superdrive... external drive... for work :-)

[zoran]

Is it possible to remove my 27" iMac SuperDrive, buy some sort of cables/ports, and then make the SuperDrive work like an external dvd drive, connect it to a USB-C port?

 

[hg.wells]

Amazon > Mac USB-C Disk Drive

Easiest option and likely cheaper than getting your iMac SuperDrive to work as an external drive.

 

[zoran]

u mean an enclosure?

 

[hg.wells]

No I mean a disk drive, you can get external cd/dvd disk drives for about $25

 

[zoran]

I want to use the Superdrive thats mounted in my iMac... not sure what u mean

 

[hg.wells]

I’m saying it’s cheaper to buy an external cd/dvd drive than it will be to find the right cables for your iMacs super drive.

 

[zoran]

was hoping for something like this... https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-USB-SATA-Adapter-USB31CSAT3CB/dp/B0133F30R8?th=1&tag=mrforums-20

 

[PaulD-UK]

This is the sort of thing that used to be available if you’re iMac is recent enough to have Sata drives:

Review: MaxConnect USB External Enclosure for Unibody MBP Optical Drive | Jeff Geerling

www.jeffgeerling.com

SuperDrives had a mini-Sata socket so a special connecter is needed.

 

[Fishrrman]

For about the same (or not much more) that the adapter you posted in reply 7 above, you could buy a "standalone" USB2 or USB3 external DVD/CD burner, and use that.

Much easier and you DON'T have to pry open the iMac to get at it.

The newer external drive will work as well or even better than the built-in drive in the iMac.

I have seen genuine "open box" Apple external SuperDrives selling on ebay in the $35 range...

 

[zoran]

It’s not that I need an optical drive to work… it’s that I’m dismantling my iMac and wanted to make use of everything available still working.

 

[Fishrrman]

"it’s that I’m dismantling my iMac and wanted to make use of everything available still working."

Ah, ok, you didn't say that.

I'm actually in a similar position now, a friend recycled a MacBook Pro and saved the DVD/CD drive (which he offered to me).

An enclosure will run $20-30.
But, there really aren't too many that are designed to accept slot-loading drives.
You need to measure the height of the drive (from the iMac).
Is it 9.5mm?
Or, is it 12.7mm?
You need to order the correct enclosure to fit.

I may try it, just for the satisfaction of seeing if it works.
But then again, I could spend $10-15 more for a genuine Apple SuperDrive (open box).