Just bought a LiteOn LDW-451S 4x DVD +-/CDRW (updated 411S). Got Memorex DVD-R 1x's and 4x's for free from a buddy who couldn't use them. Backup movies that filled the discs were jumpy at the end of the movies and the special features.

Used DVDShrink to compress the movies to 3.5G (vs. 4.7) and they play fine. Also, no noticable degridation to video quality.

Will use this technique until my supply is gone, then plan on switching to more "reliable" media (Ritek, etc.).

If you're gonna use memorex, use the +R (Ricoh dye) because the CMC mag are crap. I know you got the memorex for free, but just something to think about, because not all memorex are bad disc.

Yeah but he got these for free from a buddy. He mentions that he intends to get Riteks once this batch is finished. BTW Some people are reporting that Memorex DVD+R discs don't always carry the Ricoh dye anymore. There are some lower grade dyes sneaking on there and they are causing problems. This is why it pays to go with discs that come straight from the dye manufacterer. ;)

Well I notice many people reporting ricoh on 4x memorex+R on fatwallet and slickdeals within the past months, and I usually go through all the media thread. From my own experience, I brought 300 imation disc and so far they're all ricoh so i'm pretty happy with them. They were only 60 cent each at the time (sold as replacement for Arita). If Memorex is carrying a new dye, I wonder what dye are they using now. I can only imagine memorex using cmcmag.

I think it is CMC. All I know is that a couple of people over at PS2ownz have reported getting that dye on thier Memorex DVD+R discs (yes I double checked to make sure it was DVD+R and not DVD-R).

Memorex chop and change to whatever's the cheapest on the market at the time. Not always CMC or Ricoh.

Yeah, that sounds like a number of other brand name discs that are out there. One of the reasons why I don't recommend them to anyone. ;)