I have an external nvme 1tb ssd in a Gen 2 enclosure. 1 gigabyte/sec read and writes. I don’t have the os on it, but I keep fcpx libraries on it.
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A list of successful iMac 27" (2012-2019) SSD upgrades
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I have an external nvme 1tb ssd in a Gen 2 enclosure. 1 gigabyte/sec read and writes. I don’t have the os on it, but I keep fcpx libraries on it.
Thank you.. hopefully someone using it as the Boot Drive can give their review..
Hi,
Thank you for your reply,
My machine is as follows:
Device: Late 2015 - 17.1 - MK462LL/A (3.2Ghz i5-6500, 1TB HDD only)
Blade upgrade: none -> 512TB ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro - Heatsink included in box used.
CPU upgrade: i5-6500 -> i7-6700K
Speed test: 2789 MB/s read, 591 MB/s write
OS: Latest macOS
Location: Sydney, Australia
Adapter: Sintech ST-NGFF2013C
After a reboot speeds have gotten *slightly* better, however Write speeds are stuck around 1GB/ps exactly on all tests... ?
Any help is appreciated.
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Hi Ash06, can you tell us what your Boot Rom version is for MacOS 10.14.6 is? (About this Mac >> System Report)
Thanks!
Just upgraded a Late 2015 27” from a 3.2 GHz i5 to a 4.0 GHz i7. Also upgraded to a 1 TB WD Blue SSD.
It is noticeably faster.
It is noticeably faster.
** UPDATE SUCESS **
Latest Security and update for "sleep" issues installed. It has now updated the BIOS and I can now SLEEP and wake. Also during startup holding the Option/Alt key down now displays ALL the drives, including the non OEM NVMe drive as proper drives instead of gray icons.
Update here: click here to download it (macOSUpd10.14.6Supplemental.dmg)
Last login: Thu Aug 1 19:40:52 on console
iMac2015:~ stephen$ /usr/libexec/firmwarecheckers/eficheck/eficheck --integrity-check
EFI Version: IM171.88Z.F000.B00.1906171551 (Boot ROM Version: 170.0.0.0.0)
Primary allowlist version match found. No changes detected in primary hashes.
iMac2015:~ stephen$ system_profiler SPHardwareDataType | grep -i "Version" | awk -F ':' '{print $1 $2}'
Boot ROM Version 170.0.0.0.0
SMC Version (system) 2.33f10
iMac2015:~ stephen$
No sleep issues at all!
Last login: Fri Aug 2 06:54:35 on ttys000
iMac2015:~ stephen$ sudo pmset -a hibernatemode 25 standby 0
Password:
iMac2015:~ Stephen$
No hibernate issues at all!
Thank you Apple. I can now seal my machine permanently after I change the CMOS battery and reapply new thermal compound on the CPU, GPU and GPU memory chips.
WooHoo!
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So this confirms the Boot ROM is actually updatable even with after-market blade/nvme ssds?
Sure looks like it - proof is in the pictures and the updated bootROM and pmset -g:
Last login: Thu Aug 1 20:54:35 on console
iMac2015:~ stephen$ sudo pmset -g
Password:
System-wide power settings:
Currently in use:
Sleep On Power Button 1
autopoweroff 1
standbydelayhigh 86400
autopoweroffdelay 28800
proximitywake 1
standby 1
standbydelaylow 86400
ttyskeepawake 1
hibernatemode 0
powernap 1
gpuswitch 2
hibernatefile /var/vm/sleepimage
highstandbythreshold 50
displaysleep 15
womp 1
networkoversleep 0
sleep 15 (sleep prevented by sharingd)
tcpkeepalive 1
halfdim 1
autorestart 0
disksleep 10
iMac2015:~ stephen$
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Good that normal sleep functions in Late 2015 iMacs. However, could you please confirm that your Mac can hibernate correctly. Type:
sudo pmset -a hibernatemode 25, standby 0
After that hit sleep and wait a minute that the contents of the RAM will be imaged to the blade SSD. Pressing a keystroke, or a mouse click would wake it from hibernation with the progress bar appearing. Let us know if this functions normally.
sudo pmset -a hibernatemode 25, standby 0
After that hit sleep and wait a minute that the contents of the RAM will be imaged to the blade SSD. Pressing a keystroke, or a mouse click would wake it from hibernation with the progress bar appearing. Let us know if this functions normally.
