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kenmikec 18.1K Views
Mar 1, 2026 7:01 AM

Dell USB Slim External DVD+/- RW/CD-RW Drive (Black)

$20

$40

50% off
+ Free Shippingat eBay
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Best Buy via eBay has Dell USB Slim External DVD+/-RW/CD-RW Drive (DW316, Black) for $19.99. Shipping is free.

Best Buy has Dell USB Slim External DVD+/-RW/CD-RW Drive (DW316, Black) for $19.99. Shipping is free for My Best Buy Members (free to join), or select free store pickup where available.

Note: Availability for store pickup may vary by location.

Thanks to community member kenmikec for sharing this deal.

Features:
  • Multiformat support: For CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL, M-DISC media.
  • 8x maximum DVD+R and DVD-R write speed
  • 8x maximum DVD+RW rewrite speed
  • 6x maximum DVD-RW rewrite speed
  • 0.75MB cache buffer and Automatic Buffer Under Run Error Protection
  • USB 2.0 interface

Editor's Notes

Written by qwikwit | Staff
  • Our research indicates that this deal is $20 less (50% savings) than the next best available price from a reputable merchant with prices starting from $39.99 at the time of this posting.
  • Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars, based on over 5K Best Buy customer reviews.
  • Please see the original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.

Original Post

Written by kenmikec
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Best Buy via eBay has Dell USB Slim External DVD+/-RW/CD-RW Drive (DW316, Black) for $19.99. Shipping is free.

Best Buy has Dell USB Slim External DVD+/-RW/CD-RW Drive (DW316, Black) for $19.99. Shipping is free for My Best Buy Members (free to join), or select free store pickup where available.

Note: Availability for store pickup may vary by location.

Thanks to community member kenmikec for sharing this deal.

Features:
  • Multiformat support: For CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL, M-DISC media.
  • 8x maximum DVD+R and DVD-R write speed
  • 8x maximum DVD+RW rewrite speed
  • 6x maximum DVD-RW rewrite speed
  • 0.75MB cache buffer and Automatic Buffer Under Run Error Protection
  • USB 2.0 interface

Editor's Notes

Written by qwikwit | Staff
  • Our research indicates that this deal is $20 less (50% savings) than the next best available price from a reputable merchant with prices starting from $39.99 at the time of this posting.
  • Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars, based on over 5K Best Buy customer reviews.
  • Please see the original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.

Original Post

Written by kenmikec

Community Voting

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Top Comments

Community Reviews

This slim external DVD and CD drive is mainly useful for laptops and newer PCs that still need to read discs for medical records, government mailings, or ripping old CDs. It uses USB 2.0 with a mini USB connector, but the 8X drive speed is still fine for typical disc access. The compact design is handy, though it can feel cheap and may need a powered USB hub on newer M1 Macs. Long term reliability seems to depend on the disc media and the drive itself, with some reports of older units failing.

Common Questions (5)

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55 Comments

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Mar 1, 2026 8:11 PM
555 Comments
Joined Aug 2018
The_SandsterMar 1, 2026 8:11 PM
555 Comments
Quote from DlickSeals View quoted comment :
Is it difficult to mode a working, reliable internal drive into external or is this a more logical choice at $20?
While it could be done, this is a far more logical choice.
Mar 1, 2026 8:15 PM
6.1K Comments
Joined Nov 2013
ROB.E.REINMar 1, 2026 8:15 PM
6.1K Comments
Quote from Ignatz View quoted comment :
Mini-USB cable and connector on this one. That isn't bad per se, but it would be nice to have one with USB-C as it means one less type of cable to have to keep on hand. I know there will be no speed boost with USB-C, it's just nice to have one less cable to have to go hunting for.
https://a.co/d/09QLX5Op

$14 bucks I didn't look long to find this but it looks better than this Dell deal I think with this deal you're just paying for the brand name oh yeah and USB C.
2
Mar 1, 2026 8:35 PM
3.1K Comments
Joined Nov 2005
kabukichoMar 1, 2026 8:35 PM
3.1K Comments
Quote from ROB.E.REIN View quoted comment :
https://a.co/d/09QLX5Op

$14 bucks I didn't look long to find this but it looks better than this Dell deal I think with this deal you're just paying for the brand name oh yeah and USB C.

one review with pics is showing its a drive from 2010 repurposed into a modern casing...
Mar 1, 2026 8:59 PM
3.8K Comments
Joined Dec 2003
GandalfNYCMar 1, 2026 8:59 PM
3.8K Comments
Quote from NavySardine761 View quoted comment :
It isn't just the CD that matters. This is a dirt cheap drive compared to what we got a couple decades ago in a desktop computer. Many of those drive still work, unlikely one of these will last 20 years. I have one of these and it feels like a toy.
Actually, many older drives will no longer work. I just tested 2 old ones and both did not work, including the one in this computer I'm using.

