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sou1 so1di3r

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jun 26, 2008
779
13
Denver, CO
sooo, does anyone know if it is possible to use an old CD/DVD drive out of a PC, and just get like a sata to usb and then some sort of power adapter?

would that work?
 
Just buy a 5.25" enclosure. It comes with a power source. Just make sure it's the right type of connector in the enclosure for your drive.
 
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Get yourself a pretty one. :D

Here's a SATA one: http://www.amazon.com/Vantec-NST-53...5304854&sr=8-2&keywords=5.25"+drive+enclosure

... and here's an IDE one: http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Alumi...978&sr=8-4&keywords=5.25"+IDE+drive+enclosure

Like Flowbie suggested, it has to match your connector. If it's old, it's probably the IDE one.

Bear in mind you can find an external drive for about the same money: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...nal+dvd,aps,182&rh=i:aps,k:external+dvd+drive

Here's some white ones: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...ive+white&rh=i:aps,k:external+dvd+drive+white
 
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I don't know if you have an old (probably just works for Macs) computer with a functioning CD drive. But if you investigate the Remote Disc feature offered, then you might save money. My understanding (I don't claim any knowledge if I'm right) is that you can access a disc inside another computer on your network remotely without actually putting that disc into your computer (that doesn't have a physical disc drive).
 
sooo, does anyone know if it is possible to use an old CD/DVD drive out of a PC, and just get like a sata to usb and then some sort of power adapter?

would that work?

owc sells the enclosures (as well as 100 other online traders).

seriously though, an apple usb superdrive is so much smaller and not too different in cost. you also will not need a power adapter for the superdrive.
 
Or get a BluRay player/DVD writer/reader for 20$ on Ebay. Powered by 2 USB slots.
 
"does anyone know if it is possible to use an old CD/DVD drive out of a PC, and just get like a sata to usb and then some sort of power adapter?
would that work?"

It will work just fine.

You might look for a 5.25" enclosure, to put the drive into.

I've burned hundreds of CD's with an old CD burner I found sitting _on the curb_ in a discarded HP tower. Pulled the hard drive out of it, it still works as well!
 
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