20" & 24" SSD upgrade discussion

[Drag'nGT]

First, is there a thread showing or discussing this upgrade in this model set already? I see a lot of threads for the new models so I want to start a thread for the older ones. I'll do my best to keep this up to date and hopefully with a parts and step by step how-to.

Replace the optical drive with an SSD:
Option 1: OWC Data Doubler $79.99
Option 2: MCE Tech Optibay $99.00 + free SuperDrive enclosure (Mac Mini version)
Option 3: Can you get away with not using a special holder? Sure could put that money toward a bigger ssd.

If you have used either of these post the good or bad.

If you have a 20" or 24" iMac and want to keep this thread around let me know.

 

[Hellhammer]

Since iMac is a desktop and you won't be moving it around, you could just use some cable ties to hold it on its place for example. The main reason you need a bay for it is so it won't move inside the computer as laptops are usually dragged around. What iMac do you have? Some older iMacs use IDE for SuperDrive which would limit you pretty much

 

[Jimmdean]

I'm not sure why you'd bother replacing the optical - why not just replace the hard drive? Obviously you would need a 2.5 to 3.5 caddy, but those are common.
My current iMac is a 20" Aluminum - if I felt it necessary to speed things up the only internal drive it would have would be the SSD and anything beyond that would be on an external - I'm a big fan of 2.5" externals since they only require USB bus power...

 

[Hellhammer]

I'm not sure why you'd bother replacing the optical - why not just replace the hard drive? Obviously you would need a 2.5 to 3.5 caddy, but those are common.
My current iMac is a 20" Aluminum - if I felt it necessary to speed things up the only internal drive it would have would be the SSD and anything beyond that would be on an external - I'm a big fan of 2.5" externals since they only require USB bus power...

Which one do you use more often? The SuperDrive or the internal HD? In 9 cases out of 10, I would say you use the HD more than the SuperDrive. The SuperDrive can be used externally without loss in performance but most 3.5" are faster than what USB or FireWire can provide. Also, it makes it cheaper to buy a small SSD for OS X and apps and then use the internal HD for everything else

 

[Drag'nGT]

Since iMac is a desktop and you won't be moving it around, you could just use some cable ties to hold it on its place for example. The main reason you need a bay for it is so it won't move inside the computer as laptops are usually dragged around. What iMac do you have? Some older iMacs use IDE for SuperDrive which would limit you pretty much

I have a '08 24" (MB325LL/a EMC 2211). I can't find info about the drive at the few parts places I know of. Care to point me in the right direction?

Let me add that ifixit says this about all their PATA drives "All Intel iMacs with Panasonic drives (Early 2008 and older, excluding 24" iMac)"

So.... it's SATA correct?

I would happily jump to a 27", esp the new model, but it's still missing the latest external connections. Was is really impossible to shove USB 3.0 in there? I'll wait another year or two before I get another iMac. This one has been great and I honestly don't feel the need to have an ssd. But I like how much 'newer and faster' the computer will feel with it.

I'm not sure why you'd bother replacing the optical - why not just replace the hard drive? Obviously you would need a 2.5 to 3.5 caddy, but those are common.
My current iMac is a 20" Aluminum - if I felt it necessary to speed things up the only internal drive it would have would be the SSD and anything beyond that would be on an external - I'm a big fan of 2.5" externals since they only require USB bus power...

I have a MBA with the external superdrive. I plan to mod that to work on any computer so I won't be totally without a drive. I almost never use a disc in my computer anyway. In fact the only time I use the drive is for installing the new OS. People ask me where the cd goes in my MBA and I joke with them and ask what's a cd?

I have over 3TB of external storage already. So I'm not low on that either.

 

[Hellhammer]

I have a '08 24" (MB325LL/a EMC 2211). I can't find info about the drive at the few parts places I know of. Care to point me in the right direction?

Let me add that ifixit says this about all their PATA drives "All Intel iMacs with Panasonic drives (Early 2008 and older, excluding 24" iMac)"

So.... it's SATA correct?

 > About this Mac > More information > Serial-ATA

Take a screenshot of that

 

[Drag'nGT]

Brain fart. I know that's there...

My dvd drive is listed as ATA. So my SATA is my hdd. I'll keep thinking about this upgrade. I already have the Runcore lined up for my Air. Maybe the next iMac will rock usb 3.0 and I can have an entirely new computer and sell off this one.