD-R to a Dual Layer DVD-R's and DVD-RW's. I haven't had a single problem using any of the media that I've tried.

Overall Functionality - This thing is fast and quiet. When it starts, it's a bit noisy, but only for about 10 seconds or so. Same thing at the end of the job - it makes a bit more noise as well. But during the burning process, you wouldn't even know that it's doing something, that's how quiet it is. Also, when plugged into USB 2.0 port, it is ridiculously fast! Just as an example, it takes approximately 10 minutes to burn a full 4.7GB DVD (It does work with USB 1.1 connection, but I strongly recommend using it with 2.0 to take advantage of its' speed capabilities. I had to get a PCMCIA USB 2.0 card adapter, since my laptop only had USB 1.1 ports. It dramatically increased the burning speed - before that it took over an hour to burn one DVD).

Features - It has both USB and Firewire IEEE 1394 connection ports!!! Also, unlike other DVD writers on the market, this one is very well built, meaning that it looks and feels great. It also comes with a nice software bundle, including Nero Express and BackItUp.

Price - I got it for about $80 (after $10 rebate) from NewEgg. Amazon used to sell it for just under $100. I think TigerDirect carries it also for about $90. In any case, it's only a $10-20 difference, and this product is worth much more in my opinion. It's money well spent and I'm extremely happy with this purchase.

Summary:
I love it, I love it, I love it!!! I strongly recommend it to anyone who's looking for an external DVD writer (especially if you are a laptop owner, like myself). Excellent buy!