Last login: Fri Aug 2 06:54:35 on ttys000
iMac2015:~ stephen$ sudo pmset -a hibernatemode 25 standby 0
Password:
iMac2015:~ Stephen$
Works fine - sleeps AND hibernates AND successfully wakes from both modes (sleep+hibernate). So it's finally been addressed by Apple, and we can successfully breath new life into the Late 2015 iMacs.
Just need to figure out and configure the settings so that it sleeps for an hour before hibernating
iMac2015:~ stephen$ sudo pmset -g
System-wide power settings:
Currently in use:
Sleep On Power Button 1
autopoweroff 1
standbydelayhigh 86400
autopoweroffdelay 28800
proximitywake 1
standby 0
standbydelaylow 86400
ttyskeepawake 1
hibernatemode 25
powernap 1
gpuswitch 2
hibernatefile /var/vm/sleepimage
highstandbythreshold 50
displaysleep 15
womp 1
networkoversleep 0
sleep 15 (sleep prevented by sharingd)
tcpkeepalive 1
halfdim 1
autorestart 0
disksleep 10
iMac2015:~ stephen$
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No - I put an aftermarket heatsink on it, as at the time, the WD SN750 was so new (first to buy off Amazon from waiting list), that there were no WD SN750’s with integrated heatsinks available at the time.
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OEM Heatsink looks so bulky. I wonder can it fit it with adapter card and all? SN750 looks like excellent choice. Thank you for quick answer.
Did you have to do anything except just updating the system? Thanks, Magnus
Nope - ran update, then I just made sure to go into settings -> power settings, and that I hit “Restore” so I had the iMac default settings to start.
Interesting that your 2015 iMac came with factory SSD, correct? So you replaced your Apple-SSD with a WD one, and then the usual system updated did the rest?
Thanks again,
Magnus
Blade upgrade + HDD
Device: Late 2013 27' base model
Blade upgrade: none -> 32G Apple blade
HDD upgrade: 1TB SATA HDD -> 1TB SATA HDD
Speed test: 762 MB/s read, 721MB/s write
OS: Mojave 10.14.6
Adapter: none
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Temperature sensor: none
Issues after fresh OS install: Hibernation issue
CPU + Blade upgrade + HDD
Device: 2017 27' base model
CPU upgrade: i5 7500 -> i7 7700k
Blade upgrade: 32G -> 512G 970 Pro
HDD upgrade: 1TB SATA HDD -> 1TB 860 Evo
Speed test: 3028 MB/s read, 2163 MB/s write
OS: Mojave 10.14.6
Adapter: unbranded from ebay.au
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Temperature sensor: none
Issues after fresh OS install: No issue so far
What I intended to do was to fix the broken hinge in the 2013 iMac before selling it on the market. Since I had to disassemble almost everything so I just decided to upgrade it with the fusion drive taken from my 2017 iMac . The fusion drive also had old MacOS from the 2017 iMac. Interesting thing was I left the upgraded 2013 iMac on for the night and it didn't seem to have the hibernation issue the next morning. Before I sold it, I reinstalled fresh OS then it came with the issue.
Some tips if you upgrade CPU.
1.Apple uses too much thermal paste on both CPU and GPU heat sink. Be careful when you remove the sink because the CPU is definitely stuck under it.
2. Prepare two 50mm*10mm*1mm thermal pads for the vram. Thick paste is ok but not as good.
3. 7 or 8 full turns to tighten the GPU and CPU screws
4. A really tiny cable/connector is located in front of the main board on this model, which is very fragile.
Anyone who is using 2017 iMac with 7700k could possibly post the cpu temperature under full load? My CPU is delided + liquid metal. Just want to know how much improvement if any.
Thanks for the thread. It really helped me a lot.
Device: Late 2013 27' base model
Blade upgrade: none -> 32G Apple blade
HDD upgrade: 1TB SATA HDD -> 1TB SATA HDD
Speed test: 762 MB/s read, 721MB/s write
OS: Mojave 10.14.6
Adapter: none
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Temperature sensor: none
Issues after fresh OS install: Hibernation issue
CPU + Blade upgrade + HDD
Device: 2017 27' base model
CPU upgrade: i5 7500 -> i7 7700k
Blade upgrade: 32G -> 512G 970 Pro
HDD upgrade: 1TB SATA HDD -> 1TB 860 Evo
Speed test: 3028 MB/s read, 2163 MB/s write
OS: Mojave 10.14.6
Adapter: unbranded from ebay.au
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Temperature sensor: none
Issues after fresh OS install: No issue so far
What I intended to do was to fix the broken hinge in the 2013 iMac before selling it on the market. Since I had to disassemble almost everything so I just decided to upgrade it with the fusion drive taken from my 2017 iMac . The fusion drive also had old MacOS from the 2017 iMac. Interesting thing was I left the upgraded 2013 iMac on for the night and it didn't seem to have the hibernation issue the next morning. Before I sold it, I reinstalled fresh OS then it came with the issue.
