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2nd Hard Drive in 2009 iMac

G

gobenji

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 6, 2013
35
50
Hello everyone,
I'm trying to get some advice on a repair I'm planning following a hard drive failure on my 2009 iMac.
While I've got it open I'm going to replace the optical drive with an SSD but I'm having some trouble finding the right caddy. I'm needing to get this done as soon as I can so am looking for ones available with UK Amazon Prime. The one I nearly got was a 9.5mm Macbook one, assuming they were all the same. After realising the one I needed was 12.7mm the only ones I can find on there mention being specific for Windows laptops.
I just wondered, does anyone know if this is just a generic part and any 12.7mm-2.5mm caddy would fit in a 2009 iMac or is it just a question that mounting holes are different? Any help would be gratefully received as I'm really confusing myself here!
 
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Thanks for getting back so quickly. Thats great... I was hoping it was something as simple as that.
 
gobenji said:
Hello everyone,
I'm trying to get some advice on a repair I'm planning following a hard drive failure on my 2009 iMac.
While I've got it open I'm going to replace the optical drive with an SSD but I'm having some trouble finding the right caddy. I'm needing to get this done as soon as I can so am looking for ones available with UK Amazon Prime. The one I nearly got was a 9.5mm Macbook one, assuming they were all the same. After realising the one I needed was 12.7mm the only ones I can find on there mention being specific for Windows laptops.
I just wondered, does anyone know if this is just a generic part and any 12.7mm-2.5mm caddy would fit in a 2009 iMac or is it just a question that mounting holes are different? Any help would be gratefully received as I'm really confusing myself here!
Click to expand...

Why not just use a strong two sided tape? I've heard of many others who used this method without issue, since it's not going to be traveling everyday. I have a an early 2009 24" iMac opened now, and that's my plan for under the optical drive. I'm hoping to leave the optical drive in and use it, but haven't figured that out yet.
 
I must admit I wondered that... If the screw mounts didn't quite fit that was going to be first on my solution list. The only think that made me wonder was would it lose adhesion if it gets hot but I presume SSDs don't get that hot and, as you say, it's not going to be moving much!
 
gobenji said:
I must admit I wondered that... If the screw mounts didn't quite fit that was going to be first on my solution list. The only think that made me wonder was would it lose adhesion if it gets hot but I presume SSDs don't get that hot and, as you say, it's not going to be moving much!
Click to expand...

I know of a couple friends who've done this with the new generation of ssd's and lets be honest. We're not using these vintage Macs for gaming or other intensive apps, so the probability of the ssd getting hot from use is low. I mean even if transferring large amounts of data, depending on whether it's a 9,1 early 09, satta 2, or mid-late 10,1 satta 3, it still isn't pushing. much data to cause heat issues. It fits nicely under the optical disc drive also.

Does anyone know if it's possible to fusion 2 ssd's and keep the disc drive operable also?
 
Kevbasscat said:
I know of a couple friends who've done this with the new generation of ssd's and lets be honest. We're not using these vintage Macs for gaming or other intensive apps, so the probability of the ssd getting hot from use is low. I mean even if transferring large amounts of data, depending on whether it's a 9,1 early 09, satta 2, or mid-late 10,1 satta 3, it still isn't pushing. much data to cause heat issues. It fits nicely under the optical disc drive also.

Does anyone know if it's possible to fusion 2 ssd's and keep the disc drive operable also?
Click to expand...

so you fiited it unde the optical drive, but how did you connect it , is there a splitter for the sata connectors ?
The power one will not be a problem but what about the data ?

regards bart , belgium
 
solos-be said:
so you fiited it unde the optical drive, but how did you connect it , is there a splitter for the sata connectors ?
The power one will not be a problem but what about the data ?

regards bart , belgium
Click to expand...

Oh! I'm so sorry. I've been ill and my brain is somewhere else these days. Pretty fuzzy atm tbh. If you follow this guide, this is what I did, although specifics are failing me right now. You don't have to replace or add a sensor, this model didn't require one. You can verify that with OWC on Amazon. Tbh I miss the superdrive and I'm going to remove the ssd and put it back in. I still have the cd's of OS's and Fcp 7, etc so I'm keeping it on El Cap. I'm SOOO bummed my 2017 can't do the new video formats, I think I'll sell it and get a 2019 w/o T2. Big regret cause I feel it's already "vintage," sadly. Oh well sometimes you're the windshield..sometimes you're the bug:). Good luck and sorry I missed your post.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installing+iMac+Intel+24-Inch+EMC+2267+Dual+Drive/9070
 
Kevbasscat said:
Oh! I'm so sorry. I've been ill and my brain is somewhere else these days. Pretty fuzzy atm tbh. If you follow this guide, this is what I did, although specifics are failing me right now. You don't have to replace or add a sensor, this model didn't require one. You can verify that with OWC on Amazon. Tbh I miss the superdrive and I'm going to remove the ssd and put it back in. I still have the cd's of OS's and Fcp 7, etc so I'm keeping it on El Cap. I'm SOOO bummed my 2017 can't do the new video formats, I think I'll sell it and get a 2019 w/o T2. Big regret cause I feel it's already "vintage," sadly. Oh well sometimes you're the windshield..sometimes you're the bug:). Good luck and sorry I missed your post.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installing+iMac+Intel+24-Inch+EMC+2267+Dual+Drive/9070
Click to expand...

I am in the process to make a slow transition into a iMac idea. I will sell my current cMP soon and I really thought a 2017 iMac model would be great with an eGPU case and my current Vega VII card. That was the plan. But you mentioned, The 2017 iMac can't do the new video formats? Could you elaborate on this? A two year old machine, really ?? Ufff..that would be not fair to those that bought a new one a year ago.
 
