Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-110D or 710?

Question

Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-110D or 710?

Hello, I saw todat at best Buy a Pioneer 710 drive. Does anyone here know if that works on a Mac? Specifically, a Dual 2Ghz G5?

or should I go with a Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-110D?

Does that drive still need to be flashed to work on the G5 under 10.4.4? Is there anyplace that is selling known versions of that drive with the updated firmware so it DOESN'T have to be flashed?

Can it be flashed on a Mac? (I don't own a PC)

Anyone know? I'd love to have 16x and dual layer support.

G5 Dual 2GHz, Mac OS X (10.4.4), 2GB ram

Posted on Apr 14, 2006 4:33 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 16, 2006 10:50 AM in response to Dave Jablinsky

Can it be flashed on a Mac? (I don't own a PC)

An 110D on a Mac? - Yes: http://lasvegas.rpc1.org/

Also the the 110 without "D" into considertion: It will do everything like the 110D + DVD-RAM writing.

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Answer 2

Apr 16, 2006 12:50 PM in response to Kay Marczoch

Good to know. I haven't done anything with DVD-Ram, but why not have that capability?

So the 110 is the best drive to get for the Mac right now then?

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Answer 3

maclover

Level 4

3,850 points

Apr 17, 2006 12:34 AM in response to Dave Jablinsky

Don't know if "the 110 is the best drive to get for the Mac right now then" but...

Personally... Replaced an ailing 106D that had developed a problem (despite cleaning the lens) with initial recognition of commercial CDs/DVDs, especially the ones that have to be in the drive for the installed application to work. (A dumb concept, if ever there was)

The 110D was widely-available (and affordable) in Europe, easy to install, was recognised by OS X, and is now accepted as "Apple-shipped/supported" by 10.4.6 on this G5 DP2(A).

Note: check the jumpers - put the jumper on the middle pair of pins - 3 'CS' for 'Cable Select' - Pioneer instructions incuded with "OEM" drive are quite helpful - and remove the plastic bezel with "DVD, CD, etc." on it from the front of the tray or it fouls the silver optical drive gate mechanism.

Haven't felt the need to flash it yet, as the original firmware(1.11) works just fine with the stock of modest-speed DVD-RWs that is being used up.

Detailed flashing instructions are in the riposte to this reactionary conservatism here

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2116762#2116762

The 110D recognises all those commercial discs instantly, and would probably burn a beermat, given the chance.

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Answer 4

Apr 17, 2006 6:25 AM in response to Dave Jablinsky

Dave,

replaced my 108D some weeks ago with a 110 OEM drive, flashed it to the current firmware: Works perfect.
DVD-RAMs are quite nice as they work like a giant floppy disk.

Nevertheless - also the current NEC drive would also be a good choice.

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Answer 5

Apr 17, 2006 8:38 AM in response to Kay Marczoch

Is it possible to run the firmware under virtual PC? I may be answering my own question as I don't think VPC recognizes DVD drives, but you never know.

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Answer 6

Apr 17, 2006 9:17 AM in response to Dave Jablinsky

The updater I mentioned will run under OS X.

Using VPC for flashing a drive - afaik - requires the drive to be flashed to be put into an ext. USB case

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Answer 7

Apr 17, 2006 9:21 AM in response to Kay Marczoch

I had just figured it would be easier to flas under virtual pc as the firmware is a pc file, but I don't want to buy an external enclosure if I don't need to.

Does the NEC need to be flashed?

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Answer 8

Apr 17, 2006 9:42 AM in response to Dave Jablinsky

No idea about the NEC - just post that as a seperate question, you will get an answer very soon, I suppose.

Nevertheless the *.exe updater is a self expanding archive: just expand it with stuffit or run it under VPC - this will result in a folder with 2 binary files (that can be used under OS X) and the flasher applcation itself.

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Answer 9

Apr 17, 2006 9:46 AM in response to Kay Marczoch

Oh, OK, sounds easy enough

Does the 111 not work on macs yet?

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Answer 10

Apr 17, 2006 9:57 AM in response to Dave Jablinsky

Again - no idea about the current support for the 111 - I've got the 110.

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Answer 11

Apr 17, 2006 10:35 AM in response to Dave Jablinsky

The DVR-111 is very new, although its specs seem to be virtually identical to the 110. It'll probably work, but using Patchburn will probably be a necessity to do so.

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Answer 12

Apr 18, 2006 6:41 AM in response to Dave Jablinsky

mcetech.com
MCE is having a special on its 16X Double Layer drive. I picked one up, plugged in the cables and away I went. One of the simplest modifications I have made to anything. True plug and play.

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Answer 13

Randallz

Level 1

60 points

May 9, 2006 7:44 AM in response to Steve Boultbee

The DVR-111D works well in my G5 without any modifications.

Someone mentioned specifying Cable Select. It was set to CS on my orignal drive, but I don't think it makes any difference when it is the only device on the ATA bus. In fact, mine is set to Master and works fine. Is there an actual theory behind why CS should be used?

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Answer 14

May 9, 2006 3:13 PM in response to Alan Ratzburg

Well my drive arrived today...annd they sent me a 111D instead of a 110D. Doh.

Seems It will work on my G5, so I am going to install it. One of you said I'd need patchburn, one said no. I burn out of DVD Studio pro and Toast mostly.

After I get it installed, I'll post what the profiler says. Have to use the sony screws as the Pioneer did not come with any.

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Answer 15

WWJD

Level 6

15,830 points

May 9, 2006 4:36 PM in response to Dave Jablinsky

You should not need patch burn if you are using 10.4.6 and the new iApps. I have DVD Studio Pro version 4 and it works fine.

Regards,

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