Good external blu-ray drive for ripping DVDs to be used with Jellyfin

[PowerPCFan]

I am going to start a Jellyfin server and I need a drive to rip DVDs. I know this is a good one but it’s almost $300. What are some good external drives that are cheaper than this (150-200 dollars) that can read 4K Blu-ray Discs?

 

thanks for the help!

-PowerPCFan

[whispous]

8 minutes ago, PowerPCFan said:

I am going to start a Jellyfin server and I need a drive to rip DVDs. I know this is a good one but it’s almost $300. What are some good external drives that are cheaper than this (150-200 dollars) that can read 4K Blu-ray Discs?

 

thanks for the help!

-PowerPCFan

I think you're accidentally look at writers - they'll be costlier. Just search for USB Blu ray  -you'll find a lot of models for $70

 

Given this is just for ripping, don't bother trying to seek a particular brand. Getting one form amazon should be easily returnable should is be broken on arrival.

[PowerPCFan]

2 minutes ago, whispous said:

I think you're accidentally look at writers - they'll be costlier. Just search for USB Blu ray  -you'll find a lot of models for $70

 

Given this is just for ripping, don't bother trying to seek a particular brand. Getting one form amazon should be easily returnable should is be broken on arrival.

I was maybe going to do some writing, as I do a lot of work with old PowerPC macs, but would this one be better? It’s still a writer and it’s still 4k Blu-ray but cheaper. Or I could just get a nice drive that could only read, which might be better.

[whispous]

1 minute ago, PowerPCFan said:

I was maybe going to do some writing, as I do a lot of work with old PowerPC macs, but would this one be better? It’s still a writer and it’s still 4k Blu-ray but cheaper. Or I could just get a nice drive that could only read, which might be better.

It's a non-brand, just a generic name with comodity parts - just be ready to open a support case with amazon if the product doesn't do what it says it does.

 

Bear in mind, as a side note, you will have to use (usually paid) third party software if you want to play a blu-ray disc from any blu ray drive.

[PowerPCFan]

8 minutes ago, whispous said:

It's a non-brand, just a generic name with comodity parts - just be ready to open a support case with amazon if the product doesn't do what it says it does.

 

Bear in mind, as a side note, you will have to use (usually paid) third party software if you want to play a blu-ray disc from any blu ray drive.

I am planning on:

 

using the drive to rip the dvd, using MakeMKV

 

using VLC to play the MkV and make sure it looks good

 

using HandBrake to compress file size, and maybe convert to MP4 too.

 

I would be fine opening a support case if I had to. So would the drive I linked in the previous post work good enough? Or is there another name brand or generic drive that anyone would recommend that’s around $120?

[whispous]

Just now, PowerPCFan said:

I am planning on:

 

using the drive to rip the dvd, using MakeMKV

 

using VLC to play the MkV and make sure it looks good

 

using HandBrake to compress file size, and maybe convert to MP4 too.

 

I would be fine opening a support case if I had to. So would the drive I linked in the previous post work good enough? Or is there another name brand or generic drive that anyone would recommend that’s around $120?

I would just go generic and send it back if it didn't work.

[jaslion]

1 hour ago, PowerPCFan said:

I am going to start a Jellyfin server and I need a drive to rip DVDs. I know this is a good one but it’s almost $300. What are some good external drives that are cheaper than this (150-200 dollars) that can read 4K Blu-ray Discs?

 

thanks for the help!

-PowerPCFan

Why not just get a 20$ dvd rw drive if its only for dvds?

[PowerPCFan]

7 hours ago, jaslion said:

Why not just get a 20$ dvd rw drive if its only for dvds?

It has to be USB, it has to support Blu-Ray, and it has to support 4k, and it has to have the firmware for ripping, and it has to be able to read and play 4k blu ray discs. If you can link one that does all of this, that would be great

 

sorry if this reply is very confusing

-PowerPCFan 

[murixbob]

On 3/27/2023 at 3:19 PM, PowerPCFan said:

It has to be USB, it has to support Blu-Ray, and it has to support 4k, and it has to have the firmware for ripping, and it has to be able to read and play 4k blu ray discs. If you can link one that does all of this, that would be great

 

sorry if this reply is very confusing

-PowerPCFan 

I'd recommend checking out the MakeMKV forums as they have a nice guide topic there that list recommended drives that are capable of reading 4k blu-ray discs. Keep in mind some of them may need to be flashed to a different firmware to work fully with MakeMKV. 

 

https://forum.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=19634