digitalFAQ.com Forum - LiteOn DVD recorder hardware modifications

Although there is probably very little interest for this old information, it's being put in the forum for archival purposes.

Cooling Modifications

If you want to cool down the old LiteOn units (suggested), then either take off the lid, prop the lid up using the rear side screws, or cut a hole in back and then add in a small fan that draws power from the DVD burner cord. Install a switch if you can. LiteOn is also taking in older machines (like the 5001) to add fans, but have fun waiting!

Modifying a LiteOn takes less than an hour, and less than $30 in supplies, after tax.

Parts:
.... Fry's Electronics (www.outpost.com) was a perfect place to buy all this.

Plastic PC Fan $10. Good metal fan may run $20, but it's optional.
Power cable split, 4-prong, $3.
Extra cables for soldering the switch, $3.
Simple power switch from Radio Shack, $3.
Thermaltake RAM cooling kit with 1-inch wide heatsinks.
Cooled 5001 unit... priceless. Sorry, had to say it!

Tools:
.... most people already have this stuff in the garage ... I did.

Drill. Preferably with a clean bit and using a metal bit,
Soldering gun, preferably a small one that is not too messy.
Hacksaw or other metal-cutting saw.
Sandpaper, preferably fine grain metal-smoothing paper.

Process:

Remove lid and put machine in safe place.
Go outside or somewhere where metal shavings will not cause problems. Drill 6-10 holes in the side of the case. It is suggested to put wood underneath the metal, and drill into the wood and metal case together. Otherwise, you may destroy the case.
Sand off the holes gently, and blow off the metal shavings. We do not want these shaving falling off into the motherboard or DVD drive.
Get the Thermaltake RAM heatsink, which measures 1-inch by 4-5 inches long, and cut it into a 1-inch square heatsink using the hacksaw. Sand it down vigorously to remove all sharp edges and shavings.
Take your clean metal items back to the machine.
Cut the heatsink tape into a 1-inch size. Apply to the bottom of the heatsink. Now CAREFULLY stick it onto the LSI Logic CPU on the motherboard. Once it is stuck, it will not come off. So don't do anything stupid.
Now pull out the soldering gun and the 4-prong power cables. Unplug the power cable from the back of the DVD+RW drive in the unit. You will not be cutting or soldering anything that originally came in the recorder. You will only be cutting apart the extra wires you bought.
Get your power switch and fan out.
... sorry, but it was never finished...

In the end, a switch will control the fan, it will blow over the motherboard and motherboard CPU heatsink, and then blow out the right side where you drilled holes. The air intake and switch will be the holes on the left side of the unit. If the fan gets loud, you can spend $5 on one of those computer fan speed limitors, with cuts voltage to a fan to slow it down. I do this myself.

Drive Replacement Mods

There have been several verified reports of people removing the stock LITEON 401/411/811 drives from the recorders, and replacing them with others. One person successfully used a SONY DRU-500 burner, though the 5001 will still not write to DVD-R or DVD-RW media, likely due to firmware limitations.