PS1 Optical Drive?

[SegaNomadman]

I recently got three PS1's from a friend because none of them work. After some testing I think that the optical drive is the problem so does anyone know where I could find drives for a good price that are easy to install?

[TDIRunner]

The only PS1 replacement drives I've ever seen were for the PSOne (slim) and were not compatible with the original.  If you find a source for a good price let me know as I have one spare PS1 with a bad drive.  However, I think it's unlikely you will find one that is cost effectvie since a working PS1 with all cables and one controller is only worth about $20.  I would be willing to get the drive alone will cost more then that to replace.  

***EDIT*** I was hoping that someone would develop a USB or SD card mod that could replace the disc drive.  That would be perfect for my spare, non-working PS1.  I could use my original to play discs, and the broken one to play ROMs. 

[KalessinDB]

There's an SD mod "in the works" for years now, Project Psio.  Pretty sure it's gonna turn out to be vaporware with how long it's been in development, but I'm hoping to be proven wrong because I love me my GDEmu for my Dreamcast, and I love the USB adapter for my 3DO and using an HDD for my PS2 and Wii... basically what I'm saying is DOWN WITH OPTICAL MEDIA!!!!

[TDIRunner]

There's an SD mod "in the works" for years now, Project Psio.  Pretty sure it's gonna turn out to be vaporware with how long it's been in development, but I'm hoping to be proven wrong because I love me my GDEmu for my Dreamcast, and I love the USB adapter for my 3DO and using an HDD for my PS2 and Wii... basically what I'm saying is DOWN WITH OPTICAL MEDIA!!!!

I've heard about the PSIO for the PS1.  The funny thing is that I've heard this one wouldn't replace the optical drive which means my spare PS1 would still be useless.  It's supposed to plug into the back slot that the Game Shark would have plugged into.  It's also supposedly 88% complete, but we all know that those last few percentages take the longest. 

[TDIRunner]

Oh, and KalessinDB, don't forget about the Rhea for the Saturn (made by the same creator as the GDEMU).  I'm a lot more interested in the Rhea even though I don't have a spare Saturn yet. 

[KalessinDB]

Yeah... my Saturn is pimped out right now (mod chip and region free bios) and had the laser replaced when I got it chipped, so I'm in decent shape with that... I'm hoping that Mnemo will step up and make a Saturn replacement, because while I love Deunan's GDEmu, I really do, I vastly prefer Mnemo's work -- usb is better than SD in my eyes, and the menu system is clutch.  I was kinda bummed when he dropped the DCUSB shortly after I laid my hands on a GDEmu, but not enough to try to "upgrade" because the GDEmu works, it just misses a few things that I'd love in an ideal world.

Although on the topic of Dreamcast, I hear DC-SWAT.ru is close to a usable HDD mod, so who knows what I'll end up with... a SATA mod would be ideal in my eyes, though USB is a close second.