Christian Stüben

Q: installing a blue ray drive, best how-to?

Hi all,

on my Mac Pro (2010, 5.1) i would like to install a blu ray burner. What would be the best how-to?

 

- install it internally on the second cd/dvd tray

- install it externally via usb2?

 

Are there special hardware considerations i must have in mind ordering the drive for internally? For example, are there some drives which have a too voluminous cd drawer that woun´t fit the Macintoshs front door? Or similar stupid traps i can fall in?

 

Thank you!

 

greetings from germany

Chris

Mac Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on Aug 2, 2015 1:50 AM

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Q: installing a blue ray drive, best how-to?

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  • by Carolyn Samit,

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Aug 2, 2015 1:54 AM in response to Christian Stüben
    Level 10 (120,256 points)
    Apple Watch
    Aug 2, 2015 1:54 AM in response to Christian Stüben

    A Blue Ray burner cannot be installed on a Mac.

     

    What you can do is purchase a Blu Ray Burner (connects via USB)  then use Toast (software) >  How to Burn Blu-ray Video Discs on Your Mac Made Easy

  • by Christian Stüben,Solvedanswer

    Christian Stüben Christian Stüben Aug 2, 2015 2:11 AM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 2, 2015 2:11 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

    All right, so i must use a usb br burner drive.

     

    But what are the reasons why i can´t install it internally?

     

    - osx drivers?

    - will it corrupt my yosemity / bootcamp installation?

    - physical dimensions? front door of mac pro 2010/5.1 too small?

     

    Would there be any chance to utilize a internal drive from the bootcamp side?

     

    What is the second cd/dvd bay really useful for?

     

    Thank you!

     

    greetings from germany

    Chris

  • by lllaass,Helpful

    lllaass lllaass Aug 2, 2015 2:19 AM in response to Christian Stüben
    Level 10 (187,938 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 2, 2015 2:19 AM in response to Christian Stüben

    OWC sells BluRay drives that work internally on a Mac Pro as well as external one. Here is one

    http://eshop.macsales.com/item/LG/WH16NS40MP/

    This is listing of others that OWC sells

    http://eshop.macsales.com/search/internal+blu+ray

     

    For complete list

    ;http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/blu-ray

  • by Christian Stüben,

    Christian Stüben Christian Stüben Aug 2, 2015 2:22 AM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 2, 2015 2:22 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

    Hi Carolyn,

    i now have had a look at the link you gave me. The Guys at macsales tell "drive capable of burning blue rays, such as ... external ... or one of the internal options we offer"

     

    So according to a hardware dealer who wants to get my money and keep it in his pocket, and who definitely wants no complains, no quibble returns, no reklamations, i can install a internal blue ray burner.

     

    I am confused.

     

    greetings from germany

    Chris

  • by myaka,Helpful

    myaka myaka Aug 2, 2015 8:01 AM in response to Christian Stüben
    Level 4 (2,472 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 2, 2015 8:01 AM in response to Christian Stüben

    My early 2009 Mac Pro has a blu-ray burner I installed (LG model HL-DT-ST BD-RE WH10LS30).  It reads and writes blu-ray disks, but note that OS X does not natively deal with blu-ray disks.  You'll need additional software (I use Roxio's Toast for burning to blu-ray and VLC for viewing).  More information:  http://www.macworld.com/article/2042431/watch-and-rip-blu-ray-movies-on-your-mac .html

  • by Johnb-one,

    Johnb-one Johnb-one Aug 2, 2015 8:04 AM in response to lllaass
    Level 4 (1,879 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 2, 2015 8:04 AM in response to lllaass

    don't pay attention to what Carolyn S. said. Yes, you can install a blu ray burner. the folks at mce or macsales would be happy to sell you one. and you can probably get one from elsewhere in Germany.  You need one with a sata connector on it, just a bare drive (no case needed). However, OS X doesn't officially support blu ray at all, not for playing or recording.  So, you're going to need 2nd party stuff to do that. If you buy a drive from mce or macsales, for a few dollars extra, they will throw in a Blu Ray Player,  maybe the plugin you need to record blu rays with Toast. As for the drive itself, no worries. It installs just like a regular dvd drive.  all you need is a #1 or #0 phillips screwdriver and the install guide.  as for the front lip on the drive's tray itself, those are removeable. So just order the drive,  when it arrives, shut down your Mac Pro, take the side off, take the optical cage out and install the drive, plugging everything in where appropriate, put the cage back, the side panel back, restart your mac pro and install the blu ray player and recorder plugin for Toast and you should be good to go.  Not too hard, and you don't need to buy a usb external blu ray unless you want to. You will need to buy the blu ray player software and the plugin for Toast no matter what though....

     

    John B

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Aug 2, 2015 9:52 AM in response to Johnb-one
    Level 10 (187,938 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 2, 2015 9:52 AM in response to Johnb-one

    Johnb-one why did you reply to me? I pointed out that one could install an internal BR drive

    Johnb-one wrote:

     

    don't pay attention to what Carolyn S. said. Yes, you can install a blu ray burner. the folks at mce or macsales would be happy to sell you one. and you can probably get one from elsewhere in Germany.  You need one with a sata connector on it, just a bare drive (no case needed). However, OS X doesn't officially support blu ray at all, not for playing or recording.  So, you're going to need 2nd party stuff to do that. If you buy a drive from mce or macsales, for a few dollars extra, they will throw in a Blu Ray Player,  maybe the plugin you need to record blu rays with Toast. As for the drive itself, no worries. It installs just like a regular dvd drive.  all you need is a #1 or #0 phillips screwdriver and the install guide.  as for the front lip on the drive's tray itself, those are removeable. So just order the drive,  when it arrives, shut down your Mac Pro, take the side off, take the optical cage out and install the drive, plugging everything in where appropriate, put the cage back, the side panel back, restart your mac pro and install the blu ray player and recorder plugin for Toast and you should be good to go.  Not too hard, and you don't need to buy a usb external blu ray unless you want to. You will need to buy the blu ray player software and the plugin for Toast no matter what though....

     

    John B

  • by Christian Stüben,

    Christian Stüben Christian Stüben Aug 2, 2015 10:25 AM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 2, 2015 10:25 AM in response to lllaass

    Ooops, how can i unsolve? I accidentally set my own post as solution. Of course Illaas has posted first the solution. Sorry.

     

    greetings from germany, Chris

  • by Johnb-one,

    Johnb-one Johnb-one Aug 2, 2015 8:05 PM in response to lllaass
    Level 4 (1,879 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 2, 2015 8:05 PM in response to lllaass

    thanks... and sorry, .meant to post it to Christian  stüben but didin't quite make it...guess I picked a wrong day to drink decaf in the AM

     

    cheers

     

    JB