Putting a DVD-RW in a PowerMac G4 500

ginopiazza49 · October 7, 2002 8:21PM

I have a PowerMac G4 500 (Sawtooth). I need to install a DVD-RW. I want to take out the CD/ DVD-RAM and replace it with a DVD-RW drive. Can I replace the built-in Zip drive and replace it with a high capacity hard disk? In other words, can I install two drives?

Is the Pioneer DVR-104 the best DVD-RW drive to look at? Or should I look at a different manufacturer ?

Also, where can I get a replacement bevel for the G4 once I replace the drive(s)?

kiu77 · October 8, 2002 8:04AM

No chance!

There is only space for one 5,25" drive.

But you can connect it external via firewire...

cosmo · October 8, 2002 11:28AM

If you read his post, you would realize that he wishes to replace the original optical drive with a DVD-RW. This can be done and it should work right out of the box as long as you are running the latest mac OS. You can replace your zip drive with any 3.5" IDE hard disk.

You won't be able to burn movies on the DVD unless you buy DVD Studio Pro or find someone who has a copy of iDVD that you can have. Buring data DVDs with toast should be no problem, however.

[ 10-08-2002: Message edited by: Cosmo ]

tigerwoods99 · October 8, 2002 1:31PM

Actually there is space for 2 full drives.

kiu77 · October 8, 2002 5:28PM

OK Cosmo - I've been to fast to read ;-(

Yes he can replace his optical drive and

yes he can replace the Zip with a hard drive.

There is space for one optical 5,25" drive with

front access and one 3,5? drive with front access.

chych · October 8, 2002 6:04PM

Tigerwoods is right, if you're skilled with a dremel and in case modding, you can fit both of the drives in there.

And you should be looking at the Pioneer 105, not 104...

[ 10-08-2002: Message edited by: chych ]

multimedia · October 10, 2002 2:08AM

kiu77 needs to take a chill pill and reconsider his use of the term "No chance! There is only space for one 5,25" drive." There is every chance. In fact it is a 100% certainty that has already been done by many clever Mac fanatics.

kiu77: I wrote you the model numbers backwards before. Here are the right model numbrs:

You want the Quad Speed Pioneer DVR-105 NOT A05. The DVR-A05 is a retail box that contains software and hardware you will never use. Only buy the raw OEM DVR-105. Use <a href="http://www.PriceWatch.com"; target="_blank">http://www.PriceWatch.com</a>; to find the best price. Due in November ? dock lockout delays not withstanding.

There is a well documented dual 5.25" optical hack for pre-MDD Macs. Lucky for you I bookmarked it when I came across it a few months back:

<a href="http://www.quinnmacdonald.com/g4/index.html"; target="_blank">http://www.quinnmacdonald.com/g4/index.html</a>;

Detailed step by step instructions complete with plenty of photographs. Have fun!

Let's all thank Quinn MacDonald too! What a guy!

[ 10-12-2002: Message edited by: Multimedia ]

ginopiazza49 · October 10, 2002 10:22AM

Multimedia, are you very sure the DVR-A05 is the DVD-RW to get? Also, the dual 5.25 optical hack you gave a link to is for Quicksilver PowerMacs. I am wondering whether the Sawtooth model PowerMacs have the same amount of space.

kiu77 · October 10, 2002 5:30PM

Oh Multimedia!

I apologize again.

Please forgive.

I posted before that I was too fast and did not read right.

So stay cool...

multimedia · October 12, 2002 4:40PM

Yes they have the same amount of space as the one pictured. You just have to adapt according to the details of your rig. The Pioneer DVR-A05 is the internal IDE drive in a retail box with PC software and an IDE cable you won't need. The DVR-105 is the OEM raw internal drive for less money. They don't go on sale until November. Keep checking <a href="http://www.pricewatch.com"; target="_blank">http://www.pricewatch.com</a>; for it to show up. It'll be listed under the CDR section.

ginopiazza49 · October 12, 2002 6:11PM

Just in case anyone is in the same situation as me and is looking to purchase the Pioneer DVR-105, I thought I would point them to the following web site at ESBuy where you can reserve a DVR-105 now <a href="http://www.esbuy.com/elegantshopping1/"; target="_blank">http://www.esbuy.com/elegantshopping1/</A>; .

multimedia · October 12, 2002 8:07PM

Good tip if you don't live in California. Those of us who do would like to avoid the $27 sales tax that this Irvine California reseller would charge us. But otherwise, it's good evidence the price will be the same as the old 104. And we have the first evidence of the exact shipping date: Tuesday, November 5th. Whoopie!

