How to Marry a Blu-ray ROM to a Motherboard

Enjoy Blu-ray movies on you PC.

You can quickly add Blu-ray disc playback capability to your desktop computer. The process of installing a Blu-ray ROM drive and connecting or "marrying" it to a PC's motherboard is not a difficult one. Many BD-ROM drives are "combo" models, offering you the convenience of burning DVDs and playing back Blu-ray discs on the same drive. If you opt for a BD-R drive -- a Blu-ray writer -- the installation process is the same as with a BD-ROM drive.

Instructions

Preparation

1. Confirm that you computer's motherboard supports SATA devices such as Blu-ray drives. Most recent motherboards contain SATA connectors, but older models use the slower IDE interface and broad IDE cables. If your PC's motherboard lacks SATA support, you can add a SATA card to an available PCI slot on the board to provide SATA ports. Also confirm that your computer's video card and your monitor are compliant with HDCP, or high-bandwidth digital-content protection, to allow playback of Blu-ray movies and other copyright-protected content.

2. Turn off the computer. Unplug the power cord from the power supply on the rear of the case.

3. Remove the side panels from the computer case. Typically, these are held in place by two thumb screws on each side. With the screws removed, push the panels away from the front of the PC to remove them.

4. Remove the faceplate from a vacant 5.25-inch drive bay. On many PCs, face plates can be popped out simply by exerting pressure on both sides. On other PC cases, you may have to remove the front bezel in order to push out a faceplate. This is usually done by grasping and pulling the bottom of the bezel away from the case, keeping in mind that the bezel should be handled carefully since the power switch and other features are connected by wires to the motherboard. Save the faceplate for possible future use.

Installation

1. Slide the Blu-ray ROM drive into the vacant drive bay. The front of the drive should be mounted flush with the front of the computer case. Insert the four screws provided with the drive into the holes in the drive bay that align with the holes in the side of the drive. Place two screws on each side of the drive. On some cases, screws are not needed because the drive bays are equipped with clamps that twist into place to secure the drive.

2. Connect the red SATA data cable provided with the drive to the SATA port on the rear of the drive. Align the cable properly to the L-shaped connection in the port. Connect the other end to an available SATA port on the motherboard, again aligning the cable to the L-shaped connection in the port.

3. Attach a SATA power connector to the power port on the Blu-ray ROM drive. Power supplies typically provide an array of narrow SATA connectors, so you should have no difficulty locating an available one. If only Molex plugs are available, obtain a Molex-to-SATA converter from any computer parts supplier.

4. Replace the case side panels and the front bezel if you have removed it. Reconnect the PC's power cable. Upon start-up, Windows should detect the new drive and automatically install drivers needed for the device.

5. Insert the CD/DVD provided with the drive and install the provided Blu-ray playback software. Check for the latest updates of this software from the software maker's website to ensure you have the latest features.

Tips & Warnings

• Always wear an anti-static wrist band when working with computer components.

References

• Computer Shopper: How to Install a Blu-Ray Burner
• B&H InDepth: Upgrade Your Computer to Blu-Ray