G74SX, I need to replace the disc drive, but I don't want the garbage stock one.

[Zarski843]

Basically I've had this laptop maybe 3 years now, and the DVD drive has had issues after the first year. Its safe to say that it is dead now, because it barely registers discs.

I want a new DVD drive, but I don't want that garbage Hitachi one that came installed. I'm looking to spend $60 tops, and my only requirements are that it works (lol), burns CD-R's, and DVD-R's. If it reads/writes Blu-Ray discs too, then that is awesome, but not really mandatory. I just want something reliable and within my budget.

I'm asking because I have no idea which ones will fit the G74SX.

[indianacarnie]

My went south for awhile too. I just bought a usb external one and its working fine. In fact........ it went out a long time ago and I hadn't even tried using it in over a year, been using the external. Ran every diagnostic there is and all said it was fine, but it just wouldn't work. Would spin up (I could hear and feel it) but it refused to play/write anything. I reinstalled Windows (something I do at least twice a year if not more) about a month ago and just for sh**s and giggles slapped in a movie, yep guess what? Its working like a charm now. I have a game from earlier resting in it as I write this. Anyway, my "plan" had been and still is to convert the optical bay into a third HDD bay for storage but am holding off now as its working. I can't help you on specific makes or models to replace it but if you stick to the bigger name brands you should be o.k.. Remember though that you WILL have trouble finding a bezel that fits perfectly unless you buy it from Asus. As far as "fitting" just about any should as the dimensions are standard. Excepting the bezel of course.

[Zarski843]

indianacarnie wrote:
My went south for awhile too. I just bought a usb external one and its working fine. In fact........ it went out a long time ago and I hadn't even tried using it in over a year, been using the external. Ran every diagnostic there is and all said it was fine, but it just wouldn't work. Would spin up (I could hear and feel it) but it refused to play/write anything. I reinstalled Windows (something I do at least twice a year if not more) about a month ago and just for sh**s and giggles slapped in a movie, yep guess what? Its working like a charm now. I have a game from earlier resting in it as I write this. Anyway, my "plan" had been and still is to convert the optical bay into a third HDD bay for storage but am holding off now as its working. I can't help you on specific makes or models to replace it but if you stick to the bigger name brands you should be o.k.. Remember though that you WILL have trouble finding a bezel that fits perfectly unless you buy it from Asus. As far as "fitting" just about any should as the dimensions are standard. Excepting the bezel of course.

Interesting, I just assumed you could detach the bezel and attach it to any other disc drive that fits. So I'd have to get one straight from ASUS? Or do the external drive?

[indianacarnie]

Short answer .......yes. More involved longer answer - how good at you at handicraft's? The bezel is an integral part of the drive on the G74Sx so it doesn't just pop off. I SUPPOSE you could MAYBE (if skilled enough) cut it off and somehow bond it to the new drive but that level of expertise is beyond me, much less having the tools needed to do it. I thought of doing the same, replacing it with a new one when mine went bad but everything I found (after much searching and gnashing of teeth) told me otherwise. I suppose you might be able to use this(with a lot of modification, link follows) but even at $40 once you add the price of a good optical drive its starting to get a little expensive.

http://www.newmodeus.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_36&products_id=319

For what its worth, the portable external I've been using has worked like a charm. No lagging etc.

[Zarski843]

indianacarnie wrote:
Short answer .......yes. More involved longer answer - how good at you at handicraft's? The bezel is an integral part of the drive on the G74Sx so it doesn't just pop off. I SUPPOSE you could MAYBE (if skilled enough) cut it off and somehow bond it to the new drive but that level of expertise is beyond me, much less having the tools needed to do it. I thought of doing the same, replacing it with a new one when mine went bad but everything I found (after much searching and gnashing of teeth) told me otherwise. I suppose you might be able to use this(with a lot of modification, link follows) but even at $40 once you add the price of a good optical drive its starting to get a little expensive.

http://www.newmodeus.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_36&products_id=319

For what its worth, the portable external I've been using has worked like a charm. No lagging etc.

Gotcha, I'm decent with little things like that, but at the same time, I love my laptop and the last thing I want to do is make a mistake I can't fix. So I think the external drive is the way to go. Is there anything you could direct me to? Any brands, models, anything? I had an external Pioneer many years ago and I loved it, but I want the best for my budget.

[indianacarnie]

I use this one, no problems for the few months I've had it. Wanted to use the USB3 you know :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA14J1079985


The first one I bought when my internal one went out was just a cheapie. This one in fact :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136261

Which had the added plus of me being able to just walk in the store and get it. Its still running too, by the way. Using it for a back up now. If you stick to a name brand you should be o.k.. I DO however highly recommend the usb3 option. My movies games really seem a lot smoother with it. And the reading/writing times make me smile. If you go cheap go with LG, Mine has been a workhorse with rough treatment (I travel in my work), and still shines on beautifully.

Go either one of these and see what your budget/significant other will allow.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=usb+ext...

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/search.asp?keywords=external+usb+optical+drive