@ AlexMaximus, There are numerous threads about this, but this might be the most relevant to date. Catalina will support the new formats for 2018 machines onward. I'll let them explain, it's convuluted at best, and quite disappointing tbh. I have that 2017 iMac that can't get those formats. I just bought it less than a year ago.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/dolby-vision-and-atmos-on-catalina.2183857/

Edit:

I found this also.

2019 iMac - HEVC/H.265 Hardware Acceleration




  1. Sorry. do not have much time so I will “cut and paste” some of the sources of my input.

    NOTE: 4K and DRM HDCP 2.2 and all this stuff is so screwed up that the first generation of 4K TV’s from Samsung, Sony and LG are NOT compatible with these formats. Not from Blu ray disc or streaming. I know, I bought one... elvisthebeagle

    Apple says that "4K, 4K HDR, 4K Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and HDR10 content is available on all Mac models introduced in 2018 or later with 4K-resolution screens”.

    This is because the 2017 Mac lineup all utilize Intel's Kaby Lake processors, and Netflix requires the 10-bit HEVC codec support specific to those chips in order to play in 4K on a PC.

    4K. is available on all Mac models introduced in 2018 or later with 4K-resolution screens.


    Netflix 4K, HDR Streaming Requirements for PC
    • Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (for HDR or using discrete graphics)
    • Windows 10 HEVC Media Extension, or equivalent (if missing due to Fall Creators Update)
    • Latest unspecified Windows Updates
    • Microsoft Edge or Windows 10 Netflix application
    • Netflix plan that supports 4K and HDR streaming
    • High or Automatic Streaming Quality in Netflix Account Playback Settings
    • Minimum internet connection speed of 25 Mbps
    • 4K display with HDCP 2.2 capability
    • HDCP 2.2 certified cable with 4K capable digital interface
    • HDCP 2.2 capable and 4K capable digital interface port on motherboard video-out or discrete GPU
    • Supported discrete or integrated GPU (PlayReady 3.0, HDCP 2.2 output)
    • Appropriate graphics driver

    4K HDCP 2.2 DMR HDMI 2.0 HDR10 HDR Dolby Vision Video is most of what the computer needs to process to playback 4K Commercial Content. The only thing ( computer ) on the market right now that will playback this stuff is Intel Kabylake or later processor WITH ONBOARD INTEL GRAPHICS.


    To be honest I have no Idea what the below info. from Intel means or if it has anything to do with Apple products. I was so desperate to keep my iMac Pro that I added “just in case”. I still see it back. To big of a gamble.

    The only thing that I could find that gave SKYLAKE Processors a ray of hope was this from Intel
    *Intel Skylake when a DisplayPort signal is routed into a MegaChips MCDP2800 chip on the motherboard and transformed into a HDMI 2.0 signal, that signal now supports HDCP 2.2.
    *Intel Skylake when 1 to 2 DisplayPort signal(s) are routed into a Thunderbolt 3 controller (most likely DisplayPort signal needs to be routed through the motherboard like with the MegaChips chip as external routing is vulnerable), any port from the Thunderbolt 3 controller should support HDCP 2.2. At least HDMI will support it as indicated by Skylake's datasheet (See page 43, Table 2-19, Note 7).


    Cheers !!!

    REPLY
    You like this.
 
Last edited:
mikehalloran said:
Do you have a 24” or 27” 2009? There’s a big difference.
Click to expand...

Im sorry. I have an early 2009, 9,1 24" iMac, with a 3.06 GHz CPU that I purchased from Ebay for $23.00. This 2017 kicks it's butt in every dept. except features. I had to spend nearly, oh gosh, I'd say close to a $1000 to get the same functionality, dongles, adapters, software, yada yada.

Rant: Apple has perfected, squeezing every dime they can out of you nowadays, and with discovering I still have no HDR support, I'm about at my wits end. What's next? I'm retired. I don't NEED an expensive powerful computer, but I've always had one since 1999. Apple's blaming no HDR on Intel, but windows 10 has it now through bootcamp. I want it natively dang it! That's not too much to ask for a computer I purchased less than a year ago, don't you think??? The thing is up until they blacklisted my 9,1, for the previous 20 years, I had never had one problem or a single breakdown. I was the typical Apple zealot. Thrilled, ignorant, very satisfied, believing Apple could do no wrong, and that they cared about me as much as I cared and proved it, by buying only Apple products and singing their praises. I expected them naturally to continue providing me with that same buying and user experience. Hello, lol??? It literally feels as if this was a relationship and I just got screwed. Without MR, I would be in far worse shape, not that I know very much really, but at least the collective of wisdom, talent, intelligence, along with perspective has opened my eyes, and given me tools to overcome most issues. I managed a test lab for military and NASA qualification and failure analysis, in that world perfection and the highest level of design, craftsmanship and detail were the standard, not the exception. If something were to not be comparable, everyone would have plenty of notice and time to make the needed adjustments and not out of their own pock. I feel what Apple did here would be much like NASA saying to Space x, "sorry, only rockets with ion propulsion can launch now. Elon Musk would say, "shouldn't there have been a memo warning us and giving us time to make the adjustments?" "Well, Elon, you many believe that just because you provide a taxi to the ISS, you deserve to be warned, but if we did that we'd spend some of our budget helping you be ready and we love holding on to our dear federal $$$, so in the name of bonuses and more $700 hammers, knowing you might not choose to invest in our missions, we decided not to notify you. BTW, all the directors are meeting in Bora Bora for the next two weeks to count our bonuses. I f you want this new capability please see purchasing as we have excessive rights now., otherwise were lat for golf, see ya Eon, good luck.
 
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