macdan

Optical drives in post-EBM PowerBooks

original mechanisms and possible replacements and upgrade possibilities

newly added matrix of Apple part numbers

I've collected some info about the OE Apple drives in the post-Expansion Bay Module Apple portables. Not all infos are certain, and there are some big holes in the list's completeness. I'll be updating and correcting this list as I can. Where I've listed a specific iBook or PowerBook model the info comes from actual machines' ASP reports. Otherwise I'm using reported or advertised info. Question marks mean I've not got enough info to elaborate further.

Thank you to those who contributed their knowledge for this page!

I'd like to upgrade the original CD-ROM drives in my iBooks. I can replace the mechanisms with most any laptop optical drive, but I'd rather avoid having an ugly hole where used to be the original drive bezel. I did swap a Matsushita SR-8174 DVD reader into my 500 where it works fine but looks ugly with its generic PC bezel.

The original drives' (500 = Matshita CR-177D, 700 opaque 16vram = LG CRN-8245B) bezels won't fit on any of the more recent drives I have on hand. I've put together this page detailing as far as I can Apple's OE drives and various bezels, with an eye toward using that info to find 3rd party upgrade drives with which an original iBook bezel will work.

I'm asking for anyone with an iBook to provide specific details of their iBook's original drive mechanism/model. Even better, if you've upgraded, which mechanism did you use and did it work with your original faceplate? Details, details, details, will help make the upgrade process easier for others.

I'm specifically looking for the optical's OE manufacturer, their model number, and your 'Book's model, speed, etc. I've got some holes, see below for which models missing from the list.

If you can contribute any useful info, corrections to any errors here, or anything else, please email me at

macdan at comcast dot net

post-clamshell iBook optical drive and bezel part numbers

G3 iBooks

661-2529......CD-ROM...................iBook (Dual USB) Matshita CR-177-D

.......................................iBook (Late 2001) (?CR-17x-D?)

-

922-4583......bezel, CD-ROM............iBook (Dual USB)

.......................................iBook (Late 2001)

--

661-2530......DVD-ROM..................iBook (Dual USB) (?SR-817x?)

.......................................iBook (Late 2001)

922-4584......bezel, DVD-ROM...........iBook (Dual USB)

.......................................iBook (Late 2001)

--

661-2531......CD-RW....................iBook (Dual USB) (?Toshiba SD-R2002?)

.......................................iBook (Late 2001)

-

922-4639......bezel, CD-RW.............iBook (Dual USB)

.......................................iBook (Late 2001)

--

661-2532......Combo, Toshiba...........iBook (Dual USB) (?Toshiba SD-R2212?)

.......................................iBook (Late 2001)

 

922-4586......bezel, Combo.............iBook (Dual USB)

922-4640......bezel, Combo.............iBook (Late 2001)

--

661-2580......Combo, Sony..............iBook (Late 2001) (?Sony CRX-7x0E,CRX-8x0E?)

........................................(eg: CRX700E, CRX800E?)

--

661-2667......CD-ROM...................iBook (16 VRAM) (?Matshita CR-17x-D?)

...................................................... (?LG CRN-xxxx?)

922-4583......bezel, CD-ROM............iBook (16 VRAM)

922-5162......bezel, CD-ROM LGE........iBook (16 VRAM)

--

661-2668......Combo....................iBook (16 VRAM) Sony CRX800E, (?Toshiba SD-R2212?)

-

922-4754......bezel, Combo.............iBook (16 VRAM)

922-5161......bezel, Combo, Toshiba....iBook (16 VRAM)

--

661-1775......CD-ROM...................iBook (Opaque 16/32 vram) LG CRN-8245B

922-5432......bezel, CD-ROM, LG........iBook (Opaque 16/32 vram) (Good)

--

661-1776......Combo....................iBook (Opaque 16/32 vram)

........................................(?Toshiba SD-R2212,Sony CRX820E?)

-

922-5433......bezel, Combo, Toshiba....iBook (Opaque 16/32 vram) (Good)

922-5434......bezel, Combo, Sony.......iBook (Opaque 16/32 vram) (Good)

922-4754......bezel, Combo, Sony.......iBook (Opaque 16/32 vram) (Better)

922-5161......bezel, Combo, Toshiba....iBook (Opaque 16/32 vram) (Better)

--

661-2863......CD-ROM...................iBook (800/900 MHz 32 VRAM)

.......................................iBook (800/900 MHz 32 VRAM)

--

661-2890......Combo....................iBook (800/900 MHz 32 VRAM)

................................................Toshiba SD-R2412(14")

................................................(?Sony CRX820E?)


