I'm looking into preserving my physical media collection and am considering an external optical drive that can both read and write discs. I'm using Bazzite in Deck mode and could use advice on what specifications matter when choosing a drive. Many listings only mention CD and DVD support, while a few advertise Blu-ray support from brands I don't recognize. Is Blu-ray necessary, and are lesser-known brands generally reliable? I'd also like to know which blank discs are suitable for backing up games. There are several disc formats and storage capacities, and I'm not sure whether certain discs are limited to audio or other specific types of data. My main goal is to preserve the original media in a practical but still physical format.
4 Answers
Most modern internal or external Blu-ray writers should work with Linux without much trouble. Look for a dual-layer Blu-ray writer if you want more capacity, and use matching dual-layer blank media. LG is a commonly trusted choice, although the basic technology is fairly standardized across brands.
Optical discs are useful if you specifically like having a physical archive, but they’re less convenient and usually less flexible than a regular hard drive. Blank data discs aren’t restricted to audio files—the important factors are the disc format, capacity, and whether your writer supports it. For game preservation, also verify that the original disc can legally and technically be read and copied, since some systems use protections or formats that ordinary software may not reproduce.
If you want broad coverage, choose a Blu-ray writer that explicitly supports UHD Blu-ray. Consoles from the PS3 and Xbox One era onward commonly use Blu-ray, and 4K movies require UHD support. Some older drives needed modified firmware for certain UHD tasks, so check the exact model and current Linux compatibility before buying.
An external USB drive is usually the simplest option, especially if you don’t want to install an internal drive or deal with an enclosure. Make sure the listing clearly says it can write Blu-ray rather than only read CDs and DVDs.
That makes sense. I mostly like the idea of keeping a tangible archive with custom cases and artwork, rather than putting everything on one plain external hard drive.