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Agentsmithy

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 30, 2016
1
0
Hi all, appreciate any advice and help you can give me.


I have a 27" 2010 iMac (iMac 11,3) which is the i3 version.

I am going to upgrade the RAM to 16GB and add a 480gb Sandisk SSD Plus drive via the free Sata port using OWC kit.

At the same time I am going to upgrade the current 1 TB HDD with a new HDD too.


I Have a few questions I need help with:

1. As well as the 480gb SSD, I also currently have a 120gb SSD I am not using anymore from an old machine(830 Samsung SSD). So another option is I could put this SSD in a bracket and then have 2 SSDs internally and then if I need more space, add an external HDD via FireWire (800) port. But this prob not worth it right? Better to have the 480gb SSD and a 2/3/4TB internal HDD right? As external HDD would run a lot slower than the internal HDD and 120gb is quite small eh...

2. The specs on everymac state this iMac supported 2TB HDD drives. But it doesn't mention what the max size is that it would support. Does anyone know if it will support >2TB. I was wanting to future proof it and install a 3,4 or 5 TB HDD in it. But I want to ensure it will support it. Has anyone tried this exact iMac with a 3/4/5TB drive?


3. What drive would you recommend? I was considering either 2/3/4/5TB Hitachi or WD Caviar Black.


4. Is there any benefit in me doing a DIY fusion drive setup with my new HDD + the new 480gb SSD? Or since SSD is quite large shall I just use SSD for OS + Apps and leave HDD for everything else?

5. Out of interest if I want to plug in an external HDD for backup purposes. Any idea if I would be restricted on the size of the external HDD too? Or could it support any size external HDD via FireWire port / USB2 port eg 3/4/5TB backup drive.

6. I assume for an external drive the FireWire port (800) would be faster than the USB2 ports?


thanks in advance for any advice you can give.
 

merkinmuffley

macrumors 6502a
Dec 3, 2010
615
582
I wouldn't spend a lot of money or time on a 2010 machine. You've got components inside that are 6 years old, and on the photo forms I frequent I'm seeing frequent reports of the 2010's/2011's dying. This stuff doesn't last forever.
 
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