Can I take the SuperDrive from a 2007 Mac Mini and put it in a 2009 Mac Mini?

[GameGuru38]

My wife is not happy with her Mac Mini I got off eBay, it is the one in the thread. It is constantly stalling and beach balling and I already did a clean install of Lion from USB thumb drive. Not sure where the issue is and I have not been happy we are stuck with Lion on it so I am looking at eBay for a newer model. I am looking at a 2009 that can take up to El Capitan (will just go up to Mavericks though) and I found one that is going for a decent price right now but the SuperDrive isn't functioning. If I bought this could I just take the SuperDrive out of the 2007 and install it in the 2009 or are they different?

 

[Kaida]

Have you opened up your 2007?

My 2009 is a 12.5mm Sata connector. If it is the same, it will most probably work

 

[MultiFinder17]

Nope, sorry mate; the 2009 uses a SATA optical drive, and the 2007 uses a PATA optical drive.

They go for around $20-40 on eBay; a cheaper option would be an external USB optical drive that can be had for $10-20. Plus, that can be used on other computers