Optical drive compatibility with newer models?

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MacBook Core Duo

Mid 2006 / Model Number: A1181 / black or white case / 1.83 or 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo processor

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Huzefa M Ali @huzefamali

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Posted: Feb 19, 2010

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Optical drive compatibility with newer models?

I need to inquire, since apple support and none of apple authorised service provider replied me definitively since they want me to take my MacBook for service and pay a heft amount for labor since it is not covered in warranty.

I read the optical drive replacement guide and tear down the MacBook. now i need a replacement optical drive. OWC sells one standard optical superdrive for MacBook that seems to fit almost all models starting from intel core duo in 2006 upto late 2009 MacBook Pro models. does that mean the dimensions and sata socket for superdrives that apple uses is standard.

if its true, can i buy an optical drive removed from aluminum 13 inch unibody intele core2duo MacBook? the seller doesnot provide any returns and i cannot find compatibility information anywhere.

Huzefa

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Can you provide a part number?

Feb 19, 2010 by mayer

Checking Mactracker it would seem optical drives before the aluminum model used an ATA100 mode while the aluminum model and those who came later use SATA. Ralph

Feb 19, 2010 by rj713

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Checking Mactracker it would seem optical drives before the aluminum model used an ATA100 mode while the aluminum model and those who came later use SATA. Ralph — rj713

Ben Eisenman @beneisenman Rep: 87.6k 161 82 213 · Answer 1 · 2010-02-19T19:25:09-07:00

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Ben Eisenman @beneisenman

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Apple used the standard optical connector (shown here) in Core Duo, Core 2 Duo, Santa Rosa, and Penryn (early 2008) white MacBooks. They changed to a SATA-type connector (shown here) for the Early and Mid 2009 white MacBooks, but retained the same form factor of the original MacBook optical drive (shown here).

For Late 2008 and Late 2009 Unibody MacBooks, and Mid 2009 Unibody 13" MacBook Pros, they use the SATA-type connector, BUT the form factor of the drive is different (there are grooves cut out of the top to accommodate the speaker, as shown here, and different screw holes integrated into the casing).

All that to say, a unibody optical drive won't fit in your non-unibody machine. Although the connector may be the same if you have a Early or Mid 2009 model, the optical drive casing is sufficiently different to prevent compatibility without much modification.

Sorry!