Recommend me a replacement DVD drive for a 2008 Mac pro

[sim667]

Im looking for a replacement drive for me mac pro...... Its one of the models that uses the ATAPI connection and I'm struggling to find anywhere where they still sell those types of drives, most say discontinued.

Does anyone know of any of those type of drives that are still in production??

 

[ActionableMango]

Newegg has 7 IDE models in stock. They all look like they have the tray in the right place. You'll just need to remove the faceplate.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007589 600003705&IsNodeId=1&name=IDE

 

[Loa]

Hello,

As stated above, look for IDE instead of ATAPI.

Also, I wouldn't buy any optical drive that wasn't made by Pioneer.

Loa

 

[ActionableMango]

Also, the 2008 MP has SATA connectors on the mainboard. You could actually install a SATA optical drive, you just need to run SATA cables down to the SATA connectors instead of using the existing IDE cables.

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/tips/MacPro_HD_in_optical_drive_bay/MacPro_HD_in_OpticalBay.html

 

[flatfoot]

...

As stated above, look for IDE instead of ATAPI.

...

IDE (along with SATA) is ATAPI; you mean IDE instead of SATA.

 

[deconstruct60]

Does anyone know of any of those type of drives that are still in production??

Still for sale at OWC :

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/superdrive/Mac_Pro_Xeon

Not Pioneer but suspect they have stopped making them with that extremely dated connector at this point.

Given that Apple seems to be on a path of removing optical from boxes it may also be a good time to invest in a new external optical drive. (e.g., OWC has external SATA based containers which probably have a longer lifetime for mechanisms. ) Booting off Firewire should work. Newer versions of Windows can boot off USB. If booting isn't a requirement, all the more useful to switch to external.

 

[sim667]

I'll see if I can find a pioneer one, and if not try and find that lg in the uk

Thanks everyone

 

[Loa]

Hello,

I'd avoid LG and most other brands. According to this very interesting website (read their forums, not their front page), go with Pioneer, Sony or Samsung. ( http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/media/2808-best-worst-dvd.html )

Loa

 

[sim667]

I've just bought a Pioneer DVR 118L for £17...... that seems to be fairly widely recognised as a working model in the mac pros.