Is new Superdrive USB3 ?

[Gator Bob]

Is the apple store Superdrive "for the MacBook pro Retina display" USB3 ... or is it the same old USB 2 superdrive?

 

[webstarcool]

Is the apple store Superdrive "for the MacBook pro Retina display" USB3 ... or is it the same old USB 2 superdrive?

This is a good question. I have been wondering this myself. The USB SuperDrive appears in the list of new products in the online store, so I would suppose it has been upgraded. There is just not any information out there on this.

What I do know is that the old USB SuperDrive (with USB 2.0) had the product number MC684ZM/A while the new one listed in the Online store has MD564ZM/A. Makes me think that the product is new and therefore supports USB 3.

 

[DTphonehome]

This is a good question. I have been wondering this myself. The USB superdrive does appear in the list of new products in the online store, so I would suppose it has been upgraded. There is just not any information out there on this.

The only change I'm aware of is the ability to write DVD audio (DVDA). I haven't heard anything about USB 3.

 

[dukebound85]

It is my understanding that odd cant saturate a usb 2 connection. Could be wrong though

 

[marzer]

Would be unnecessary. The fastest DVD/CD drives on the market operate at maybe one third of USB 2 theoretical bandwidth of 480Mbps. An 8x Superdrive is at best maybe 80-90Mbps transfer rate.

 

[swordfish5736]

i noticed this as well and was wondering if it was showing in the new to the store list because they updated to USB 3 or if it just showed up because they added the retina macbook pro to the list of supported devices

 

[anti-microsoft]

Since it supports the Mac Mini, it's probably USB 2.

 

[swordfish5736]

Since it supports the Mac Mini, it's probably USB 2.

arent usb 3 devices backwards compatible with usb 2?

 

[amarcus]

arent usb 3 devices backwards compatible with usb 2?

Yes. I wonder if the new superdrive removes the Mac only restriction - can anyone test this?

Adam

 

[swordfish5736]

Yes. I wonder if the new superdrive removes the Mac only restriction - can anyone test this?

Adam

The old one(if this one is any different) didn't even work with some macs, since it required the higher powered USB port no?

 

[Smartie]

Isn't the risk that the only update is the name? Previously it was called MacBook Air SuperDrive, now it is called USB SuperDrive because of RMBP being launched without ODD? This is my guess

EDIT: read that it also now supports DVD audio.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

It is my understanding that odd cant saturate a usb 2 connection.

Correct.

The maximum read speed of many CD readers is 52x, which means 176.400 Byte/s * 52. 176.400 Byte/s is equal to 44.100 sample/s * 2 Byte/sample * 2 channels.

176.400 Byte * 52 = 9.172.800 Byte

9.172.800 Byte / (1024 * 1024) = 8.74 MByte/s
or roughly
9.172.800 Byte * 8 = 73.382.400 Bit/s = 73.38 MBit/s

If we assume we can use 240 MBit/s of the 480 MBit/s USB 2.0 bandwith, we can connect
240.000.000 Bit/s / 73.382.400 Bit/s = 3 USB 2.0 SuperDrives
to one USB 2.0 port, before we reach a practical limit.

Not?