The Lite-On IHAS124-14 Internal DVD Drive is a no-frills, practical pick for anyone adding optical media capability to a desktop build without spending much. It's manufactured by Lite-On but sold under the Plextor IHAS124 branding — a detail that surprises some buyers but doesn't affect performance one bit. The SATA interface means it drops straight into virtually any modern desktop motherboard without adapter headaches. It ships with a SATA cable and a copy of Nero 12 Essentials, so you're not hunting for extras on day one. The half-height form factor slots neatly into a standard 5.25-inch bay, making installation about as straightforward as it gets.

Features & Benefits

This optical drive covers a broad disc format range — DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD-R/RW, CD-R/RW, PhotoCD, VideoCD, and CD-DA among them — which makes it genuinely versatile for both reading and writing tasks. Burning speeds reach 24X for CDs and 16X for DVDs, fast enough that you're not sitting around waiting on a batch of discs. The tray-load mechanism handles both horizontal and vertical mounting, so it works regardless of your case orientation. A dust-protected enclosure and an emergency eject hole add practical durability. The bundled Nero 12 Essentials covers basic burning and ripping — useful as a starting point, though it's a trimmed-down version of the full Nero suite, not a complete solution.

Best For

Let's be honest — optical drives occupy a niche these days. But that niche is real. Budget PC builders who want disc playback or burning without paying premium prices will find this internal DVD burner hits the mark cleanly. IT pros refurbishing older machines or replacing failed drives will appreciate the broad OS compatibility across Windows, macOS, and Linux. Home users who still maintain physical disc libraries — whether for data backups, music CDs, or DVD movies — get a dependable workhorse here. And because it's a plug-and-play SATA drive, setup rarely causes headaches even for less experienced builders tackling their first desktop build.

User Feedback

With a 4.5-star rating drawn from over 500 reviews, the Lite-On IHAS124 earns credibility that's hard to dismiss. Buyers consistently highlight easy installation and reliable burning performance as the main wins, and the included cable and software bundle get favorable mentions — people appreciate not needing a separate shopping trip. On the downside, some users flag noticeable noise during high-speed disc spin-up, which can be jarring in quieter builds. A handful also find Nero 12 Essentials too limited and end up switching to third-party burning software. Overall, casual users tend to walk away satisfied; those expecting professional-grade precision may want to consider pricier alternatives before committing.

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Pros

Ships with both a SATA cable and Nero 12 Essentials, so most buyers need nothing extra to get started.
Broad disc format support covers DVD-ROM, DVD-R/RW, CD-R/RW, PhotoCD, VideoCD, and CD-DA without fuss.
Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux right out of the box — no driver hunting required.
Supports both horizontal and vertical mounting, giving flexibility across different case orientations.
Dust-protected enclosure adds durability, especially useful in workshop or open-bench environments.
Emergency eject hole lets you retrieve a stuck disc manually without needing power — a small but genuinely useful feature.
Ranked in the top 40 in its category with a 4.5-star average from over 500 buyers, indicating consistent real-world satisfaction.
Half-height form factor fits standard desktop bays cleanly, making installation quick even for first-time builders.
24X CD burn speed keeps disc writing sessions short for everyday tasks like data backups or music rips.

Cons

Nero 12 Essentials is a limited bundle — power users will likely need to upgrade to a full burning suite separately.
Audible spin-up noise at higher speeds can be disruptive in quiet or noise-sensitive PC builds.
DVD write speed tops out at 16X, which, while adequate, trails some competing drives in the same price range.
No Blu-ray support whatsoever — if you need BD playback or burning, this optical drive simply cannot help.
The Lite-On and Plextor dual-branding causes occasional buyer confusion when cross-referencing documentation or support resources.
Long-term firmware update support is limited, which may matter for compatibility with newer disc formats or media brands.
Tray-load mechanisms are inherently more prone to mechanical wear over time compared to slot-load designs.
At 1.3 pounds and standard half-height dimensions, it is not an option for slim-bay or laptop upgrade scenarios.

Ratings

The Lite-On IHAS124-14 Internal DVD Drive has been scored by our AI system after analyzing hundreds of verified global buyer reviews, with spam, incentivized, and bot-generated feedback actively filtered out before any scoring was applied. Ratings span everything from installation ease to long-term reliability, and both the strengths and the frustrations are reflected without sugarcoating. The result is an honest, category-by-category picture of what real users actually experience with this optical drive day to day.

