What are the capabilities of the optical drive provided by the iMac G4 models? How do you replace or upgrade the optical drive?

The iMac G4 models shipped with either a CD-RW drive, a DVD-ROM/CD-RW "Combo" drive, or a single-layer DVD-R/CD-RW "SuperDrive".

For your convenience, the default optical capabilities of each model are listed below:

* There were two configurations of this model -- M8672LL/A -- which was configured with a tray-loading CD-RW drive -- and M7677LL/A -- which was configured with a DVD-ROM/CD-RW "Combo" drive.

For the exact speed of each optical drive reading and writing different media, please refer to the specs page for the particular model of interest.

Just like the hard drive, Apple does not consider the optical drive to be a "customer-installable part" and declines to provide replacement instructions. Consequently, EveryMac.com does not recommend that users attempt to upgrade the optical drive themselves.

Users with limited experience upgrading computers would be wise to instead purchase an external USB or Firewire optical drive for a quick and easy upgrade. Even those with experience upgrading systems might prefer to purchase an external drive rather than go to the trouble of disassembling and reassembling the computer.

Nevertheless, for the adventurous, the always excellent AccelerateYourMac has a detailed "take apart" guide for the iMac G4 that covers upgrading the optical drive. The Italian Faqintosh also has very nice step-by-step instructions.

Site sponsor Other World Computing sells internal and external optical drives as well as other upgrades for the iMac G4.