" Hey Mike ...
Just wanted to let you know that Apple has changed the SuperDrive in the latest shipping iMacs. I just bought a 17" iMac LCD straight from Apple's Developer Connection (we're Select developers at work) and I was surprised to see that Mac OS 9.2.2's Apple System Profiler identified the drive as

-------------------------------------------------------------------
DVD-R/CD-RW
Driver version: 1.4.8
Mac OS partitions: 0
Removable media: Yes
Vendor: HL-DT-ST
Revision Number: D02D
Product ID: DVD-RW GCA-4020B
Apple disc burning: Supported
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Depending on who you believe, "HL-DT-ST" is either Hitachi or GoldStar in Korea - I'm not sure which.

A few Google searches revealed that this drive does DVD-R, DVD-RW *and* DVD-RAM! And, supposedly, the CD-R burning speeds are 12x, which is apparently faster than the previous Pioneer SuperDrives. (I can't personally verify this myself, not knowing the specs of the Pioneer A03/A04)
(Pioneer DVR-104/A04 and 103/A04 have a 8x/4x max (CDR/CDRW) burn speed rating.-Mike)
The only place I could find on the Mac Web that mentioned this new development is a 5-day old article on MacWelt.DE, the German Mac site.
Regards,
- Greg E"

About a dozen readers wrote in reply to this post mentioning LG or Hitachi links, etc. - another iMac G4 owner sent info from the label on the drive:

"FYI, I'll read off the label on a superdrive taken out of 17" iMac delivered approx. 3 weeks ago (yep, I've opened the iMac to take a closer look):

HðL Data Storage
CD-RW / DVD-R/RW DRIVE
MODEL No. GCA-4020B
DRIVE REV. A1

manufactured SEPTEMBER 2002
Hitachi-LG Data Storage, Inc.
(...), Tokyo, Japan
MADE IN JAPAN

I tried to look up tech. specs of this GCA-4020B on the web, but got nowhere so far.
Cheers,
Jan"

" My built in 100MB Zip Drive in my Power Mac has been very slow reading and writing and mounting a disc since installing Jaguar OS 10.2, but today after downloading and installing these drivers from Iomega it is now back up to speed and working great. They, (Iomega) claim they will work on all Zip and Jaz drives. It really made a big difference for me......... They can be downloaded here:
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/2205
Jay B "

I don't have an internal ZIP drive in any of my Macs with OS X, so I can't comment on these drivers - hopefully they don't trade off CPU cycle usage for performance and have no negative effects.

• Other World Computing G4/550 in B&W G3 (rated 9)
• Powerlogix G4 Dual 1GHz in G4/AGP (rated 6)
  (includes perf. tests before/after. OS X problems noted, comments on removing cards, etc. helped wake from sleep)
• Powerlogix G4 Dual 1GHz in Dual G4/450 (rated 10)
  (running only OS 9.2.2 - not OS X. didn't comment on wake from sleep.. I wrote to ask)
• Powerlogix G4 550 in B&W G3 (rated 9)
• Powerlogix G4 Dual 800 in G4 Cube (rated 10)
  (noted reseating disp. connector helped wake from sleep?)
• Sonnet G4 1GHz in G4/AGP (rated 6)
  (noted sleep issues in OS 9 and X)\
• Sonnet G4 1GHz in G4/AGP (rated 9)
  (no OS X wake from sleep issues)
• Sonnet G4/800 in 9600/350 (rated 7)
  (some issues noted, perhaps FW/USB card related)
• Sonnet G4/800 in 9600 (rated 7)
  (includes detailed info on Cache enablers for OS 9.2.x and OS X)
• Sonnet G4/800 in Powercenter 132 (rated 7)
• Apple B&W G3/400 OC report (@450)

(Warning - Overclocking may not be reliable and could lead to hardware failure or corrupted data.) You can find the full reports by searching the database selecting the indicated Mac model and upgrade card brand/type. If you've upgraded the CPU on your Mac, please post an entry in the database. Search the database for entries from most every upgradable Mac model *before* you buy. (Searchable by mac model/upgrade brand). For detailed reviews with performance tests and install tips, see the CPU Upgrades page.)

DVD-R DVD Recorder Reports:
• IDE Pioneer DVR -104 in G4/AGP (OS X)
  (DVD-R burning problems noted)
  
  IDE CDRW Drive Reports:
• Acer CRW4012 (40X12X48X) in Beige G3 (OS 9.2)
  (problems noted - returned drive)
• Buslink RW4048 in Dual G4 (OS X)
  (listed under "other" brands)
• Cendyne 40x12x48 model CW4001 in Dual G4 (OS X)
  (listed under "other" brands - no itunes support, not a Liteon model)
• LG 40x12x40 (didn't note model#) in G4/AGP (OS 9.2)
  (no itunes support)
• Lite-On LTR-40125S (40x12x48x) in Beige G3 (OS 9.1)
  (noted flashing to 40125W firmware helped but still has boot problems)
• Sony CRX195E1 in 7x00 using IDE PCI Card (OS X)
  (no iTunes support, didn't note drive speed, specific mac model)
  (FYI - Illustrated CD drive install guide here covers G4 towers up to the Digital Audio Model, Beige G3 MT, B&W G3 and 8600/9600 Macs.)
  
  Firewire CDRW Drive Reports:
• Que QPS 525 24x10x40 used w/Powerbook G4 (OS X)
  (problems noted with Toast 5 update (5.2 I assume) not supporting drive)
• Yamaha CRW-F1 44x24x44 used w/G4 AGP (OS X)
  (using modified plugin for iTunes support from FAQ here.)
  
  SCSI CDRW Drive Reports:
• Yamaha CRW8424SXZ 8x4x24 used w/G4 AGP (OS X)
  
  IDE Hard Drive Reports:
• IBM Travelstar 40GNX 40GB in iBook 2001 (OS X)
  (FAQ's ibook section has link to HD install guide - not easy in the ibook)
• IBM Travelstar 20GB in PowerBook G3 wallstreet2 (OS X)
  (updated report after appx 1 year of use - problems noted
  illustrated HD install guide here for PB G3 wallstreets)
• IBM Travelstar 60GB in PowerBook G3 2000 (OS X)
  (illustrated HD install guide here for upgrading the Pismo.)
• Maxtor Fireball 40GB in Beige G3 (OS 8.6)
  (Beige G3 MT illustrated HD upgrade guide here)
• Maxtor DiamondMax Plus D740X 80GB in B&W G3 (OS 9.2)
  (Illustrated guide to adding a 2nd HD here in B&W G3 rev 2 to G4 QS models)

You can find full owner reports (latest shown first) by searching the database by drive/brand/interface/mac models (the latest reports are shown first in searches). For guides to installing CD/CDRW/DVD drives or Hard drives in many mac models, see the IDE Articles page. The Firewire articles page also has guides on case kits, installing drives, etc.
If you've added a IDE, SCSI, Firewire or USB hard drive, CDRW, tape drive, etc. make sure you add a report to the database. [If you post an updated entry - make sure you use the same name, etc. as you did before so I can find your past entry. Thanks.]
(Entries today will be added the following newsday. Incomplete entries are deleted. Do not post questions in the database, it's for drive reports not questions on what drive to buy - for that try searching the database for reports from owners of your mac model on the drive type/brand/interface, etc. you're interested in.)

• 1 year ago today
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