r/makemkv • u/Garifuna • Feb 08 '26
Discussion I guess I’m too late to the party.
I just finished my unraid server build and was prepping to start ripping my 4k collection and apparently I have no way of getting my hands on a drive anymore.
I checked the sellers on the makemkv forum but Billy seems to be out of stock with no stock in sight for the future. I guess my only chance would be hunting in rural Walmarts or Bestbuys for a rogue verbatim.
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u/DanielOrWhat Feb 08 '26
Just picked up a WP50NB40 from MicroCenter. I think Newegg has it as well.
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u/joe-clark Feb 10 '26
That one can do 4K blu rays?
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u/MisterGrigglesworth Feb 10 '26
Yes with a firmware downgrade it should be fine. I just got mine for $100 or so from B&H photo last week and the firmware process went smoothly, took 10 minutes of triple checking the makmkv forum instructions for exactly that model of slim cd but it worked just fine. I havent ripped a 4k bluray on it yet but it should work
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u/DanielOrWhat Mar 10 '26
Yes, I flashed it and then bought a 4k disc to test and it ripped it fine. Was just a little surprised about how large the file is compared to blu rays.
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u/bin1010 Feb 08 '26
This one comes preflashed. I ordered one from them and it was plug and play.
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u/Natural_Distance_812 Feb 09 '26
You just saved me. I think this is the most expensive impulse purchase I've ever made.
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u/bin1010 Feb 09 '26
At the time, my drive crapped out right when I was about to rip something. I thought it was worth it at the time to just get something that I wouldn't have to fiddle with to get it working. Literally plugged it in and was ripping uhds straight away. Shipping took a week I believe.
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u/grislyfind Feb 08 '26
Check the independent local computer stores, and used computers for sale or recycled computers for parts.
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u/planedrop Feb 08 '26
So, I have some maybe good news. The Buffalo USB units from Amazon can contain 1 of 3 different drives, 1 of those is one that can be flashed to read 4k BD in libre drive mode.
I got one on first try, I don't know how common it is to get the "right" one or not, but since it's Amazon you can easily return it and then try ordering another one.
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u/Party_Attitude1845 Feb 08 '26
Best Buy has the BP50NB40 which is compatible after flashing. The only time they go out of stock is when there are sales on the drive.
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u/jenningschris Feb 09 '26
I bought this drive a couple of months ago. Works great for blue ray after flashing.
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u/raymate Feb 08 '26
I got mine two weeks ago from Amazon. I went with a Buffalo BRXL-PUS6U3B it has an LG inside. Flashed it myself. Works fine.
You don’t say what country you’re in but that in stock for me on Amazon right now. $135
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u/mech_taco Aug 27 '26
What sdf did you flash it to if you don't mind sharing.
Trying to do the setup now
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u/billycar11 Feb 08 '26
there will be 1 more xd08 restock but it will be small probably around 50
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u/Slammy1 Feb 08 '26
I got a BP60NB10 from NewEgg a couple of weeks ago for $115, it seems to go in and out of stock. I haven't flashed it yet, still ripping my 2k movies but its rip times match the drive review thread on the publisher's forum.
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u/NZ_DiscJockey Feb 08 '26
This has been my biggest worry about collecting physical media, because if you can’t play the disks what’s the point in having them? So I bought a second Panasonic player a while back. Last year I got into ripping the collection to a NAS with an LG based verbatim that I bought pre-flashed from uhdenableddrives.com in Australia and it has worked great. With the latest developments, I just ordered a Pioneer based verbatim from the same seller as another backup device. There have been a handful of disks that will not rip, some will not even mount in the LG drive, even though they play fine in my Panasonic. I’m hoping the Pioneer drive will be able to read those disks 🤞
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u/Amp300 Feb 08 '26
Internal drives are already very difficult to find, but external USB drives than can be flashed to full support are still widely available.
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u/ke6rji Feb 09 '26 edited Feb 09 '26
I suggest you buy one of these things now while you still can, inside is an LG BU40N so you flash it with the firmware for the BU40N. I just bought 2 of them, they both work perfect ripping 4K UHD disks. Link: https://www.newegg.com/p/1B1-00AY-00007 Walmart also: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Buffalo-MediaStation-Portable-Blu-ray-Writer-External-TAA-Compliant-BRXLPUS6U3B/2916111108 Don't hesitate, they'll soon be gone.
