Suggestions for DVD drive and external enclosure?

[blade]

I need to find a quiet DVD-RW for my HTPC; however I'd settle for a plain DVD player if it would be quieter. I had read somewhere that some (maybe all drives?) could be limited to 1x read speed for DVD playback. I was wondering what everyone here is using?

Also I have my HTPC tucked away out of sight, so I'll need an external enclosure for the DVD drive. Are there any particular brands or sites that you all would suggest? Should I go firewire or usb?

[nielm]

I went for a standard Pioneer 109 DVD-RW (€54) with a generic 51/4 aluminium USB enclosure (€70)... Total cost €122. The complete external DVD-RW's I have seen (plextor) cost €220

Disadvantages: the enclosure has a small fan which is a bit noisy, but the advantage of the external device is that its own power switch so you can switch it off: it is therefore 100% silent unless I am ripping/writing CD/DVDs. The drive itself can be noisy, but not noticable when something is playing.

I think most DVD players lock the drive to 1x speed on playback, otherwise the data will arrive too quickly and the drive will be stopping and starting.