We suggest using MakeMKV, as it’s free and works great with 4K UHD Blu-rays. Ripping Software: You need specialized software to rip movies from discs.(You may need to convert your files to the MPEG format before burning them to a disc). But Windows and Linux users will need to stick with ImgBurn. Burning Software: Mac users can burn DVDs or Blu-rays directly from the Finder.We suggest using VLC, as it works with everything and has a great support community. Windows Media Player, for example, doesn’t work with Blu-ray discs.

Media Playback Software: Most media players are terrible at their job.

The ASUS 16X is a great option, and it’s sold as an internal or external drive. Even if you have a Blu-ray drive, you may need to upgrade to start playing and ripping discs of this ilk.

About 4K UHD: Some older Blu-ray drives refuse to work with 4K UHD discs.

The fastest speed you’ll see in a DVD drive is 24X, and the fastest speed you’ll see in a Blu-ray drive is 16X. These speeds are usually expressed in terms like 8X or 16X, where 16X is twice the speed of 8X.

Write Speed: A disc drive’s write speed determines how quickly it can burn files to a disc.

Drive Type: A Blu-ray drive can play DVDs, but a DVD drive can’t play Blu-ray discs.

But even if you already own a Blu-ray or DVD drive, you might need to buy a new one to play, burn, or rip discs.

A Disc Player: You’ll need a RW drive (rewritable drive) to play, burn, and rip discs.

You may want to bookmark this page and reference this list later. Here’s a quick overview of what we’re about to talk about, along with links to our favorite disc drives and software. What tools are we using to play, rip, or write Blu-rays and DVDs? What should you look for in these tools, and why are they important?

The Tools of the Tradeīefore we get too deep into disc drives and software, let’s look at the big picture. If you want the best of both worlds, you’ll need to know how to play, rip, and write DVDs and Blu-ray discs on your computer. But discs are more inconvenient than ever. There’s something nice about owning what you pay for, and Blu-ray quality beats streaming by a long shot. DVDs and Blu-ray discs aren’t useless yet.

Best buy blu ray burner internal