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Mac Pro 2012 internal blu ray suggestions

A

AzazelCoH

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 21, 2008
19
0
We are getting a new Mac Pro 2012 built by our local Apple reseller and as its primarily used for photo retouching we have a lot of data to back up. 8Gb DL DVDs just don't cut it any more so we would like to get an internal blu ray writer up and running on the mac. External really isn't an option as we don't want yet another power plug used on this machine, already have far too many external power plugs running.

Having checked this forum it seems people use the LG drive (LG WH12LS39) but I was wondering are there any other options for interal blu ray writers - are most PC based ones supported by the OS? Our reseller is saying you cant get internal bluray writers for macs, which I know is.... So your advice would be much appreciated. We are UK based so options for this side of the pond would be helpful.

Cheers
 
Most PC based ones are indeed supported. Make sure you get a tray-loading model and not a slot-loading model. With a 2012 you will want a SATA model, which is probably every single one you've seen anyway.
 
I installed an LG in my MacPro 4,1 and it worked perfectly with Encore for BluRay and DVD Studio Pro for regular DVDs. Didn't have to install anything. Don't forget you need to take the front flap off the tray before you install or the door won't open. I left the superdrive in the bottom slot.
 
mr.garon said:
I installed an LG in my MacPro 4,1 and it worked perfectly with Encore for BluRay and DVD Studio Pro for regular DVDs. Didn't have to install anything. Don't forget you need to take the front flap off the tray before you install or the door won't open. I left the superdrive in the bottom slot.
Click to expand...

for data only, it is just drag and drop, dont need a program. 25 gig blu rays on avaerage are $1.00, and are great or burning camara raws.

there is a new lg that also does bd-xl which are 128gb discs. the discs are pretty expensive, hopefully the discs will come down in price - the burner is on sale at frys for $60. it burns bdr at 16x, although the 4x discs are most economical.

to install on the mac pro, you need to get a sata cable and plug it into the spare socket on the motherboard. mac pro has ide cables in the drive bay. best way is to run the cable behind the fan

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mr.garon said:
I installed an LG in my MacPro 4,1 and it worked perfectly with Encore for BluRay and DVD Studio Pro for regular DVDs. Didn't have to install anything. Don't forget you need to take the front flap off the tray before you install or the door won't open. I left the superdrive in the bottom slot.
Click to expand...

oh yeah, forgot about the flap
 
Thanks for the replies guys. We are trying to convince the reseller to add one from new but they are really dragging their heels saying the only compatible ones in an LG external for £240, when I can buy a Pioneer internal for £64 grrr. Will have to see what they say, but again cheers for the info.
 
AzazelCoH said:
but they are really dragging their heels saying the only compatible ones in an LG external for £240, when I can buy a Pioneer internal for £64 grrr.
Click to expand...

You're really better off just doing this part yourself, specially as mr.garon points out: you need to pry off part of the tray. Otherwise it won't slide through the opening on the front of the Mac Pro.

It's insanely easy to do, and there are even vids on YouTube explaining the entire process if you need guidance. System resellers are less likely to want to start prying apart devices like that in case something goes wrong (it won't).

jas
 
cheers, have fitted a few in pc builds so assume pretty much the same, not sure her boss would want me to do it an invalid a warranty though, so we are waiting on their word
 
Hi,

You wrote:

"to install on the mac pro, you need to get a sata cable and plug it into the spare socket on the motherboard. mac pro has ide cables in the drive bay."

Only the 1,1 2,1 and 3,1 Mac Pros use IDE interfaces for their optical drives. The 4,1 and 5,1 all moved to SATA. If the OP has either the 1,1 2,1 or 3,1 Mac Pro, they would be better off getting a SATA-PATA adapter for the blu-ray drive which would be ideal if the OP needs to boot into windows or some other non-mac OS.

The extra ODD ports on these boards is NOT hot swappable, and cannot boot other OS'es, other than MAC OS X. This is an Apple limitation in the hardware which sucks if you ask me. Plus, SATA burners on the SATA bus will burn somewhat faster as two drives sharing one IDE cable could slow down burning if one is trying to run two instances of disk burning using IDE.
 
PowerPCMacMan said:
Hi,

You wrote:

"to install on the mac pro, you need to get a sata cable and plug it into the spare socket on the motherboard. mac pro has ide cables in the drive bay."

Only the 1,1 2,1 and 3,1 Mac Pros use IDE interfaces for their optical drives. The 4,1 and 5,1 all moved to SATA. If the OP has either the 1,1 2,1 or 3,1 Mac Pro, they would be better off getting a SATA-PATA adapter for the blu-ray drive which would be ideal if the OP needs to boot into windows or some other non-mac OS.

The extra ODD ports on these boards is NOT hot swappable, and cannot boot other OS'es, other than MAC OS X. This is an Apple limitation in the hardware which sucks if you ask me. Plus, SATA burners on the SATA bus will burn somewhat faster as two drives sharing one IDE cable could slow down burning if one is trying to run two instances of disk burning using IDE.
Click to expand...

in other words, there is more than one way to skin a cat? when got my blu ray drive, it came with a sata cable, so i just plugged it in - and off to the races. I'm sure you could find an ide > sata adaptor, but personally i take the path of least resistance. I'm glad the 4,1 went sata for the drive bays
 
thanks will bear that in mind, we have the go ahead to purchase a bluray burner and the reseller will fit it (not that I cant, just that they will provide a full warranty for the machine, but if I fit it it wont be covered). It will be a nice Mac Pro 2012 so hopefully SATA.

Only thing now is to source a drive that works with Mac.

Was looking at the Pioneer BDR-207DBK 12x, but if anyone has a drive working please list it, thanks
 
Don't buy a Pioneer. They continually have an error being recognized by the Mac Pro. Pioneer have no personnel to work with Apple. Error code 0x80020025.

If you have already made your purchase, be sure to un-check/deselect "Have this computer Hard drive go to sleep when not in use".
 
Case of disappearing superdrive

Yeah, I continue to have this problem also with my two DVR-218 Pioneer drives.. They work, but after awhile the drives disappear from finder and I wind up trying to reboot the system.

I am going to stay away from Pioneer.. but in the PowerPC days it seemed Pioneer was the standard.


budspwr said:
Don't buy a Pioneer. They continually have an error being recognized by the Mac Pro. Pioneer have no personnel to work with Apple. Error code 0x80020025.

If you have already made your purchase, be sure to un-check/deselect "Have this computer Hard drive go to sleep when not in use".
Click to expand...
 
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