dull dull dull dull as it says in the title
5 yr old desktop pc cd/dvd drive is on way out
do i

1/. do a lot of searching and replace exactly like for like

2/. stuff in whatever the local maplin have on special offer as long its as least as fast as the current one, update the drivers and off i go

2

2 & I don't think you need to bother with drivers…

Just get the connectors right. Don't let the little scroats at Maplin sell you a SATA drive or a drive with speeds all the way up to '11' and pay no more than £15, done.

ok thats all helpful thought it was 2/. but my thinking isn't always right