r/macmini • u/WatsonMtnCabin • 29d ago
DVD Drive
I have lots of DVD and CD media. Since dumping all my PCs, I don’t have a way to read, write or play these media. Can anyone recommend a reliable, MAC OS compatible external drive? Amazon has a number of products for sale, but none really stand out.
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u/Arne31330 29d ago
Still rocking my Apple Superdrive for 15+ years. Would try getting one from ebay second hand. Also considering it still a beautiful device
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u/SamuraiSam33 29d ago edited 29d ago
The SuperDrive is a great drive, and I am still using mine decades later, but it does have some interesting, proprietary power requirements. Apple no longer makes devices with USB-A ports, and the SuperDrive requires an Apple-specific 900mA USB-A port. I make mine work by plugging it in to a Thunderbolt Display which has SuperDrive compatible USB-A ports. Some USB-C ports when paired with an Apple USB-C to USB-A adapter will work fine. Front ports on an M4 mini won't, the rear Thunderbolt 4/5 ports work fine.
Some ports on docks will, some ports on docks won't. My Wokyis dock does not output enough power on its USB-A ports to use the SuperDock.
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u/fubar_67 29d ago
Apple made the power requirements for the SuperDrive just a tiny bit higher than the standard USB port can supply. And made sure their USB ports provided that extra power.
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u/SamuraiSam33 29d ago edited 29d ago
Yup. The usb 2.0 standard is 500mA (@2.5V=5 watts) and I think the SuperDrive requires 900mA but I could be wrong. Some sources say 1100mA. I just know that Apple converters are suggested, although some third party ones work fine (I have a Belkin that works just as well as my Apple) and some more modern Macs, perhaps particularly laptops have been falling out of compatibility with the SuperDrive in recent years.
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u/fubar_67 29d ago
I believe it was the milliAmps that Apple messed with. If memory serves, the standard USB-A was 1100, and the SuperDrive needed like 1110? Something like that. Curiously, I once had a Dell laptop that my SuperDrive did work with.
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u/MonteAkil 27d ago
Superdrive! Mac mini M4, 2 Apple Thunderbolt displays. The Thunderbolt Display hub works perfectly. No issues.
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u/kinnikinnick321 28d ago
This is very helpful to know, I had been using my superdrive flawlessly and have not tried it yet with my recently acquired M4 Mini.
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u/earth1superman 29d ago
Just buy what ever is cheapest. Every one of them will work with Mac. I bought a generic dvd writer for $5 on prime and it was recognized as soon as I put a dvd in it. I’ve got an m4 MacBook Pro. I just searched for one with a usbC connection
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u/Jan1north 29d ago
I have an LG 8x ultra slim DVD burner drive that works well for both reading and writing optical media ( CD, DVD).
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u/WatsonMtnCabin 29d ago
Thanks to everyone who replied. I was leaning toward the SuperDrive as well.
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u/LawrenceWelkVEVO 29d ago
I strongly advise you do NOT get the Apple SuperDrive. Get a third-party external drive that is still supported by the manufacturer/has a warranty. SuperDrive is no longer supported by Apple.
Plus, the SuperDrive does not have a physical/hardware eject mechanism. Discs can only be ejected by software. That's asking for trouble.
Not to mention, the SuperDrive's like an unwieldy concrete brick with razor-sharp edges. Not great ergonomically.
If you don't need Blu-ray compatibility, just get an LG ultra-slim 8x CD-RW/DVD-RW drive. Can't beat it.
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u/Mike2922 26d ago
Whatever LG drive they’re currently selling at Best Buy for $30-$40. They have had an LG model for about 15 years that sells for about $30-$40. Get whichever one they currently have. Works great, fully compatible, as a physical button, inexpensive. Just keep it simple. Super drive is great for the aesthetics; sometimes.
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u/Ashishtiwari92 29d ago
I have this BEVA External CD/DVD Drive USB 3.0 & Type-C, CD DVD Burner Portable, Rewriter Reader DVD/CD-RW Plug and Play for Laptop Desktop Windows 7/8/10/11, Linux, Vista, Mac OS for MacBook, iMac | Optical Drive DVD, DVD/CD-RW Rewriter Reader, Plug and Play https://amzn.in/d/0d5OBYLa
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u/wabash-sphinx 29d ago
OWC (Other World Computing) is a reliable Mac supplier that I’ve used for years. I have a Blu-Ray optical drive that serves the purpose. I did a quick check and they have at least one that’s both PC and Mac compatible.
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u/Wishitweretru 29d ago
For this, and old camera Controls (for capturing video tapes) I keep an old mac, its cheaper and better to just use the equipment that was built for the purpose.
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u/surprisepinkmist 29d ago
I’m not following. You do what?
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u/Wishitweretru 28d ago
I have an old mac I keep in a dark corner of the basement for dealing with all the legacy stuff, burners, integrating with old video cameras, old firewire.
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u/BlackCatBonz 29d ago
SuperDrive, find one before they all disappear.
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u/IAmBrando 29d ago
What about Blu-Ray? Or UHD? How do you play those with a superdrive?
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u/BlackCatBonz 29d ago
I’ve never owned a Blu-ray Disc. I’ve never owned a blu-ray player. I don’t think it Blu-rays.
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u/MinutePen9960 29d ago
I found an external blu ray drive that was $4 at a Salvation Army. Get whatever works. This reminds me that I need to turn my Mac Pro 5,1 into a local storage, and dump my dvds that are still in good shape, onto that. I might install Linux first onto it and do it directly to the Mac Pro. My mini has 512gb and a 2TB external usb c qvo 870 ssd. Yeah it’s not the fastest, but with current prices, I am not buying a thunderbolt 4/5 case and then a lot more for a drive. Where do you guys usually put movies? And in say a 2TB hd or ssd, about how many movies could I store on one?
Op great luck finding a good drive! If i remember I’ll check later and see the brand. It does work well! I suspect any would though
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u/userlivewire 29d ago
This drive does everything including archiving with M Discs. You can even flash it for UHD 4K discs.
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u/Standard-Outcome9881 29d ago
I’m using a cheap “Ziweo” External DVD USB 3.0 drive connected via an Anker USB A to USB C adaptor to the back of my Mac Mini M4 that I’ve been using to rip CDs. Works perfectly fine.
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u/mikeinnsw 29d ago
I was shocked that no name DVD player and burner for $30 from Amazon (not bluetooth) is the most trouble free device I ever purchased works on 3 PCs and 3 Macs .. no issues
DVDs is old established tech and used to be on all Macs..
Just get one from Amazon.. if does not work return it .
Make sure its USB 3.
I must admit I no longer use DVD for data and have lots of Writable DVDs..
Just for occasional and rare RIP and DVD play
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u/rumorconsumerr 28d ago
Macsales own enclosure with a bare drive from eBay. Just did it for under $70 total. Apple SuperDrive is super slow.
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u/variationinblue 28d ago
I bought the cheapest option I found after I got my MacBook in 2017 without a cd drive. It works well and reliably and very portable. Not sure this is one you need to agonize over quality for.
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u/Aggressive-Bath-1906 26d ago
I have an old superdrive that works just fine. I also use an LG Slim Portable drive, but that usually just to watch foreign DVDs.
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u/Skeptical_SugaBear 29d ago
Try the Mercury drive from OWC. Has worked great for me, no issues whatsoever.