[ 10-12-2002: Message edited by: Multimedia ]

tool · October 21, 2002 7:26PM

You can buy iDVD2 from Apple..I did when I replaced my DVD-ROM with the Superdrive in my G4/500 powermac.

waterboy · October 23, 2002 8:41PM

[quote]Originally posted by TOOL:

You can buy iDVD2 from Apple..I did when I replaced my DVD-ROM with the Superdrive in my G4/500 powermac.<hr></blockquote>

I've heard that iDVD doesn't work with external DVD-RW drives. Can I get an external Superdrive that will work with iDVD? Can I install an internal Superdrive (Quad Speed Pioneer DVR-105) that will work with iDVD? I like the idea of using iDVD but it wasn't even available when I got my G4/400 Sawtooth machine. I have plenty of RAM and hard drive space, but I just don't know for sure if there is any way to use iDVD on my machine. I don't mind buying the iDVD software itself, I just don't want to buy a new PowerMac just yet. Has anyone gotten iDVD to work with a user-installed Superdrive?

sonicdude61 · October 23, 2002 10:59PM

[quote]Originally posted by ginopiazza49:

I have a PowerMac G4 500 (Sawtooth). I need to install a DVD-RW. I want to take out the CD/ DVD-RAM and replace it with a DVD-RW drive. Can I replace the built-in Zip drive and replace it with a high capacity hard disk? In other words, can I install two drives?

Is the Pioneer DVR-104 the best DVD-RW drive to look at? Or should I look at a different manufacturer ?

Also, where can I get a replacement bevel for the G4 once I replace the drive(s)?<hr></blockquote>

I know a guy at the Apple store who bought the drive on eBay, took out the old one, put in the DVD-RW and BAM! it worked, and so did iDVD.

multimedia · October 27, 2002 3:46AM

The earliest adopters of the new Pioneer DVR-105 will have the honor of discovering if iDVD 2.1 thinks it's a faster 104 or can't see it. I'm not in a position to do it because I don't have a G4 tower. Someone get ready with the iDVD 2.1 from a friend or the Apple Store (upgrade is a full install).

I will post the best deal as soon as it appears on PriceWatch.com. But if you know a reatil outlet like CompUSA or Fry's that will let you return it if it doesn't work, that would be a sure way to be sure you don't have to wait for Apple's update after you buy it. I feel confident it will perform CDR recordings out of the box because of the CDR standard that is built into the OS.

There's always a period of disharmony between new hardware and old software when a new item appears on the scene. Let's hope this one's short and sweet. Wouldn't it be nice if Apple was secretly preparing an update for release on November 5th along with the rest of their announcements?

[ 10-27-2002: Message edited by: Multimedia ]

lm · November 7, 2002 10:57AM

So, anyone try the DVR-105 yet? <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />

multimedia · November 14, 2002 4:04AM

10.2.2 supports the Pioneer DVR-105. So you're good to go with the 105 as soon as you can find one to buy.

I told you they would sooner than later. Sooner is NOW!

lm · November 25, 2002 2:14PM

I got the DVR-105 and it works in my G4 466 tower. I had to get copies of iDVD2 and DVD Player 3.2 though. I bought the drive as a firewire drive, so I could swap it between machines, but ended up taking it out of the enclosure because iDVD just won't run using an external drive. Apparently the OWC enabler doesn't work in 10.2, so that's not an option.

Oh yeah, and the 4x media is about 8x more expensive at this point! I learned quite a bit on this one.

multimedia · December 6, 2002 1:56AM

The Pioneer DVR-A05U retail box is on store shelves now Â? or was last weekend for $299 Â?Â*now $319. The RAW DVR-105 is for sale online for just under that. A lot got stuck on a boat in LA harbor and this first batch had to be flown in from Japan at extra expense so first prices are a little higher than they will be next month.

Putting a DVD-RW in a PowerMac G4 500

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