Need UHD External Drive with Push Style Tray.

[PoliteWatcher]

Helo.

Let me preface this with saying I am very sorry if this information is out there already. I have searched and read multiple threads but couldn't find an answer to my specific needs for a custom PC build I am doing which are:

- External form factor
- The tongue spitting out type, not the clamshell or disk eating kind
- USB C (or at least with a detachable cable and I can replace it with USB C)

I want to put a Mac mini with an external blurry drive inside of a 2002 iMac G4. This iMac had the disk tray pop out of the body and I would like to recreate this so I am seeking help to anyone who could find a drive that could fit my description.

Thank you and God bless.

[dcoke22]

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+G4+15-Inch+700+MHz+EMC+1873+Optical+Drive+Replacement/6669

The pictures in the iFixIt guide make it seem like a mostly stand sized tray loading drive.

I found this guide too: https://www.xlr8yourmac.com/systems/iMac_g4/imacg4_takeapart.html

If you currently have an iMac G4, what are the dimensions of the optical drive that came inside it?

[PoliteWatcher]

Thank you for your kind reply and research, but it will have to be an external UHD drive because I want to out a Mac mini inside the body of the G4 iMac (like this person did https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFTQ9OsPQyY) But I wish to go a step ahead and put a functional UHD drive inside that will open the disk tray when I eject a disk as if it was all original.

No, I am sorry I don't know the dimension. I first wanted to see if there was an tongue-ejection-style external UHD drive before I even purchased the iMac or the Mac mini because it all hinges on the drive.

Do you know of any external tongue-ejection-style drives that are Libre compatible or whatever is needed for MakeMKV to work?



Thank you!

[PoliteWatcher]

Can any drive become a Libredrive?

If being a Libredrive is all that I need to rip and if any drive can become one, then I can just find any sliding tray style drive and flash it, right?

In my head, only speficic drives were libre so I had to find one of those and hope it had a sliding tray.

[dcoke22]

I know what you're trying to do.

From the disassembly photos, it appears that Apple had a set of rails that the optical drive was mounted to. What were the dimensions of the drive that Apple mounted there?

For instance, an LG WH16NS60 drive has dimension of 5.7" x 1.6" x 6.5" ( W/O Bezel ).

And a Pioneer BDR-S13UBK drive is longer, with dimensions of 5 13/16" (w) x 1 21/32" (h) x 7 1/8" (d) ( W/O Bezel )

There's not a lot of space inside an iMac G4. Without knowing how big of drive Apple originally put in there, there's no way of knowing what sort of thing from today will fit. Apple being Apple, they might've gotten a manufacturer to make something completely custom sized that doesn't conform to any standard. Or, it might be a completely standard sized drive and either of the two examples above will fit.

[dcoke22]

Can any drive become a Libredrive?

If being a Libredrive is all that I need to rip and if any drive can become one, then I can just find any sliding tray style drive and flash it, right?

In my head, only speficic drives were libre so I had to find one of those and hope it had a sliding tray.

No, only specific drives are supported.

[PoliteWatcher]

Thank you, but the old drive has to go to make room for the mini.

So, in place of the old drive will go the mini and an external drive.

There is room for both, I do know that. But it has to be ant external drive, not an internal drive since those are thicker. There wouldn't be room for both an internal drive and the Mac mini but there is enough room for a Mini and an external drive sitting inside the iMac.

So now I just need to find a Libre external drive with a push open tray, do you know of any?

[dcoke22]

Usually when people use the term 'external drive' what they mean is a drive that comes in its own case. It is intended to exist separately from a computer. The term 'internal drive' means a drive without an external case that is intended to exist inside a computer. In neither case, typically, does it imply a specific form factor (or thickness as I think you've referred to it). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_disc_drive#Form_factors

There are typically two form factors of drive, a half-height drive, which is the kind typically found in a desktop computer, and a slim drive, the kind that were once common in laptops.

In either form factor one can find internal or external drives.

Additionally, you can read about the terms used to describe the various loading mechanisms of optical drives.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_disc_drive#Loading_mechanisms

[PoliteWatcher]

Okay, can you please help me find an external drive just like this one but is Libre compatible and has tray loader instead of the clamshell opening like this one has. Everything else to be the same for similar, the drive hight, the single usb cable, all the same. The ONLY difference being the way the drive opens, please.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0843 ... =UTF8&th=1

[PoliteWatcher]

I don't think I am being clear enough.

I don't know what drives are Libre drives, right?

So I need help finding an external UHD drive that is Libre compatible AND opens up with a tray, not like a laptop to make this Mac mini/iMac computer work but I don't know how to find out what drives work you know?

Do you know of any?

Thank you.

[Coopervid]

I don't think I am being clear enough.

I don't know what drives are Libre drives, right?

So I need help finding an external UHD drive that is Libre compatible AND opens up with a tray, not like a laptop to make this Mac mini/iMac computer work but I don't know how to find out what drives work you know?

Do you know of any?

Thank you.

Please SLOW down. Do you want a slim external USB drive or an internal full size 5,25" drive? We can then discuss options.

[Coopervid]

I don't think I am being clear enough.

I don't know what drives are Libre drives, right?

So I need help finding an external UHD drive that is Libre compatible AND opens up with a tray, not like a laptop to make this Mac mini/iMac computer work but I don't know how to find out what drives work you know?

Do you know of any?

Thank you.

Please SLOW down. Do you want a slim external USB drive or an internal full size 5,25" drive? We can then discuss options.

And country of residence please.

[PoliteWatcher]

Lol, I feel like you're the one needing to slow down and I also answered that already so obviously there's a misunderstanding.

Glad we got that out in the open.

Starting over,

Forget that the bluray drive is going into an iMac because that confuses things.

So, I see on the list of Libre compatible drives on this forum post (viewtopic.php?t=19634) is the "BDR-UD04 Slim 9.5mm tray load". It is an internal drive but I will need to convert it to an external drive so it can connect to the Mac mini via USB.

With that all laid out, will this SATA to USB C adapter work to convert this internal UHD drive to an external drive?

https://www.amazon.com/BENFEI-Drive-Ada ... 9hdGY&th=1

[MartyMcNuts]

I don't think I am being clear enough.

I don't know what drives are Libre drives, right?

So I need help finding an external UHD drive that is Libre compatible AND opens up with a tray, not like a laptop to make this Mac mini/iMac computer work but I don't know how to find out what drives work you know?

Do you know of any?

Thank you.

https://www.lg.com/us/burners-drives/lg ... -dvd-drive

[PoliteWatcher]

Thank you and good job, but will this SATA to USB C adapter work to convert this internal UHD drive to an external drive?

https://www.amazon.com/BENFEI-Drive-Ada ... 9hdGY&th=1