In case you all can't tell I'm getting ready for my first "build". I have been asking a lot of questions and have recieved some valuable information. I appreciate it and hope you all don't mind me asking so many. Again, I don't know too much about all this, but from what I can gather, I am fairly certain I am going to choose one of these two products. Lite On CD-RW LTR-52246 Retail; 52x24x52x --$76.00 @ newegg --Running OPC to meet various burning conditions? --supports up to UltraDMA Mode2, 33.3 MB/sec. ??? I have an ata 133 maxtor 7200 60gig this ok with that? or, ASUS CD-RW-5224A 52x24x52x --$85.00 @newegg The lite On has a lower access time 80ms, is that better than the Asus's 100ms? Lite On is labeled access time, asus labelled "random" access time, is there a difference? Some of this is more confusing than the mobo stats to me haha... If anyone cares to check them out i'll include links. Lite On -4th product down $76.00- http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=manufactory&catalog=5&manufactory=1336&DEPA=1&sortby=14&order=1 Asus -2nd product down $85.00- http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=manufactory&catalog=5&manufactory=1315&DEPA=1&sortby=14&order=1 I am more interested in the read speed on any drive because I game, I don't do alot of burning, but I definitely want to be able to do it, for either burning music, or copying/backing up files, etc. Anyone have any advice? I am planning on getting an athlon xp cpu, either an EPoX or Asus board.. although I saw a chaintech, but it seemed expensive...if any of that makes a difference. Thanks again, Matt.

I use a Lite-On 48x which is pretty good for the price. Don't know of anyone who has an ASUS burner, as they mainly manufacture mobos & vid cards. I wouldn't buy the ASUS until they established themselves as premier CDRW-makers.

I have a liteon and a plextor. both are great. plextor leads the way in my opinion but I would get the liteon before I got an asus drive. goodluck

Good advice. I wasn't aware that asus's manufacturing of cd drives was new. It's good to know. Thanks, Matt.

Reading this specific post is a good lesson to us all regarding how users from different countries tend to use different brands of hardware... Although I have never used any of those makes in any kind of hardware myself (in fact Liteon was until recently quite unknown to me) I can confirm that the Asus Drives usually have slower access times than other popular drives...Do not be put off by this though as they do make up for reliable, more "stable/consistent" reading/writing than others... I am situated in the UK and I can tell you that over here Asus became quite famous first for its 40x CD-ROM drive which was one of the cheapest you can find and (according to tests) the fastest reader at the time... I am sure Liteon is quite reliable as well as cheap (I have noticed that many of you guys use one) for what it has to offer... I would however suggest you take a look at a Plextor CD-RW as I do agree with "me (the previous reply)" that Plextor IS the brand to go for...Usually slow access times as well but THEY ARE ROCKING in terms of stability & reliability...Last but not least YOU KNOW that WYSIWYG with a Plextor (if it is a 40x drive IT WILL RECORD at 40x...No less!!)... Hope your choice will be the right one for you (whichever you think is right)...

Hmm... food for thought. Thanks again for the information. I will look into plextor drives. Does it matter how high a wattage power supply I buy? I mean say I get a 2600+ or a P4 2.6... can I buy a ..I don't know...say... 650 watt power supply? or should I try to stick closer to what I would actually need like 4-450 or something? Thanks, Matt.

650= way to high for what you describe. 400-450 is more than enough for general computing needs. unless of course you want a 500 or higher and want to drop money for nothing although I have not seen a psu that big......sure there are some out there that are huge I just have never seen em.