Can I upgrade my superdrive?

asolo · Jul 7, 2006

Really liking this machine (iMac 20") however....

I don't know why they call the optical drive "super". (My machine has the Matshita UJ-846) IMHO it is inexcusably slow for a machine with the capabilities its shown me otherwise. Reads/burns my CD's at 24x max. -- about 1/2-speed compared with what I'd like. (Shortly before switching, I put a 52x lite-on in my PC for $40.00. And it does, in fact, burn data flawlessly at that speed.) My iMac does otherwise function flawlessly -- just this slow optical drive is irritating.

Is this drive user-upgradeable? Upgradeable via Apple techs?

I know I can get fast external drive but consider that a nuisance if I can replace internal drive with something better. Are there other considerations I need to take into account?

kaidomac · Jul 7, 2006

You can upgrade it, but it won't go any faster. iMacs use a laptop-sized CD drive. The fastest slimline CD drive I've ever heard of is 24x. Your best bet is to go with an external burner. That's what I did and performance is MUCH faster. Even ripping CDs over a Firewire connection is a major speed bump. I built my own using an enclosure and a burner. The enclosure I used supports both USB 2.0 and Firewire (Firewire is better imo) and costs about $50:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817145654

Here's a good burner for $37:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827101006

asolo · Jul 7, 2006

kaidomac said:
You can upgrade it, but it won't go any faster. iMacs use a laptop-sized CD drive......etc.....]

Thanks for this clear response. I'm "getting it" bit by bit. Will seek/examine other alternatives -- including yours.

Meyvn · Jul 9, 2006

Despite my love for the way they function, I'm beginning to think slot loading drives are the devil; they even add little artefacts to some CDs I rip, so I've had to go to a dedicated CD player for my music listening. Also, for the OP, I've heard that upgrading the Superdrive is one of the hardest things to do on a Mac, up there with the hard drive change in a laptop.

asolo · Jul 9, 2006

Meyvn said:
...they even add little artefacts to some CDs I rip....

Haven't noticed this but will pay attention, now, upon learning of your experience.

Maybe in a year or so when the big-box G5 gets the Intel upgrade and the entire new line settles a bit, I'll go that direction. Something to be said for "full-size" components in larger user-serviceable boxes.

For now, think I'll purchase a fast external CD-burner and relegate the internal drive to DVD duties. (I hardly ever use DVD's)

kaidomac · Jul 9, 2006

asolo said:
Haven't noticed this but will pay attention, now, upon learning of your experience.

Maybe in a year or so when the big-box G5 gets the Intel upgrade and the entire new line settles a bit, I'll go that direction. Something to be said for "full-size" components in larger user-serviceable boxes.

For now, think I'll purchase a fast external CD-burner and relegate the internal drive to DVD duties. (I hardly ever use DVD's)

Yeah, I use mine all the time. I just made a family video for a friend - used the external for using LightScribe to burn designs into the discs (about an hour per disc) and the internal for burning the video from an image. Nice little DVD cloning factory plus I have a spare drive in case the internal dies

asolo · Jul 9, 2006

This question for those of you who are using external optical drives.....

My intention being to get a fast one...I would do this assuming the iMac is capable of getting the data to and from it at the increased speed. This was not a problem with the PC. Do I need to be wary with my iMac? (my machine specs to the left with my log-in name.)

Alexis · Oct 9, 2006

My 20" IMac Matshita Superdrive writes at 56x CD and 8x DVD.

asolo · Oct 9, 2006

Alexis said:
My 20" IMac Matshita Superdrive writes at 56x CD and 8x DVD.

I am not finding your claimed 56x CD write capability spec'd anywhere. Even the newest ones are spec'd at 24x. Can you say where you obtained this info? You're burning full CD's in 1.5 minutes, then?

Alexis · Oct 10, 2006

Yes. In Toast, 56x is listed in the drop down menu:

Alexis · Oct 10, 2006

Ignore that! As soon as you put in a CD it drops to 24x max.

I apologise. What a con!

trpnmonkey41 · Oct 10, 2006

Alexis said:
Ignore that! As soon as you put in a CD it drops to 24x max.

I apologise. What a con!

Yea until you put the media in toast will display every possible burn speed

asolo · Oct 10, 2006

trpnmonkey41 said:
Yea until you put the media in toast will display every possible burn speed

FYI....did purchase LaCie external burner. DVD burns at 16x. CD's at 48x. Does, indeed, deliver perfect burns at those speeds so bottleneck is the iMac's internal drive, not the rest of the machine. Easy plug 'n' play. I do mostly data CD's. Button-push through completion and drawer-open takes 2:55 for full disk. Problem solved.

Repeating: iMac's internal drive does perfect burns and is easy to use. My irritation was only speed.