21.5" - SSD in place of existing HDD?

[ng7apoc]

Hi,

I'm getting tired of holding out for the refresh and the hope of included SSD like the Air I've started to seriously consider an i5 refurb and fit an SSD myself.

But there are two things I'm wondering about firstly the upgrade in itsself. Having done a search it seems there are a lot of tutorials and tips on replacing the superdrive but I can't seem to find anying on a straight drive swap is it simply not possible because of the brackets used to secure the original 3.5" HDD in place or just because most people are more likely to use the HDD than optical media? for my usage I'd prefer to have SSD as boot + DVD drive and the 3.5" external, both because I get a fair use of the DVD drive plus ease of using external storage drive between more than one machine

And secondly dust just how much of a problem is this? in terms of avoiding it or cleaning it off?
This is my biggest fear over this as I have plently experience opening laptops and building PCs etc. But I am one of those people who just hate the thought of any screen imperfection at all if there is dust there I will see it and it will, unfortunately, drive me insane

 

[Hellhammer]

Use e.g. this and it will be just a normal 3.5" drive

 

[jamesdmc]

Use e.g. this and it will be just a normal 3.5" drive

Another option would be to purchase a 3.5" SSD. I'll be tearing open my 24" 2007 iMac today to replace the stock drive using OCZ's 120GB SSD in 3.5" form factor in hopes it will make the installation easier (no drilling/modding). But I do see the appeal of using a 2.5" for this purpose. If you eventually replace the drive in the iMac, it can be transplanted into a laptop.

 

[ng7apoc]

Thanks for the responses. Good link on that enclosure, I had been looking at some but it was mostly unsuitable brackets I was able to find. The 3.5" SSD is something I had seen but OCZ seem to be the only ones available. Its not so much of an issue to replace the DVD drive I suppose just wanted to know if it could be done the other way round.

How about the dust issue? thats somehting I'd definately be interested in hearing more about - especially from people who have opened their iMacs.

Caught in two minds really I'd like to wait for the refresh since I feel another few months isn't that long to hold onto a system I've had since 2006 but on the other hand it is really showing its age, particularly on the 2GB RAM limit and waiting when you don't know how far off its going to be is no fun lol

 

[TMRaven]

I'd wait it out.