Do the Verbatim 8.5GB 8x DL work as good as 2.4x for backups?

Well as long as you still burn at 2.4x it doesn't matter.

No need to burn at only 2.4x with either of them. 4x or 6x should be fine. Either way, the 8x officially rated MKM003 discs will work just as well, they just tend to be significantly more expensive and most setups can burn the 2.4x rated discs at up to 8x with no problems so they are kind of a waste of money unless you can find some incredibly good deals on them.

I ordered a the 20pack of 2.4x from newegg and ended up getting a 20pack of 8x. Looks like a saved a buck.

I know a while who you or someone posted a nice detailed post show that 4x and 6x where as good if not better as the 2.4x burn on Pioneer 111d does this hold true on the Nec 3550A as well(I haven't had a bad burn or a failed burn on this drive yet in over 20 backups all at 2.4x).

Not sure on that burner as I have never tested it on one. As for the ones you picked up from newegg, sorry to tell you that they are in fact 2.4x rated discs, but most burners overspeed them to 8x without any complications.

Cool thx for the info.