This Dell USB DVDRW drive may feel cheap, but imo it's much more likely to work than a CD or DVD drive in an old desktop.
Mar 1, 2026 9:01 PM
3.8K Comments
Joined Dec 2003
GandalfNYCMar 1, 2026 9:01 PM
3.8K Comments
Quote from ROB.E.REIN View quoted comment :
https://a.co/d/09QLX5Op

$14 bucks I didn't look long to find this but it looks better than this Dell deal I think with this deal you're just paying for the brand name oh yeah and USB C.
Only a 4.2 avg review score on that, while this dell has a 4.6 score. Big difference and worth it to get the dell imo. Both have thousands of reviews. Also the one you linked may have a sketchy seller with a 1 star review crossed out and only a handful of reviews total. (seller ratings)
Mar 1, 2026 9:02 PM
2.2K Comments
Joined Dec 2011
gamesonMar 1, 2026 9:02 PM
2.2K Comments
looking for bluray external drive so i can play bluray disc
Mar 1, 2026 9:03 PM
386 Comments
Joined May 2018
CrimsonFeather358Mar 1, 2026 9:03 PM
386 Comments
Quote from techie333 View quoted comment :
Is this a reliable choice for long term storage? I think people were saying the generic brands go bad after a couple uses and storing
Depends on how long term you're talking. Most important is the quality of the disc/brand used. I have CD-R/DVD-R discs from over 20 years ago that still read just fine, because I was buying known quality discs (at the time: Sony, Verbatim. Things may have changed since then!)
1

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Mar 1, 2026 9:58 PM
209 Comments
Joined Feb 2012
frugmaleMar 1, 2026 9:58 PM
209 Comments
Just a heads up, it may require a powered USB hub to work with the USB-C port on M1 Macs or newer due to power draw. I still ordered.
Mar 1, 2026 10:46 PM
99 Comments
Joined Jun 2009
canon.phreakMar 1, 2026 10:46 PM
99 Comments
Quote from DlickSeals View quoted comment :
Is it difficult to mode a working, reliable internal drive into external or is this a more logical choice at $20?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/155153177344

I use this mini adapter since I have more than a few of the slim DVD R/W drives lying around after I replaced them with HDD bays. It works with just about any internal laptop CD-rom drive (some desktop drives as well) unless you have other drives that are either IDE/full SATA - those work with a different adapter.

Mine has lasted a couple years. Be mindful that the locking screw is plastic and fairly flimsy on these. The drive itself will work without you screwing them down, but it has to be relatively still when you're reading/writing from/to it.
Mar 1, 2026 11:13 PM
315 Comments
Joined Jan 2017
hz.lvMar 1, 2026 11:13 PM
315 Comments
Quote from The_Sandster View quoted comment :
Not if your current drive is working.
Thanks.
Mar 2, 2026 1:40 AM
2.5K Comments
Joined Mar 2005
johnlauMar 2, 2026 1:40 AM
2.5K Comments
Can I use this in conjunction with a program like makemkv to backup my purchased copies of movies on dvd.
Mar 2, 2026 3:43 AM
99 Comments
Joined Jun 2009
canon.phreakMar 2, 2026 3:43 AM
99 Comments
Quote from johnlau View quoted comment :
Can I use this in conjunction with a program like makemkv to backup my purchased copies of movies on dvd.
You could, depending on how much protection the DVD has built into it. Websites avforums usually have more details on what options you have in today's market. I quit backing up movie DVDs a few years ago because they took a long time to finish ripping even a single disc. Not sure how that scene has changed over the years.
Mar 2, 2026 3:45 AM
392 Comments
Joined Jun 2004
gotkMar 2, 2026 3:45 AM
392 Comments
Quote from Papi-Chino View quoted comment :
Computers don't come with cd/dvd drives no more. So, you need this thing to view your Radiology images, cause hospitals still burn Radiology pics on CDs/DVDs for some reason.
I think you put "for some reason" in the wrong place. "Computers don't come with cd/dvd drives no more FOR SOME REASON". Mind you, that reason is cost and making computers lighter/smaller, and consumers don't complain since many don't use them anyway... but for those of us, like you, who have a reason to use one, it's just another external device that you have to carry around, possibly with its own dedicated cable/etc. As others have mentioned CD/DVD's have their uses - primarily from a security perspective. Shared thumb drives can transmit computer viruses, and the internet is prone to hacking/interception. CD/DVD offers a physical layer of protection, and can be one-way read-only (they give you the disc, they are not getting a potentially infected drive/disc from you).
Mar 2, 2026 3:47 AM
392 Comments
Joined Jun 2004
gotkMar 2, 2026 3:47 AM
392 Comments
Quote from techie333 View quoted comment :
Is this a reliable choice for long term storage?
Quote from NavySardine761 View quoted comment :
It isn't just the CD that matters. This is a dirt cheap drive
For the question about long-term storage, the only thing that matters is whether the media itself will retain the data. Replacing the mechanical drive required to read it is an insignificant detail.

I have CDR's from about the year 2000 that I have been able to read from recently. Mind you, they were never stuffed in a hot attic or anything like that. I did have a disc or two with multiple sessions that I was unable to read on any subsequent drive, but the last session is/was still readable. (and I haven't done multi-session discs in decades..
As with all things, individual discs can go bad. It's best not to rely entirely on any one backup.

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Pro
Mar 2, 2026 4:14 AM
1.1K Comments
Joined Feb 2018
WreckerALeX
Pro
Mar 2, 2026 4:14 AM
1.1K Comments
Are there any 4k players for pc out there?
Heard you can't play them on PC? If so then I'll look for bluray pc players

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