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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac Desktops > Installing a retail SuperDrive in G5

Installing a retail SuperDrive in G5
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Aug 10, 2003, 09:13 PM
 
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(Last edited by adamwsoccer; May 10, 2006 at 07:23 AM. )
     
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Aug 11, 2003, 05:51 AM
 
Your asking questions nobody can really answer at least with any certainty. The computer is not out yet.

Personally if I was spending that much money I wouldn't be worry about a few hundred dollars never mind $30. Odds are there will be face plate issues and for the piece of mind just go for the superdrive. Your looking to do a lot of work just to save $30.00 dollars? not worth it imho.

Good Luck
Mike
     
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Aug 11, 2003, 06:16 AM
 
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(Last edited by adamwsoccer; May 10, 2006 at 07:23 AM. )
     
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Aug 11, 2003, 07:43 AM
 
No, too many ifs. Unless of course you're really into it.
     
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Aug 11, 2003, 10:26 AM
 
But won't the iLife application (including iDVD 3) come with the purchase of the Power Mac with the superdrive? If so, you're going to pay the same amount of money to get a drive that you'll have to mess with the faceplate, buy the iLife then install it.

Just get the superdrive with the machine and save some opportunity cost as well...

Terrance
     
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Aug 11, 2003, 01:07 PM
 
The metallic faceplate you speak of is not part of the drive -- it slides DOWN, not out, and thus is part of the case, just like the flaps in front of the drives on blue G3's and all G4s, and the G4 iMac.

tooki
     
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Aug 12, 2003, 07:24 AM
 
Originally posted by terrancew_hod:
But won't the iLife application (including iDVD 3) come with the purchase of the Power Mac with the superdrive? If so, you're going to pay the same amount of money to get a drive that you'll have to mess with the faceplate, buy the iLife then install it.

Just get the superdrive with the machine and save some opportunity cost as well...

Terrance
It seems that all new Macs come with iLife. iDVD even runs on machines that lack SuperDrives now. I'm pretty surprised that no one has said the original poster is making the right decision. I'm probably going to opt to remove the SD from my G5, especially because I don't have a compelling reason to own a DVD burner at this point. FWIW, the new MacAddict claims that upgrading the G5 optical drive is a pretty easy process.

"The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." TJ
     
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Aug 12, 2003, 03:06 PM
 
The faceplate on the DVR-105 is removable. (Just open the drive tray and slide the faceplate off the tray.)

Although as tooki said, it appears that the G5 does not have the faceplate actually attached to the drive tray.

Since nowadays you can get a DVR-105 for $150 shipped, it's silly to pay $200 extra for it. Too bad Apple won't let you configure a G5 without any optical drive built in.
     
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Aug 12, 2003, 09:38 PM
 
Remember, the G5's SuperDrive is 4x, so be sure to get a model that matches that or you'll be kicking yourself.
     
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Aug 13, 2003, 12:40 AM
 
An even better reason to get a g5 without a super drive is like mine, I already own one. Why buy a second one? Sure it's only 2x, but it still works. I just flashed teh firmware the other day on my dvr-104 brinigng it to 1.40
     
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Aug 26, 2003, 12:41 AM
 
I opted to buy the retail Pioneer A-104 and installed it in my G4 last year at this time and I am still having issues. Whenever the computer goes to sleep with a disc left in the drive it wakes up to a super crash (one where you actually see the system code come up in black bars on the screen). I have been on the phone with tech support over at pioneer and installed all of the firmware updates and it still crashes.
I just adjusted myself to always remove the dvd or cd in the drive before leaving my computer.

In all honesty I think it is worth the extra money to not have to deal with the hassle.
     
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Aug 26, 2003, 12:52 AM
 
I was in a little bit of a different situation. I am waiting for the new 15" PBs and was going to get a superdrive in that. However, when I learned I could save $200 on the PB and get a superdrive (Pioneer DVR-105 - $160USD shipped) for my desktop, I did that. I have had no issues with the desktop machine, tho I don't put my machine to sleep. And it works fine with my Sawtooth drive bay door.

I think what you are thinking of doing is a good idea. Go for it!

-b
     
   
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