[SOLVED] USB DVD RW drive with a real tray?

[ultrarunner100]

Hello;
I have a generic USB DVD RW drive which works fairly well - a bit slow for ripping audio cd's.
But the most annoying aspect of this drive is that when you place a CD or DVD onto the pop-out tray, you must press the center of the disc onto the spindle so that it engages. I find this a serious setback when processing many cd's, or just playing a DVD movie.
What I am looking for is a portable USB drive that has the same sort of tray that a standard bay (like those mounted on a PC's front panel) drive would use.
The problem is that my box doesn't have any optical drive bays up front. I could add a SATA extension cable on a rear plate (I already have the plate with 2x SATA port) but then I would need to use an extra long (3ft) SATA cable to reach the drive from the rear of the box.
What I am finding at Amazon and Newegg are the 'slim' drives intended for laptops, and they all use the same method of latching the disc to the spindle - manually.

Does what I am looking for exist?
Thanks
Ultrarunner

 

[lvt]

Do your computer have USB 3.0 port?

If it does, you can use this adapter to run your optical drive (if you don't mind the fact the the drive is naked).

https://www.amazon.com/SATA-Drive-A...81874&sprefix=sata+to+usb,aps,393&sr=8-4&th=1

 

[lvt]

If you want a more elegant solution, this kit will do :

https://www.amazon.com/Vantec-NST-5...d=1626381730&sprefix=dvd+encol,aps,355&sr=8-3

 

[lvt]

If you compute doesn't have USB 3.0, you need to buy this card too:

https://www.amazon.com/FebSmart-Self-Powered-Technology-No-Additional-FS-U4-Pro/dp/B072LS4JH7/ref=sr_1_10?crid=3KMGFMT4YZKOS&dchild=1&keywords=pcie+to+usb+3.0+adapter&qid=1626382115&sprefix=pcie+to+usb+3,aps,388&sr=8-10

Please note that this card works with either solution mentioned above.

 

[ultrarunner100]

Thanks guys;
I already own a USB to SATA adapter; a Ugreen, but it was so unreliable I couldn't get much use from it.
Whether another brand would be more reliable is anybody's guess. I suppose it is possible, and for $17, it might be worthwhile to try the Neeyer.
My computer does have USB 3.0 ports - on the front as well, so no long cables.
I have two old SATA DVD/RW drives in my old build - now running Ubuntu 20.04. I can 'borrow' one of them to use on my Windows box once I get a reliable adapter.

So far as the Vantec enclosure is concerned, I suppose the adapter (USB to SATA) could be a better quailty? But I don't really need the enclosure. A solid USB to SATA adapter would be fine.

 

[2Be_or_Not2Be]

You could also get a slot-loading drive - no spindle there at all.

 

[lvt]

Thanks guys;
I already own a USB to SATA adapter; a Ugreen, but it was so unreliable I couldn't get much use from it.
Whether another brand would be more reliable is anybody's guess. I suppose it is possible, and for $17, it might be worthwhile to try the Neeyer.
My computer does have USB 3.0 ports - on the front as well, so no long cables.
I have two old SATA DVD/RW drives in my old build - now running Ubuntu 20.04. I can 'borrow' one of them to use on my Windows box once I get a reliable adapter.

So far as the Vantec enclosure is concerned, I suppose the adapter (USB to SATA) could be a better quailty? But I don't really need the enclosure. A solid USB to SATA adapter would be fine.

What adapter do you have?

I currently run a couple of HDD externally (on a metal stand) using SATA to USB adapters, no problem whatsoever.

 

[ultrarunner100]

I have a Ugreen adapter. I think it's this one: https://smile.amazon.com/UGREEN-Cab...uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

It came with a wall-wart power supply, and I have used it with that but still get erratic results.

 

[lvt]

I have a Ugreen adapter. I think it's this one: https://smile.amazon.com/UGREEN-Cab...uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

It came with a wall-wart power supply, and I have used it with that but still get erratic results.

That's a good one, the problem could have been the 12V adapter not having enough of Amp, the included adapter usually has 2A rating.

Check your optical drive's Amp and the 12V adapter, some optical drive requires 3A adapter (as mine does).

 

[ultrarunner100]

That's a good one, the problem could have been the 12V adapter not having enough of Amp, the included adapter usually has 2A rating.

Check your optical drive's Amp and the 12V adapter, some optical drive requires 3A adapter (as mine does).

Both my DVD drives have a rating of: 5V @ 1.5A, 12V @ 2.5A.
The adapter PSU has a rating of 12V @ 2.0A.

Considering that I am not using the DVD drive to burn disks, I doubt it will ever draw the full 2.5A.
How long can a SATA cable be?
If I can get away with a 3ft SATA (probably 2.0) cable, I could install the SATA card to a slot and make the connections on the rear of the box.

 

[lvt]

Both my DVD drives have a rating of: 5V @ 1.5A, 12V @ 2.5A.
The adapter PSU has a rating of 12V @ 2.0A.

Considering that I am not using the DVD drive to burn disks, I doubt it will ever draw the full 2.5A.

That adapter is essentially to use with 3.5" HDD, not a proper adapter for optical drive.

How long can a SATA cable be?
If I can get away with a 3ft SATA (probably 2.0) cable, I could install the SATA card to a slot and make the connections on the rear of the box.

I currently have some SATA cable that measure 90cm, so that's not a problem.

 

[ultrarunner100]

So I guess I would need to find a more powerful PSU, or perhaps bring out a SATA power outlet on the rear of my PC, then run the cable from there to the drive.
Given that I already have the SATA card - actually, I believe it's not an actual card, but just a panel onto which two SATA ports and one power port (4-pin old-style PC connector) for 5V @ 12V.
Inside the PC, the cables need to be plugged into SATA ports.

All of that said, I think I'm probably going to stick with the USB slim DVD RW drive I have been using. While the spindle can be an issue (mostly at night when I like to work with the room lights off/dim), and the drive is painfully slow in extracting audio CD's, it is less work and frustration than opening one computer to remove the SATA port, and then opening a second one to install it. Then I need to route the SATA cables from the rear panel port, up onto the top of the computer where the optical drive would be located.
Now there could be an issue with cooling, as the top of my case (Fractal Designs Meshify) has a screen with a fan mounted under it.
Placing the optical drive there would most definitely impede airflow.

 

[lvt]

If you still are willing to build a real external optical drive, there is another solution, this SATA extension with PCI bracket will fix the wall adapter for you. It works with any SATA drive, you even can boot from an external HDD (thing that regular PCI-E to SATA 3.0 can't do).

 

[ultrarunner100]

I've got one like that, except that instead of the standard SATA power connector, mine has a 4-pin old type PC connector. I've got some adapter cables, so I can use it, but all of these cables are too short. I would need to purchase a 36in SATA data and power cable (with the 4-pin old type at the power supply end)