DVD on Blu-ray player = reduced life span? - Blu-ray Forum

FF750 · 01-23-2007, 02:51 PM

I was checking out a PS3 message board when someone asked the question of whether playing non-BD disks (i.e. CD or DVD) in a PS3 would shorten its life span. Several people answered that it will, either citing anecdotal experience with PS2s supposedly not reading DVDs well after being used for CDs a lot or saying something obscure about the different media putting more strain on the system by requiring different focal lengths.

I'm no expert but this didn't make sense to me. How should using a medium designed for a larger wavelength laser be damaging to a player designed for a shorter wavelength? The shorter wavelength blue laser should be able to read the pits on a CD or DVD with no problem right? The way I understand it the laser remains the same wavelength regardless of medium. I don't understand why it would even need to change. And since the basic design is identical then there shouldn't be any more strain on the motors controlling the laser and disc drive right?

At least thats what I think but I'm not an engineer. Can anyone either debunk or give credence to this with a good explanantion?

I hope this is the right part of the forum for this question but sorry if it isn't.

Maximus · 01-23-2007, 02:56 PM

My computer struggles with DVDs after reading a CD as well, but then again my drive is very poor, so hopefully the PS3 will be different.

FF750 · 01-23-2007, 03:22 PM

I've been messing with PCs since they only used 5.25" floppies and no hard drives and have had only one optical drive fail on me in all that time - and that one was after 3 years of almost daily use in an old laptop. I've had my PS2 for five years and no problems (knock on wood) and I regularly burn both CDs and DVDs using a multi-format drive and in two years have not had a problem either (knock on wood). I've gone through several PCs, a couple of standalone DVD recorders, and an Xbox and haven't encountered any drive failures or read problems (knock on wood).

Don't know if I'm just lucky (can't be that 'cause my first PS3 died from a non-drive related problem LOL) but I don't see the reasoning for different formats causing increased wear.

But again I'm no engineer, just a tech otaku. Which is why I'm asking

DavePS3 · 01-23-2007, 03:41 PM

I find that a complete reboot of any given system helps with those issues. Not all the time, but 80%. Try that.

01-23-2007, 02:51 PM	#1
FF750 Active Member Member since:Jan 2007	DVD on Blu-ray player = reduced life span? I was checking out a PS3 message board when someone asked the question of whether playing non-BD disks (i.e. CD or DVD) in a PS3 would shorten its life span. Several people answered that it will, either citing anecdotal experience with PS2s supposedly not reading DVDs well after being used for CDs a lot or saying something obscure about the different media putting more strain on the system by requiring different focal lengths. I'm no expert but this didn't make sense to me. How should using a medium designed for a larger wavelength laser be damaging to a player designed for a shorter wavelength? The shorter wavelength blue laser should be able to read the pits on a CD or DVD with no problem right? The way I understand it the laser remains the same wavelength regardless of medium. I don't understand why it would even need to change. And since the basic design is identical then there shouldn't be any more strain on the motors controlling the laser and disc drive right? At least thats what I think but I'm not an engineer. Can anyone either debunk or give credence to this with a good explanantion? I hope this is the right part of the forum for this question but sorry if it isn't.

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01-23-2007, 02:56 PM	#2
Maximus Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Nov 2006	My computer struggles with DVDs after reading a CD as well, but then again my drive is very poor, so hopefully the PS3 will be different.

01-23-2007, 03:22 PM	#3
FF750 Active Member Member since:Jan 2007	I've been messing with PCs since they only used 5.25" floppies and no hard drives and have had only one optical drive fail on me in all that time - and that one was after 3 years of almost daily use in an old laptop. I've had my PS2 for five years and no problems (knock on wood) and I regularly burn both CDs and DVDs using a multi-format drive and in two years have not had a problem either (knock on wood). I've gone through several PCs, a couple of standalone DVD recorders, and an Xbox and haven't encountered any drive failures or read problems (knock on wood). Don't know if I'm just lucky (can't be that 'cause my first PS3 died from a non-drive related problem LOL) but I don't see the reasoning for different formats causing increased wear. But again I'm no engineer, just a tech otaku. Which is why I'm asking

01-23-2007, 03:41 PM	#4
DavePS3 Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Toronto Home Theater Gallery:56 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	I find that a complete reboot of any given system helps with those issues. Not all the time, but 80%. Try that.

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