Ease of Installation

91%

The vast majority of buyers — including first-time PC builders — report having this optical drive seated, cabled, and recognized by their system in under 20 minutes. The included SATA cable removes one common friction point, and the drive is detected automatically across Windows, Linux, and macOS without driver hunting.

A small number of users in older systems report occasional BIOS recognition issues on the first boot, requiring a restart or SATA port swap to resolve. These cases appear to be edge scenarios rather than a consistent flaw, but they do exist.

Burning Reliability

86%

For everyday burning tasks — data backups, CD rips, and occasional DVD writes — users consistently report clean, error-free results across a wide range of disc brands. The drive handles mixed media libraries well, and failures or coasters during standard burns are rarely reported.

At maximum write speeds, a handful of users note intermittent burn errors, particularly with lower-quality or off-brand disc media. Dropping the write speed one or two notches typically resolves this, but it does mean the top-rated speed is not always fully reliable in practice.

Read Performance

83%

Reading pressed DVDs and commercially produced CDs is consistently fast and problem-free for the overwhelming majority of users. Access times are solid for a drive in this class, and disc recognition is quick even with older or slightly worn media.

Scratched or degraded discs occasionally give this optical drive trouble, with some users reporting longer-than-expected read times or failed reads on marginal media that other drives handled. This is not unusual for the category, but worth flagging for anyone dealing with archival or damaged disc collections.

Noise Level

58%

42%

When idle with no disc loaded, the drive is completely silent, which is a baseline expectation most users confirm is met. For users in standard desktop environments where some ambient noise is already present, the drive noise rarely registers as a real-world problem.

Spin-up noise at higher read and write speeds is one of the most frequently mentioned criticisms. Users building quiet home theater PCs or near-silent workstations find the audible whir during active disc operations noticeably disruptive, and there is no speed-limiting setting available without third-party software.

Bundle Value

88%

Including both a SATA data cable and Nero 12 Essentials in the box is a meaningful practical benefit — it removes the need for separate purchases that can easily add cost to a budget build. Most buyers view this as a genuine value-add rather than throwaway packaging filler.

Nero 12 Essentials is a limited version of the full suite, and users who expect comprehensive video authoring or advanced disc management tools will hit a ceiling quickly. Some describe it as barely more than a launcher, and end up migrating to free alternatives like ImgBurn or CDBurnerXP soon after setup.

Format Compatibility

89%

The range of supported formats is one of the broader offerings in this price segment, covering everything from standard DVD-R and CD-RW to more niche formats like PhotoCD, VideoCD, and CD Text. Users with diverse or legacy disc libraries find this breadth genuinely useful rather than just a spec sheet checkbox.

The complete absence of Blu-ray support is the obvious gap, and buyers who discover this after purchase are understandably frustrated. For a drive positioned as a current-day optical solution, not being able to handle BD media at all is a real limitation for some use cases.

Build Quality

74%

26%

The dust-protected enclosure and solid tray mechanism give this drive a more durable feel than some competing budget optical drives at similar price points. Users in workshop or open-bench environments specifically call out the dust protection as a practical design decision.

The plastic casing and tray feel noticeably lightweight compared to older optical drives, and a few long-term users report tray wobble or looseness developing after extended use. Build quality is adequate for the price, but it is clearly a budget-tier construction and should be treated accordingly.

Long-Term Reliability

77%

23%

A meaningful portion of reviewers report using this optical drive for multiple years without failure, particularly in low-to-moderate use scenarios like occasional data burns or periodic disc rips. For infrequent users, the drive tends to hold up well over time.

Users who burn discs heavily or run the drive daily report a shorter reliable lifespan, with tray mechanism issues and reading inconsistencies emerging after one to two years of heavy use. This is a drive suited to occasional tasks, not continuous production workloads.

OS Compatibility

93%

Plug-and-play behavior across Windows, macOS, and Linux is something buyers from all three camps confirm without hesitation. Linux users in particular appreciate not needing to compile drivers or configure kernel modules — it simply works on most major distros.

A small number of macOS users on newer Apple silicon machines note that the drive requires a SATA-to-USB enclosure to function at all, since those machines lack internal SATA ports — a hardware reality rather than a drive flaw, but one that catches some buyers off guard.

Mounting Flexibility

84%

Support for both horizontal and vertical tray-load operation is a practical feature that accommodates a wider range of case types without any modification. Users with tower cases — where drives often sit vertically — confirm the tray operates normally in that orientation.