Some tips if you upgrade CPU.
1.Apple uses too much thermal paste on both CPU and GPU heat sink. Be careful when you remove the sink because the CPU is definitely stuck under it.
2. Prepare two 50mm*10mm*1mm thermal pads for the vram. Thick paste is ok but not as good.
3. 7 or 8 full turns to tighten the GPU and CPU screws
4. A really tiny cable/connector is located in front of the main board on this model, which is very fragile.
Anyone who is using 2017 iMac with 7700k could possibly post the cpu temperature under full load? My CPU is delided + liquid metal. Just want to know how much improvement if any.
Thanks for the thread. It really helped me a lot.
Yes, and yes. All documented on the thread here within my postings for additional info.
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I'm going to upgrade iMac 2019 stock 2 Tb fusion drive (ST2000DM001 — i'm shocked that in 2019 Apple using HDD from 2011) to Samsung 860 Evo.
I want to make Fusion drive from 2 SSDs (SATA + NVMe) - any problems with it?
Would i have problems with fan speed after changing HDD to SSD?
I want to make Fusion drive from 2 SSDs (SATA + NVMe) - any problems with it?
Would i have problems with fan speed after changing HDD to SSD?
No problem with fans
You can create a fusion drive, it works but you have to do it using command line
I have tried it with my 1tb fd upgraded to 860evo, but the performance or the 24gb nvme blade is not really greater than 860evo.
It’s faster for reading and slower for writing. I don't know what do to with this 24gb ssd ...
In your case, you have a larger and faster SSD blade.
You can install your system and apps on the 128Gb blade and your data on the 860evo.
But a FD can also be very convenient.
You can create a fusion drive, it works but you have to do it using command line
I have tried it with my 1tb fd upgraded to 860evo, but the performance or the 24gb nvme blade is not really greater than 860evo.
It’s faster for reading and slower for writing. I don't know what do to with this 24gb ssd ...
In your case, you have a larger and faster SSD blade.
You can install your system and apps on the 128Gb blade and your data on the 860evo.
But a FD can also be very convenient.
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Successfully changed 2 TB Fusion drive (ST2000DM001) which had annoying noise on new iMac 2019 to Samsung 860 Evo. No fan problems (Macs Fan Control shows SSD had it's own temperature sensor). NVMe SSD 128 Gb stayed without changes.
At first incorrectly set Fusion drive — used old instructions from High Sierra (diskutil coreStorage create name disk1 disk2) and then converted to apfs. Stuck on 500 Mb/sec limit of SATA drive. This is because in automatic mode diskutil set SATA SSD as "Main" and stock NVMe as "Secondary, Designated Aux Use".
Correct way to make Fusion drive from 2 SSDs (SATA + NVMe) is:
diskutil apfs createContainer -main disk0s2 -secondary disk1s2 (where disk0s2 is NVMe SSD and disk1s2 is SATA SSD)
and then:
diskutil apfs addVolume disk2 (where disk2 is newly created AFPS container)
After that I got 750 Mb/sec write and 2500 Mb/sec read according to Blackmagic Disk Speed Test. The same results I have got on stock setup for first runs (after 4-5 iterations speed dropped to 150-200 Mb/sec). So literally I don't get speed gain, but now iMac is totally silent and there is no delay when opening folders with many different files (with HDD there was a delay for 1-2 seconds).
At first incorrectly set Fusion drive — used old instructions from High Sierra (diskutil coreStorage create name disk1 disk2) and then converted to apfs. Stuck on 500 Mb/sec limit of SATA drive. This is because in automatic mode diskutil set SATA SSD as "Main" and stock NVMe as "Secondary, Designated Aux Use".
Correct way to make Fusion drive from 2 SSDs (SATA + NVMe) is:
diskutil apfs createContainer -main disk0s2 -secondary disk1s2 (where disk0s2 is NVMe SSD and disk1s2 is SATA SSD)
and then:
diskutil apfs addVolume disk2 (where disk2 is newly created AFPS container)
After that I got 750 Mb/sec write and 2500 Mb/sec read according to Blackmagic Disk Speed Test. The same results I have got on stock setup for first runs (after 4-5 iterations speed dropped to 150-200 Mb/sec). So literally I don't get speed gain, but now iMac is totally silent and there is no delay when opening folders with many different files (with HDD there was a delay for 1-2 seconds).