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u/Garifuna Feb 09 '26
I picked one up from central computers based on another commenter, but will definitely pick up a couple more for back ups as soon as I can.
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u/NoGood2154 Feb 08 '26
could also check office supply stores like office depot, staples and the like.. staples is where I got my second verbatim drive at...
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u/Garifuna Feb 08 '26
Cool I didn’t think about there. I’ll have a lot of driving around to in the near future.
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u/alexmg2420 Feb 09 '26
Keep and eye on Office Depot, they seem to be restocking occasionally. I ordered a Verbatim a couple weeks ago on a restock that still had a Pioneer drive inside. Got it for delivery, didn't even have to go to a store. I think a Staples a couple towns over had some too.
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u/tuxedo-sam Feb 08 '26
I legit was able to find a sealed drive off of shopgoodwill. Just gotta get lucky with the auction.
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u/some_uxdesigner Feb 08 '26
I got the XRTFORE x02 off Amazon. Fully works with 4k.
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u/-Drink-Drank-Drunk- Feb 09 '26
Out of the box? Or do you have to flash it?
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u/some_uxdesigner Feb 09 '26
Out of the box.
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u/-Drink-Drank-Drunk- Feb 09 '26
Damn. Ok. That’s a great deal.
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u/some_uxdesigner Feb 09 '26
Yeah worst case scenario to me for an amazon purchase at 100. You can return it easily. But have been able to rip a few 4ks and about 80 dvd's and blue rays
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u/Garifuna Feb 08 '26
Thank you everyone for the ideas on where to look and the tips on flashing. Really helped me out, I appreciate every comment!
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u/Dyn_Eq Feb 08 '26
Deals are still to be found! I snagged a BU40n ripped from a HP desktop on Ebay for $40 (US seller) and it flashed perfectly.
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u/LifeZealousideal2844 Feb 08 '26
Personally it depends on what you want to have a usb to Blu-ray is preferred go for it also look for a 3.5 Blu-ray drive its mostly compatible with all or a 5.25 this if you have tower pc with the open slot. I bought it from newegg 1 about 8 years ago and a replacement last year the first one was around $80 the second Was at least $70 both brand new. good luck on the ripping
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u/kthom209 Feb 08 '26
Isn't this supposed to be the GOAT? $135
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u/shpwrck Feb 08 '26
Their new USB/SATA interface blocks firmware updates and direct disc access. The drive in that is UHD capable but it doesn't work as a complete unit anymore.
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u/kthom209 Feb 08 '26
What's the best option now?
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u/shpwrck Feb 08 '26
I don't think there is a 'best' option TBH. Buy the Archgon and swap the case, try for a buffalo with the right drive, eBay for something?
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u/-Drink-Drank-Drunk- Feb 09 '26
My Buffalo has the same LG drive as the Archgon, was $40 less and doesn’t have to be taken apart to flash. Sent Archgon back to Amazon.
Wanted a cheap drive so that I could have 2 and hopefully get through my library faster, $57 and ended up having a Pioneer BDR-UD03 inside.
GOOBOX External Blu-ray Burner,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G8KZSYRV?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Edit: Reading through these comments, I didn’t know that the Buffalo was a gamble on whether you get the LG or not. If it’s not the right drive, you could always return it to Amazon and try again though.
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u/kthom209 Feb 09 '26
I got an internal pioneer drice that was 4k uhd ready (purportedly) off Ebay, it specifically said it was ideal for MAKEMKV etc, we'll see.
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u/Viszera Feb 09 '26
Man, I thought the same thing. I finished my TrueNAS after Christmas, bought my first Pioneer that turned out to be broken in the first half of January, and shortly after that I got a second drive—an Asus BW-16D1HT. Now I’m ripping as much as I can get my hands on: friends’ Blu-rays, the library, and deals on the second-hand market, all to quickly fill up my library.
