Mac Mini Optical Drive Upgrade

[jdryyz]

Over time, my 2007 Mac Mini's optical drive (Matshita CW-8124) has developed a problem reading DVD media (read-only and recordable).

I was thinking about using this drive as an upgrade:

http://www.cdfreaks.com/hardware/product/965-Optiarc-AD-7630A.html

Has anyone else here swapped out the Apple-supplied optical drive for a better one? I know with past versions of Mac OS X, there were restrictions on third-party burners but I think such restrictions are non-existent these days. I was still curious if there would be any compatibility issues with using this particular drive. I will be using iDVD 8 and Toast 9 to name just two.

I am also very pleased with the Pioneer DL-burner in my new 2009 Mac Mini. I love how it is totally silent except when media is actually inserted. The Matshita drive makes this silly noise when the Mini is powered-on and wakes from sleep.

I do not have the Pioneer model number in front of me right now. I am confident it would be a perfect candidate to upgrade the Matshita drive but I am concerned about price and availability with that one. I will research it later.

Your thoughts are appreciated.

 

[kwood]

The dimensions would really be the only thing you have to worry about. It seems to have the right interface to be connected to the Logic board.

 

[jdryyz]

Sounds good. I would imagine the dimensions shouldn't vary too much just like a normal 5 1/4" internal desktop burner shouldn't. Although, these can vary in length.

What about the faceplate? Will this have to come off for use in the Mini?

Thanks.

The dimensions would really be the only thing you have to worry about. It seems to have the right interface to be connected to the Logic board.

 

[mooblie]

Try this one...

I just fitted a Teac DV-W28SLC to my Mini, and now it reads and writes DVD-RAM too! Apparently this is the Teac equivalent of the Sony AD-7640A - note: 7640, not 7630 - available in UK on eBay at the moment for 20 GBP!!

It still retains all the other functions as well: r/w DVD±R(W or DL)), r/w CD-R(W), bootable, Burn-Folder and Toast 10-friendly. A real Superduper Drive!

I always felt DVD-RAM was the unsung hero of the DVD family - a truly monster floppy replacement! (even if a little slow).

I wouldn't want to put small or non-circular discs in it, though; although the spec. does actually say "12cm AND 8cm".

---------------------------------
TEAC DVD+-RW DVW28SLC:

Firmware Revision: A.06
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Generic Drive Support)
Profile Path: None
Cache: 2000 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -R DL, -RAM, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, DVD-DAO

 

[jdryyz]

Thanks for the info!