RetroRGB finds cheap BU40N drive compatible with OmniDrive firmware

A slim, ordinary BU40N optical drive just became one of the most practical preservation upgrades in retro emulation. Bob at RetroRGB tested the laptop-style drive, found it compatible with OmniDrive firmware, and said it is currently the cheapest new OmniDrive-compatible disc drive he has used.

That matters because OmniDrive is not a novelty patch. Redump says the firmware, released on February 18, 2026, is highly recommended and replaces the older modified JB8 firmware, 3.10 Rib, that Redump had recommended since 2022. Redump’s OmniDrive wiki lists two firmware variants so far, a modified ASUS BW-16D1HT 3.02 build and a modified LG BU40N 1.00 build, and says any Hitachi-LG Data Storage drive using the MT1959 chipset may work in theory, though not every configuration is guaranteed.

For users building a real ripping setup, the BU40N lowers the cost and the hassle. Bob said the drive is based on the MT1949 platform and worked both through an external USB enclosure and directly over a PC’s internal SATA connection with the right adapter. He also corrected himself afterward about the enclosure details, a small but useful sign that this was hands-on testing, not a polished product pitch. The drive’s availability is part of the story too: LG describes the BU40N as an ultra-slim Blu-ray/DVD writer with M-DISC support, and current retail listings show it being sold new through mainstream outlets.

The software side has also caught up. Redump says OmniDrive support landed in Redumper build 702 and later, and in SabreTools’ Media Preservation Frontend 3.7.0 and later. MPF gives users a GUI for Redumper, Aaru, and DiscImageCreator, while MPF.Check accepts outputs from Redumper, Aaru, DiscImageCreator, Cleanrip, and UmdImageCreator. That makes the BU40N more than a cheap drive; it slots into a working preservation pipeline.

OmniDrive’s reach goes beyond the usual GameCube, Wii, and Xbox disc talk as well. Time Extension reported that it can rip PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and Wii U discs, although those remain encrypted, and that Dreamcast GD-ROM support is limited to the low-density area. The result is a rare combination in retro hardware right now: a new-stock drive, open firmware, and modern software support that together make disc preservation feel less like scavenger hunting and more like a normal weekend setup.