Device: Late 2014 27" iMac, i7, 32GB, R9 M295X 4GB
SSD upgrade: 128GB SATA Express Blade -> Samsung EVO 970 2TB
HDD: Retained factory 3TB SATA from Fusion Drive
Adapter: ST-NGFF2013-C
Speed test: 775 MB/s read, 725 MB/s write
OS: Mojave 10.14.6
Location: Woodbury, MN US
Issues after fresh OS install: None
Sleep Issues: None
The computer was updated to Mojave 10.14.6 prior to the upgrade, and I used a USB NVMe sled to load Mojave onto the Samsung 970 EVO prior to the upgrade. The Sintech adapter fit perfectly, and it so happened I bought the ST-NGFF2013 adapter too and that did not fit. The "-C" adapter is slightly shorter, fitting the iMac mounting location perfectly.
I also confirmed that the late 2014 27" iMac operates on NVMe 2.0 x2 lanes, which limits your speeds compared to the late 2015 and newer iMacs with NVMe 3.x with x4 lanes. That said, it was still a worthwhile upgrade over the Fusion setup, which worked ok but was too slow for Lightroom, iMovie and other I/O intensive apps. Why Apple gave the late 2013 MacBook Pro the NVMe 2.0 x4 and not the late 2014 iMac is another Apple mystery that I will never understand.
SSD upgrade: 128GB SATA Express Blade -> Samsung EVO 970 2TB
HDD: Retained factory 3TB SATA from Fusion Drive
Adapter: ST-NGFF2013-C
Speed test: 775 MB/s read, 725 MB/s write
OS: Mojave 10.14.6
Location: Woodbury, MN US
Issues after fresh OS install: None
Sleep Issues: None
The computer was updated to Mojave 10.14.6 prior to the upgrade, and I used a USB NVMe sled to load Mojave onto the Samsung 970 EVO prior to the upgrade. The Sintech adapter fit perfectly, and it so happened I bought the ST-NGFF2013 adapter too and that did not fit. The "-C" adapter is slightly shorter, fitting the iMac mounting location perfectly.
I also confirmed that the late 2014 27" iMac operates on NVMe 2.0 x2 lanes, which limits your speeds compared to the late 2015 and newer iMacs with NVMe 3.x with x4 lanes. That said, it was still a worthwhile upgrade over the Fusion setup, which worked ok but was too slow for Lightroom, iMovie and other I/O intensive apps. Why Apple gave the late 2013 MacBook Pro the NVMe 2.0 x4 and not the late 2014 iMac is another Apple mystery that I will never understand.
I got a late 2014 27" 5K, and did replace the blade with an evo970 plus and the hdd for a crucial mx500.
The evo got a heatsink.
at first it did work well. But after installing the os on the blade and a few restarts it did go downhill.
my speed is very low with bot drives. It take a few minutes to get to the login screen.
Blade speed in ‘this mac " says 2x, but i am almost sure that after the first run I did have better speed and a blade 4x times speed. After I did remove the blade I still got a very low speed.
so, could I get 4x blade speed or am I dreaming? No thus, like the above comments. Anyway.
Still, when I click on an icon f.e, it takes 4-5 seconds before the action gets executed.
Also when I shutdown it take almost 10 minutes
What happend, is this a mobo or a proccesor issue?
Update, when you don't connect the main screen, I did connect a secondary screen, it goes very slow. When connected, it works better. Not yet high speed, but still a better read and reaction time.
The evo got a heatsink.
at first it did work well. But after installing the os on the blade and a few restarts it did go downhill.
my speed is very low with bot drives. It take a few minutes to get to the login screen.
Blade speed in ‘this mac " says 2x, but i am almost sure that after the first run I did have better speed and a blade 4x times speed. After I did remove the blade I still got a very low speed.
so, could I get 4x blade speed or am I dreaming? No thus, like the above comments. Anyway.
Still, when I click on an icon f.e, it takes 4-5 seconds before the action gets executed.
Also when I shutdown it take almost 10 minutes
What happend, is this a mobo or a proccesor issue?
Update, when you don't connect the main screen, I did connect a secondary screen, it goes very slow. When connected, it works better. Not yet high speed, but still a better read and reaction time.
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