The half-height form factor, while standard for most desktop cases, is incompatible with slim-bay cases and completely unusable in laptop upgrades. Buyers with non-standard cases occasionally discover this incompatibility only after purchase.

Software Usability

61%

39%

For complete newcomers to disc burning, Nero 12 Essentials provides a guided, menu-driven experience that gets the job done for simple tasks without requiring any prior knowledge of burning software. It works on Windows without additional configuration.

Experienced users find the Essentials version restrictive almost immediately, with core Nero features locked behind an upgrade paywall. The software interface also feels dated, and macOS and Linux users get no benefit from the bundle at all since it is a Windows-only application.

Value for Money

87%

When assessed against the practical need it fills — adding functional, multi-format optical media support to a desktop PC at a minimal cost — this internal DVD burner delivers well. The cable and software bundle reinforce the value proposition for budget-conscious buyers.

For users who push past casual use and discover the noise, limited software, or absence of Blu-ray support, the perceived value drops noticeably. At that point, the cost difference between this and a slightly more capable drive starts to feel worth reconsidering.

Emergency Eject

91%

The manual emergency eject hole functions exactly as it should, allowing users to retrieve stuck discs with a straightened paperclip without powering on the system. Several reviewers mention relying on this during power outages or after system crashes, and it works every time.

This is a standard feature on tray-load optical drives rather than a standout differentiator, so it deserves recognition without being overstated. There is nothing unique about the implementation here compared to competing drives.

Brand Clarity

63%

37%

Once buyers understand that Lite-On manufactures the hardware and Plextor is simply the series branding, the confusion dissipates and the product stands on its own merits. For experienced PC builders, the dual-brand labeling is a minor footnote rather than a real concern.

The Lite-On and Plextor naming overlap creates genuine confusion at the point of purchase and during support queries, with some buyers uncertain which brand to contact for warranty issues. This branding ambiguity is the most avoidable friction point associated with this optical drive.

Suitable for:

The Lite-On IHAS124-14 Internal DVD Drive is a practical choice for a fairly specific crowd — and for that crowd, it delivers exactly what's needed. Desktop PC builders on a tight budget who want optical media support without inflating their parts list will find this a sensible addition. IT professionals handling office refurbishments or legacy machine repairs will appreciate how effortlessly it slots into older and newer SATA-equipped desktops alike. Home users who still maintain physical collections — whether that means burning family photo archives to disc, ripping old CDs, or playing back DVD movies — get a reliable, low-maintenance workhorse. The broad OS compatibility across Windows, macOS, and Linux makes it an easy fit for mixed-environment setups, and the included SATA cable and Nero 12 Essentials mean most buyers can be up and running without a single extra purchase.

Not suitable for:

If your use case demands high-volume, precision disc production, the Lite-On IHAS124-14 Internal DVD Drive is probably not the right tool. Professional duplicators or anyone burning large batches of discs for distribution will quickly find the speed ceiling and software limitations frustrating. The bundled Nero 12 Essentials is a trimmed-down version of the full suite, so buyers expecting comprehensive media management out of the box may be disappointed and end up paying for third-party software anyway. This optical drive is also a non-starter for laptop users or anyone working in a compact mini-ITX build without a standard 5.25-inch bay. And if noise is a concern — whether you're building a quiet home theater PC or a near-silent workstation — be aware that spin-up noise at higher speeds is a reported annoyance for some users.

Specifications

Brand: Manufactured by Lite-On and sold under the Plextor IHAS124 series branding.
Model Number: The exact model designation is IHAS124-14.
Interface: Uses a standard SATA interface for connection to the motherboard.
Form Factor: Half-height design fits a standard 5.25″ internal drive bay.
Dimensions: The unit measures 6.9 x 6.3 x 2.4 inches (L x W x H).
Weight: The drive weighs 1.3 pounds, making it straightforward to handle during installation.
DVD Write Speed: Writes DVD media at up to 16X speed.
CD Write Speed: Burns CD media at up to 24X speed for fast disc production.
Rewrite Speed: Supports rewriting on compatible discs at up to 8X speed.
Read Speed: Reads both DVD and CD media at up to 24X speed.
Access Time: DVD access time is 160ms and CD access time is 140ms under standard operating conditions.
Disc Formats: Compatible with DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, PhotoCD, VideoCD, CD-DA, CD Extra, CD Text, and CD Bridge.
Mounting: The tray-load mechanism supports installation in both horizontal and vertical orientations.
Enclosure: Features a dust-protected enclosure with a manual emergency eject hole for power-free disc retrieval.
OS Compatibility: Works with Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems without requiring additional drivers.
Bundle Contents: Includes a SATA data cable and a copy of Nero 12 Essentials burning software.
Nero Software: Nero 12 Essentials is a trimmed-down version of the full Nero suite, supporting basic burning, ripping, and media management tasks.
BSR Ranking: Holds a top-40 position in the Internal CD and DVD Drives category on Amazon.
User Rating: Carries a 4.5-star average rating based on over 500 verified customer reviews.
Blu-ray Support: This drive does not support Blu-ray disc reading or writing.

