It’s no secret that Verbatim’s Dual Layer DVDs (such as this 10 pack, Code:43666 and this 25 pack, Code:43667) are probably the best choice for backing up game discs. They’ve got great compatibility with the widest range of drives, particularly when burned at the slower 4x speed.

Just one snag- while a lot of our customers love Verbatim’s quality, they’re less keen on the price. Even with the benefit of Disk Depot’s rock-bottom prices, Verbatim are never the cheapest on the block. Is there an alternative?

Fortunately, there is. Regardless of the name on the box, double layer discs can basically be grouped into those with CMC dye, Ritek dye, Ricoh dye and those with MKM (Verbatim) dye. In practice, MKM dye is only usually found in Verbatim discs and CMC and Ritek based media are the most common.

We’ve found that AOne’s double layer discs (available as printable or branded versions) display a surprisingly high level of compatibility with game drives, considering their relatively low cost. This is probably one reason that they’re so popular! Definitely one to keep in mind if you’re looking to save pennies.

AOne discs use the less common RICOHJPN (Ricoh Japan) dye, which might be why their performance stands out in a sea of CMC and Ritek-based media.

For long-term archival use, we’d still recommend Verbatim above everything else, but for value-for-money media with good compatibility… give AOne a try and save money!