The Difference Between DVD-R & CD-R

DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs) and CDs (Compact Discs) come in blank formats you can use to store information. These are known as "DVD-R" and "CD-R." While a DVD can hold much more information than a CD, a CD still has a few advantages.

DVD-R Basics

A standard DVD-R can hold up to 4.7 gigabytes of information. After it has been set up to store information, however--a process known as "formatting"--it will hold a little over 4 gigabytes.

CD-R Basics

A standard CD-R can hold up to 700 megabytes of data, or about 74 minutes of audio. Certain blank CDs can hold up to 870 megabytes of data or 99 minutes of audio.

Burning Discs

To burn a DVD-R, you must have a DVD burner. A CD burner cannot burn DVDs. Your burner also must specifically support DVD-R discs (as opposed to DVD+R discs).

Music CDs

A car stereo or set-top CD player cannot read a DVD. However, a DVD player can read CDs.

Costs

Blank DVDs used to be much more expensive than blank CDs, because they cost more to manufacture. Technology has evolved since then, but there is still a noticeable price gap.

References

• Ask Dave Taylor: Recordable DVD Types
• OSTA.org: CD capacity