Can notebook optical drives be replaced?

This may sounds like a stupid question, but I can't seem to find a clear cut answer to this. I'm currently thinking about buying a notebook, but some models seem to have crappy optical drives in them even though the other specs are more than okay (for me). Or put differently, I would like to have a quality DVD writer able to scan discs in my notebook (like the LG drive in the Lenovo 3000 N100).

Can I easily replace the optical drive, as is possible with desktops? Or does it depend on the notebook itself and/or aftermarket optical drive?

 

Most notebook optical drives are a standard size: 1/2" (12.7mm) thick called "slimline". If you have one of these then physical replacement is usually a matter of finding the screw or two which hold it in; pulling it out; swapping over the fixing brackets to the replacement ODD; swapping the fascia / bezel to the replacement ODD, then fixing the new ODD in. Even thinner ODDs are used in a few notebooks.

There is one possible obstacle. On a few notebooks, the ODD shares the same IDE channel as the hard disk, so it is usually set to slave in these cases in order to avoid conflict. In most notebooks the ODD has one IDE channel for itself in which case it doesn't matter if it is master (the usual) or slave.

John

 

Thanks for the quick response. The drive in the ASUS is a Matsh1ta UJ-850S (or Matsush1ta or whatever they're called). Do you know if these are standard (slimline) drives?

 

If you have Toshiba/ASUS, it's normally incompatible with most of drives around. I myself am planning a drive change from DVD writer to BD writer.

Measure your ODD, if it is 12.7 mm, then it will likely fit to most laptops, while if it is 9.5 mm, I don't really know the use of it (yet)

Thanks to blu-ray.com forum and ebay, I gained knowledge in this "12.7 or 9.5 size" matters.

 

In what way exactly? Size, connectors,..?

I was also looking at the Dell Inspiron 1501, but according to this review its optical drive can't be replaced. Only the Lenovo machines seem to have decent drives, but their cheaper models are stuck with GMA 950 graphics chips. Sad.

 

The Mat****a drives have a reputation for being fussy about their food. The UJ-850 is the standard 1/2" size.

John

 

Download the 1501 Sevice Manual and you will see that there's one screw on the bottom which holds the ODD in place. It can't get much easier than that.

John

 

The connector, as from my understanding is all the same for every laptop. Earlier models of Compaq is said not to be compatible (the connector).
I'm not sure regarding ASUS/Toshiba, but it is said that most of them are not compatible. Dell should be OK. Just try to measure the drive

 

The electrical connector on the bare drive is a standard component, but some manufacturers then use an adaptor which you would swap to the new ODD. The drives themselves are a standard shape and size. Notebook manufacturers want consistency and compatibility so they can use parts from different sources according to specification, availability and price.

That said, maybe ODDs from more than 4 or 5 years ago predate the agreed standard.

John

 

John, OK, I am not yet an experienced ODD maniac. I plan to buy Matsu****a/Panasonic UJ-220 BD-RE burner or UJ-210. You just said that thing above, and will this problem applies to that model?

 

Thanks for the info guys! I'll take along my ruler next time I go shopping.

I've made a bid on a secondhand HP DV5137eu, but I'm not sure yet the seller will agree with it. Looks like a nice machine. Does anyone have some info on it (regarding its ODD or otherwise)? I can't seem to find any info here.

edit: by info otherwise I mean a review or user experience, or the US or international model name if it exists.

 

Okay, let me rephrase my last post. The HP DV5137eu seems to be part of the DV5000 series. Does anyone know if the drive of this notebook can be replaced by a standard (slimline) one? I don't really care if the bezel doesn't match, as long as it fits.