Mac slotload CD in a PC?

[Twill]

Hey guys,

I'm trying to figure out if I could take a slot load CD drive from an old imac G3 and put it into a PC. Any idea if it is possible and if it is, what drivers and adapters might I need/where could I start looking for them.

The drive is part number Part # CW-7121 B

Thanks in advance for any advice

Twill

 

[Harvey]

Why would you want to bother when you can buy a new CD ROM, or even a CDRW, drive for around $20?

 

[Dviant]

Originally posted by: Harvey
Why would you want to bother when you can buy a new CD ROM, or even a CDRW, drive for around $20?

I agree, but if you HAVE to have a slot load drive you might wanna track down one of the Pioneer slot loading drives. They dont sell them at any major retailers (least I didnt find any when I checked) but you might want to keep an eye open for one on ebay or F/S/T forums.

I have one of the drives now, and I have been fairly satisfied with it.

Good luck.

 

[Twill]

Originally posted by: Harvey
Why would you want to bother when you can buy a new CD ROM, or even a CDRW, drive for around $20?

lol, I need a slimline drive (DVD/CD-RW) for a SFF comp and I can get a mac slotload for about $25 or I can get a PC one for about $50-60. Just comes down to economics really (read as starving college student)...and for the challenge of getting it working (read as mild bragging rights for those who said it couldnt be done)

slot loading because I want to mount it straigh up and down and have the cd come out the top of the computer (because of space issues) and a laptop drive just doesnt quite cut it functionality wise or aesthetic wise. I know there are downsides to slotloads and may end up with a laptop drive but I dont use the drive much and have never needed to use and odd size disk before...and with USB drives could easily transfer an odd size disk that way.

Anyhoo, that's why. Still looking for anyone who might know

Thanks

Twill

 

[vailr]

If the Mac optical drive has IDE connectors, then it most likely will operate fine in a Windows PC, using the standard MS drivers.
Mac vs. PC optical drives are pretty much interchangable, when both are IDE. It's the operating systems that make the difference, as to the type of file system written to the blank CD.
There may be some minor issue with the screw hole positions lining up, but other than that, should work fine.
So: just double-check that the rear connectors for IDE and 12V power look the same as for a PC optical drive.

 

[htmlmasterdave]

Assuming the connectors are the same and it functions under the same standards..... I can't imagine why it wouldn't work properly. Does the place you are going to buy it at let you take it back within a few days? Or are you stuck with it when you get it? If you can essentially just test it out, I'd definately try it first to save the money.

 

[Twill]

Thanks guys, That's what I was thinking, I was just worried about the drivers.

I dont know if I can test it out...I'll just sell it on ebay if I get stuck with it, it's 2nd hand anyhow

Thanks.

Twill

 

[Eug]

May not work. Standard off-the-shelf IDE optical drives for PCs generally work fine in Macs, but the reverse is not true. The reason for this is because Apple usually has custom firmwares for the drives that ship with their machines (even though the hardware is the same).

 

[bearxor]

The slot-load CD drive I have seen come out of a imac uses a huge 50-pin connector, with a 40-pin connector coming off of it to hook up a ide hd on the same channel.

No doubt the drive IS ide, but the extra connectors I believe were probably there for power. Could be tricky to stick it into a custom-made PC.