Recommendations for a CD/DVD drive for iMac 2024 desktop

Any recommendations for a CD DVD hard drive to use with my iMac 2024 desktop ?


iMac 24″, macOS 26.2

Posted on Jan 31, 2026 8:38 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 1, 2026 4:19 AM

Optical drives and hard drives are two different things.


I have a desktop CD/DVD burner that I bought from Other World Computing. This drive:

  • Has its own power supply. Some portable burners want to tie up two ports (so they can suck more power than a single port is required to provide), or are finicky about where they are connected (Apple's discontinued drive had that reputation).
  • Has a detachable power supply which can be replaced separately from the drive.
  • Has a detachable data cable (USB 3.0 B to USB-A) which can be replaced separately from the drive should a cat chew it or should you need a different type of cable (e.g., USB 3.0 B to USB-C).


Unfortunately, it looks like Other World Computing no longer sells it.


Other World Computing – External Optical Drives


They do have a CD/DVD/Blu-Ray version, but the Blu-Ray capability adds quite a bit to the price – and you'd need to get a separate application to play Blu-Ray movies.


You can also buy just the nice enclosure, and then add an internal optical drive that you purchase some place else, separately.

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 1, 2026 4:19 AM in response to Chitown821

Optical drives and hard drives are two different things.


I have a desktop CD/DVD burner that I bought from Other World Computing. This drive:

  • Has its own power supply. Some portable burners want to tie up two ports (so they can suck more power than a single port is required to provide), or are finicky about where they are connected (Apple's discontinued drive had that reputation).
  • Has a detachable power supply which can be replaced separately from the drive.
  • Has a detachable data cable (USB 3.0 B to USB-A) which can be replaced separately from the drive should a cat chew it or should you need a different type of cable (e.g., USB 3.0 B to USB-C).


Unfortunately, it looks like Other World Computing no longer sells it.


Other World Computing – External Optical Drives


They do have a CD/DVD/Blu-Ray version, but the Blu-Ray capability adds quite a bit to the price – and you'd need to get a separate application to play Blu-Ray movies.


You can also buy just the nice enclosure, and then add an internal optical drive that you purchase some place else, separately.

Recommendations for a CD/DVD drive for iMac 2024 desktop

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