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FAQ

Yes, that is exactly what this optical drive is designed for. It uses a standard SATA data connection, which is the same interface used by most modern desktop hard drives and SSDs. As long as your motherboard has an available SATA port — which virtually all desktop boards do — you are good to go.

The bundle includes a SATA data cable, so you are covered on that front. You will still need to connect a SATA power cable from your power supply, but that is a standard connector found on every desktop PSU. Most builders already have a spare power cable available.

Lite-On is the actual manufacturer. The drive is sold under the Plextor IHAS124 series branding, which is a separate label Lite-On uses for its optical drive lineup. The hardware itself comes from Lite-On's production, so you are not dealing with two different companies — just one product sold under a branded series name.

Yes, the tray-load mechanism is designed to support both horizontal and vertical installation. This is particularly handy for full-tower and mid-tower cases where drives often sit upright. Just make sure your case has a standard 5.25″ bay available.

For casual use — burning a data disc, ripping a CD, or making a backup — Nero 12 Essentials covers the basics reasonably well. It is not the full Nero suite, though, so if you need advanced features like video authoring, disc spanning, or detailed media conversion, you will likely want to invest in more capable software down the line.

No, it cannot. This is strictly a DVD and CD drive — there is no Blu-ray support at all. If Blu-ray playback or burning is something you need, you will need to look at a different drive entirely, as no firmware update or software workaround can add that capability.

It is worth being upfront here: this optical drive is not particularly quiet at high speeds. During disc spin-up and active reading or burning, some users report a noticeable hum or whir. For quiet or near-silent builds — like a home theater PC — this is a consideration worth factoring in. At idle with no disc loaded, it is silent.

Linux support is solid. Most modern Linux distributions recognize this optical drive natively through their built-in kernel drivers, so you typically do not need to install anything manually. It has been reported working reliably across common distros for both reading and burning tasks.

Yes — there is a small emergency eject hole on the front of the drive. By inserting a straightened paperclip into that hole and pressing gently, the tray will release mechanically without needing the drive to be powered on. It is a standard feature on most tray-loading optical drives and works reliably here.

It is one of the more practical choices for exactly that scenario. The SATA interface is universal for most desktops built in the last 15 years, the half-height form factor matches standard drive bays, and setup is straightforward enough that you can have a replacement running in under 30 minutes. The included cable is a nice touch since it saves you from scavenging one from elsewhere in your build.

Where to Buy

Newegg.com

Lite-On IHAS124-14 Internal DVD Drive

In stock $32.04

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eBay

Lite-On IHAS124-14 Internal DVD Drive

In stock $35.00

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newegg.com

Lite-On IHAS124-14 Internal DVD Drive

In stock $43.28

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Lite-On IHAS124-14 Internal DVD Drive

In stock $49.99

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Lite-On IHAS124-14 Internal DVD Drive

Overview

Features & Benefits

Best For

User Feedback

Pros

Cons

Ratings

Ease of Installation

Burning Reliability

Read Performance

Noise Level

Bundle Value

Format Compatibility

Build Quality

Long-Term Reliability

OS Compatibility

Mounting Flexibility

Software Usability

Value for Money

Emergency Eject

Brand Clarity

Suitable for:

Not suitable for:

Specifications

Related Reviews

FAQ

Will this drive work with my motherboard if it only has SATA ports?

Does it come with everything I need to install it, or do I need to buy extra cables?

I keep seeing the name Plextor and Lite-On used interchangeably — which company actually makes this drive?

Can I mount this drive vertically in a tower case?

Is the included Nero 12 software good enough for everyday burning, or will I need something better?

Can the Lite-On IHAS124-14 Internal DVD Drive play Blu-ray discs?

How loud is this drive during use? I am building a quiet PC.

Does it work on Linux, or will I have issues with drivers?

What happens if a disc gets stuck inside? Is there a way to get it out without power?

Is this a good replacement if my old DVD drive just died and I need a quick swap?

Where to Buy