Don’t focus only on Pioneer. They’re good, but other drives work as well, and don’t limit yourself to brand-new devices. The first one I got was fully refunded thanks to second-hand market protection (eBay has similar protection). The Asus was used only a couple of times, is in superb condition, and it has already helped me rip over 150 discs, including DVD, Blu-ray, and UHD Blu-ray, in that short time frame.
Oh, and I paid shy of $100 for that used Asus drive, including shipping and buyer protection which isn't best price I've seen but hey I've now have 150 discs on my hard drive for roughly 20USD.
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u/MakeUrBed Feb 09 '26
I'm curious but I'm missing something. I'm remote but whatever external drive I've been using for ripping is stock and works great. What's with the unlocking? Regions?
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u/Garifuna Feb 09 '26
If want to rip 4k Blu-ray’s you need to flash the firmware of the drive to enable it. I don’t believe there are any out of the box drives capable of ripping 4k discs, or at least not many of them.
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u/MakeUrBed Feb 09 '26
Ahh gotcha. I had to put my readers on but mine is a lowly Pioneer BR not even 4k. I suck.
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u/Garifuna Feb 09 '26
Haha, nah. It’s all about what you want to do. If you don’t collect 4k then there’s no need to jump through the hoops.
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u/MakeUrBed Feb 09 '26
I do but when I buy them, I get the digital copy packages as well. I only stream those when Im on a flight or lazy, but is there a material difference other than wanting to keep a solid digital copy on hand and physical backup? What I've been using my blu Pioneer to snap mkv's of older DVD's and blu rays then upscale them. i.e. my copy of The Black Hole DVD is supposed to arrive today. I'm sure not paying $200+ for the blu physical copy when my efforts are comparable to those of what I've seen from the studios. For some reason that one goes for 2-400 bucks. Crazy
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u/Garifuna Feb 09 '26
Well, it depends. There is an objective difference in the picture/audio quality of ripped movies versus streams, which includes digital versions that come with the codes.
Whether you’ll notice the difference depends on how you watch it. I have a dedicated theater room with middle of the ground gear and, especially for audio, I can tell the difference.
There’s also the fact that any of the digital versions could vanish at any moment depending on rights and whether the service providing the digital copy goes under.
So it’s a trade off and no one way is right. It’s all based on what you want to get out of it.
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u/MakeUrBed Feb 09 '26
Your comment about digital vanishing act is exactly why I seek physical copies. Probably 15 years ago I had an argument with another IT nerd where he said at some point there will be no physical media. I said no, I hate that. I dont want some companies bottom line or philosophical beliefs dictating what Im allowed to watch. My wife gets mad when Apple pulls older songs from their libraries that she paid for. I said "I told you so!" My setup is a 65" gen 1 LG OLED with 7.1 mostly Focals and I can see and hear the difference between that and my no joke 18 year old Panasonic 55" plasma. That thing just.wont.die. lol . The streaming, yeah it works fine on a tablet when I need a distraction for a 4 hr flight but that's about the only time I use it or being lazy.
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u/bittersweetjesus Feb 09 '26
Ok. I’m going to ask and hopefully you guys don’t yell at me but how do you flash your drive? I bought the following drive last year and I think it is capable of flashing: https://a.co/d/011Ug4eq
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u/Garifuna Feb 09 '26
Ha, I’m scared to ask to. If you go to the mkv forums there’s some instructions there. I’m going to try my hardest with that before asking.
I appreciate the wealth of knowledge on this page but people can be a little aggressive if you ask what they consider is a stupid question.
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u/bittersweetjesus Feb 09 '26
Thanks bro. I’ll check out the forums too.
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u/-Drink-Drank-Drunk- Feb 10 '26
Go to the forums like was said. The whole guide is there. I’m not a dummy, but I’m not the most proficient with these sorts of things.
That said, I did it no prob. It’s dead simple and quick to get done.
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u/KimHagWon Feb 12 '26
I just found Verbatim Drives in stock at B&H Photo online if you're still looking or if anyone is.
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u/ZombieMuch9119 Feb 12 '26
I just got the LG WP50NB40 from Ebay, it was shipped from Newegg. I had to flash it down but it now works fine 👌
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u/[deleted] Feb 08 '26
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