G4 iBooks (slotload drives)

661-2960......Combo CW-8122............iBook G4 12"

661-2984......CD-ROM...................iBook G4 12"

661-3183......Combo CW-8123............iBook G4 12"

661-3256......SuperDrive...............iBook G4 (Early 2004)

661-3255......Combo....................iBook G4 (Early 2004)

661-3257......CD-ROM...................iBook G4 (Early 2004)

iBook clamshell

  • CD - Any CR-17x-D
  • (eg: CR-175-D, CR-176-D, CR-177-D)
  • DVD &endash; any SR-817x ?

PowerBooks

TiBook 400/500

  • 6x PowerBook G4 DVD Drive SR-8187-B (Apple Part # 661-2538) - 6x DVD, 24x CD
  • 8x Combo Drive Matsushita CW-8121-B - 8x DVD read, 24x CD read, 8x CD-R write, 8x CD-RW write

TiBook 550/667

  • 8x Combo Drive Matsushita CW-8121-C (Apple Part #: 661-2596) - 8x DVD read, 24x CD read, 8x CD-R write, 8x CD-RW write

TiBook DVI 667/800 and 867/1gHz

  • 8x Combo Drive Matsushita CW-8121-C - 8x DVD read, 24x CD read, 8x CD-R write, 8x CD-RW write
  • SuperDrive Matsushita UJ-815-C - 8x DVD read, 24x CD read, 1x DVD-R write, 1x DVD-RW write, 16x CD-R write, 8x CD-RW write

G4 AluBook 12"

  • SuperDrive Matsushita UJ-816-C

G4 Aluminum 15"

  • ?

G4 Aluminum 17"

  • SuperDrive Matsushita UJ-815 ?


Notes, explanations and examples

clamshell iBook CD-R/W upgrade

I upgraded the CD-ROM (CR-176-D) in my Blueberry iBook to a Matsushita UJDA-330. I had previously modded this 330 to bus-Master status, so I was able to just drop the drive in. The iBook requires a Master device on the ATA bus to enable booting to the optical when the 'C' key is held during startup.

Toast works great for burning, so I haven't tried to use OS X's built-in disk burning tools. I'm not crazy about the generic faceplate which I had to trim a bit before it would open and close properly.

iBook dual-USB DVD upgrade

I upgraded the CD-ROM (CR-177-D) in my 500mHz iBook to a Matsushita SR-8174 DVD-ROM drive. Same deal as above regarding the faceplate, works but doesn't look so hot.

Since my iBook didn't originally come with a DVD drive I wasn't certain it would play DVD movies, but it does without any problem.

TiBook optical drive upgrades

The first generation 400/500 TiBooks use a non-standard-form-factor slot-load DVD slim drive, without any extra brackets and with a non-standard location for its 50-pin ATAPI connector. All later models use a standard-form-factor slim drive equipped with a pair of mounting brackets. The cables and mounting brackets are different between the 550/667 models and the DVI (667->1gHz) models, neither can use cables or brackets from the other series.

Three points specific to the 400/500 models:

  • It is possible to replace a 400/500's optical with a standard form-factor slim drive with some additional steps. The original drive has no brackets, its rubber mounting grommets attaching directly to the drive. Standard form-factor slim drives need brackets, those from a 550/667 model will work, those from DVI models will NOT.
  • On the couple of swaps I did, with the replacement drive in place the case bottom didn't fit. A pair of protrusions need to be trimmed off at the front edge of the case bottom to allow it to seat correctly.
  • Also, the cable from the original drive won't work with standard form-factor slim drives. A cable from the 550/667 series will work, but DVI model's cable will NOT.

To sum up, to install a standard slot-load slim drive into a 400/500 TiBook, from a TiBook 550/667 you'll need a pair of brackets and an interface cable, plus you'll have to trim the case bottom.

Specific to all later models (550->1gHz)

  • Nothing else is needed, just about any slot-load slim optical in the standard form-factor should physically fit into the brackets (and 'Book) and will attach correctly to the interface cable.

Other Apple models with slot-load drives

  • Haven't got any, so I can't offer any specific advice. However, I'd bet long odds that all later iBooks and AlBooks use standard form-factor drives and therefore should be pretty straightforward swapping candidates.

SuperDrive from a 1gHz TiBook in my 667 DVI

I swapped a UJ-815 from a 1gHz model into my older 667 DVI TiBook, works just dandy. The drive just drops straight in, cables, brackets and all. I'm sure it would also drop straight into a 550/667 TiBook, though the brackets are different and would need to be sourced from the same (550/667) 'Book.

Combo drive from a 550/667 into a 500mHz TiBook

I replaced the original DVD-ROM drive in a 500 with the combo drive from a early DVI model. I had to trim away a pair of tabs, as mentioned above.

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2004.08.27 - added Apple PNs