Modern laptops might've tried to kill off the built-in optical drive, but physical media is far from dead. Case in point: the Dell DW316 Slim external USB DVD-RW drive for $39 at Amazon.

Physical media is making a serious comeback (my hardware editor, with his massive library of films, games, and books, argues that it never went away). In fact, this Dell USB writer proved essential when I wanted to watch my wedding video from 20 years ago, which was locked on DVD.

If you need to rip CDs and DVDs, access archived files, or just kick back and watch a movie, the USB-powered Dell DW316 is an easy recommendation from me.

• Dell DW316 is also available for $40 (was $50) at Best Buy.

Why we recommend it

I put the Dell DW316 to good use myself this year when my wife and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. As I mentioned, our wedding video is still on DVD and this gave us an easy way to watch it again.

Beyond digital nostalgia, it's a really practical upgrade to access older software, music, movies and other physical media that would otherwise be left gathering dust.

And unlike files stored on a computer, in the cloud or on a storage device, data burned to a write-once disc can't be accidentally deleted, overwritten or changed, giving you a permanent physical copy. Write-once media can create a physical copy of important documents, photos or other files that can be kept offline and separate from your computer.

The drive is just 14mm thick and weighs 200g. Power comes directly from your laptop's USB port, eliminating the need for a separate power adapter. It can also create discs using CyberLink Media Suite 12 which comes supplied free.

Price context & historical value

This drive has never been priced above $52 (at least, not since 2015), while its lowest price was $16 back in 2020. General trends show it more or less holds its price at around the $35 to $40 mark. For comparison, Dell's external disc drive is also available at the same price, $40 (was $50) at Best Buy.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Dell DW316 if...

You occasionally need to access old CDs, DVDs or disc-based software, or want an inexpensive way to create physical copies of important files. The drive's small size means you can keep it tucked away until you actually need it.

❌ Skip the Dell DW316 if...

You need Blu-ray support or regularly work with large amounts of data. DVDs have limited capacity compared with modern storage devices, and this drive can't read or write Blu-rays.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

The DW316 connects over USB and is an older optical-drive design, so don't expect the transfer speeds you'd get from an external SSD or flash drive. Its purpose is accessing and creating optical media rather than moving large files quickly.

You'll also need compatible blank writable discs if you intend to use it for backups or archiving, adding a small additional cost on top of the $35 price.

• Shop all CD/DVD drives at Amazon

DDR5 might be the memory standard for newer PCs, but it costs far more than DDR4, especially when you're shopping for faster or higher-capacity kits.

If you're upgrading a DDR4 system, I've found a terrific deal on the G.Skill 32GB Trident Z RGB for $215 (was $258) at Newegg when you use code LUYRF222.

For your money, you get two 16GB DDR4-3600 modules with CL18 timings, aluminum heat spreaders, customizable RGB lighting and Intel XMP 2.0 support.

Today's best DDR4 RAM deal

Why we recommend it

32GB is enough memory for demanding multitasking, gaming and creative applications. The DDR4-3600 speed is also a good fit for compatible DDR4 systems, particularly if you're upgrading an older machine that's currently running slower or lower-capacity memory.

The two matched 16GB modules provide a dual-channel configuration, with timings of 18-22-22-42 at 1.35V.

G.Skill's Trident Z design adds aluminum heat spreaders and customizable RGB lighting, making this a good choice if your PC has a windowed case and you want your memory to complement other RGB components.

Price context & historical value

Newegg sells the 32GB Skill Trident Z RGB kit for $257.49, and it's currently available for $249.99. Using coupon code LUYRF222 brings the final price down to $214.99.

While that's a decent price in today's inflated memory market, it's worth remembering just how much cheaper DDR4 used to be. Newegg sold this exact G.Skill kit for just $69.99 in August 2023, less than a third of its current discounted price.

Unfortunately, it's unlikely to drop down to that level again, so the current deal is worth considering if you need to upgrade your DDR4 system now.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the 32GB G.Skill Trident Z RGB kit if...

You have a compatible DDR4 desktop and want to increase its memory capacity without replacing your motherboard and processor to move to DDR5. The combination of 32GB capacity and DDR4-3600 speed makes it a solid upgrade for an older system.

❌ Skip the 32GB G.Skill Trident Z RGB kit if...

You're building a completely new PC around a recent processor and motherboard. In that situation, I'd seriously consider DDR5 instead, as you'll be investing in the newer memory standard rather than spending more than $200 on DDR4 that you won't be able to carry over to a future platform.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

You'll need to enable XMP, DOCP or A-XMP in your BIOS to reach the kit's advertised DDR4-3600 speed on compatible hardware. Otherwise, the memory will initially run at its default SPD speed.

Compatibility is also important. G.Skill recommends checking its motherboard QVL, and it specifically warns against mixing separate memory kits, even when their specifications appear identical, as doing so can cause stability problems.

• Shop all RAM at Newegg