Apple 678-0161 CR-173-D 24X CD-ROM Drive iMac G3 Blueberry Royal Blue ATAPI

Apple 678-0161 CR-173-D 24X CD-ROM Drive iMac G3 Blueberry Royal Blue ATAPI

This is an original Apple 24X-speed internal CD-ROM drive for the iMac G3, carrying Apple part number 678-0161 and OEM model number CR-173-D. It features the distinctive Blueberry (Royal Blue) slot-load bezel matched to the iMac G3 Blueberry color variant, and uses an ATAPI (ATA/IDE) interface. The drive was manufactured in October 1998 by Matsushita-Kotobuki Electronics Industries Ltd. in Japan to Apple's specifications.

Specifications & What's Included

• Apple Part Number: 678-0161
• OEM Model Number: CR-173-D
• Drive Speed: 24X Max Speed (CD-ROM)
• Interface: ATAPI (ATA/IDE) — 40-pin connector
• Form Factor: Slim slot-load internal drive
• Bezel Color: Blueberry (Royal Blue) — iMac G3 Blueberry color match
• Power: +5V DC, 1.5A
• Laser Classification: Class 1 Laser Product
• Manufactured: October 1998
• Made in Japan (Matsushita-Kotobuki Electronics Industries Ltd.)
• Certifications: TUV, UL, CE
• Compatible with: Apple iMac G3 (Blueberry)
• Includes: Drive with Blueberry slot-load bezel. No data cables included.

Applications

The Apple iMac G3, introduced in 1998, used a proprietary slim-form internal slot-load CD-ROM drive matched to each machine's translucent color. The Blueberry variant was one of the original five "Bondi" follow-up colors released in early 1999. Replacement drives for the iMac G3 are increasingly hard to find in the original matching color, making this a useful part for owners restoring or repairing a Blueberry iMac G3 to factory appearance. This drive connects via the standard ATAPI (ATA/IDE) interface used across that generation of Apple consumer hardware, and reads standard 74/80-minute audio CDs and CD-ROMs at up to 24X speed. The iMac G3 line ran Mac OS 8.1 through Mac OS 9.2.2 (and early models supported Mac OS X 10.0–10.3), so this drive is relevant to anyone maintaining a working Blueberry G3 system or a vintage Mac collection.