C2D iMac - possible to upgrade hard disk?

[ascender]

I've done a search but can't seem to see any information on this, I was just wondering if anyone has successfully upgraded the HDD in their iMac? If so, is it easy enough to do or is it a nightmare as I imagine it to be?

Thanks,


Mike.

 

[CortexRock]

The iMac isn't designed to be user-upgradable - other than the RAM slots underneath.

To upgrade the internal hard drive you'd have to take the whole machine apart, which would invalidate your guarantee/Apple Care agreement, and be a nightmare to put back together unless you're a very experienced hardware engineer/modder.

Cheaper to get yourself an external USB2/FW400/FW800 external drive, or build your own DIY solution. Then you've got a spare drive ready for OSX 10.5's TimeMachine backup too.

 

[Lycanthrope]

Well, Apple themselves supply instructions on how to do this on a 17" G5:

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/imacG5_17inch_harddrive.pdf

Google search: "apple imac 17" replace hard disk"

Seems to imply that it won't invalidate the warranty either... I was planning to upgrade my measly 250GB to 500GB once the prices of SATA2 500GB's have dropped.

 

[igucl]

The iMac isn't designed to be user-upgradable - other than the RAM slots underneath.

To upgrade the internal hard drive you'd have to take the whole machine apart, which would invalidate your guarantee/Apple Care agreement, and be a nightmare to put back together unless you're a very experienced hardware engineer/modder.

Cheaper to get yourself an external USB2/FW400/FW800 external drive, or build your own DIY solution. Then you've got a spare drive ready for OSX 10.5's TimeMachine backup too.

I'm sorry, but this is not true. I easily replaced the drive in my 17" iMac G5, and the new ones are not significantly different. It's no trouble at all if you know how to use a screwdriver.

 

[Tarkovsky]

The real problem is getting all your data from the old HD to the new one. Firewire bootup anyone?

 

[ascender]

Well, Apple themselves supply instructions on how to do this on a 17" G5:

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/imacG5_17inch_harddrive.pdf

Google search: "apple imac 17" replace hard disk"

Seems to imply that it won't invalidate the warranty either... I was planning to upgrade my measly 250GB to 500GB once the prices of SATA2 500GB's have dropped.

That was exactly my thinking, upgrade the drive. I'm looking at buying a NAS of some sort to handle backups, but with the amount of music and photos I have now, the more storage space the better!

Thanks for that link, it does appear to be a fairly straightforward operation if you're comfortable working inside computers.

Does anyone know what 500Gb+ HDDs are suitable for the iMac? The config tool at the Apple Store just says "Serial ATA Drive".

Hmm, found this at a UK site, but neither of those drives get great reviews, although it looks like its a Seagate Barracuda that's in my iMac at the moment.

http://www.macupgrades.co.uk/store/machine.php?name=imac-core-duo#InternalHardDrives1

Obviously this will void the warranty, but I'm wondering about keeping the old drive and then you could just replace it if need be?

 

[CortexRock]

I read somewhere that there's a significant difference in the case design between the G5 iMac and the Intel iMacs.

I believe on the G5 you could remove the back of the casing to get to the innards, but on the Intel versions you have to take out the LCD screen.

I'm not saying it's impossible to do, just that you'd have to be fairly confident of getting it exactly right, otherwise you end up with a pretty door stop.

 

[ascender]

I've given my local authorised Apple place a call to get a price from them first. I wonder if it would be worth taking the back off, just to have a look and see what the script is before attempting anything?

 

[emptyCup]

I'm sorry, but this is not true. I easily replaced the drive in my 17" iMac G5, and the new ones are not significantly different. It's no trouble at all if you know how to use a screwdriver.

The iMac G5 was designed to be highly user serviceable (and is). I am not sure this is true of the new C2D iMacs. It can't hurt to take the back off just to look (place the machine face down on a soft towel). Ask the Apple store people how much they would charge to replace it for you.

 

[Cybergypsy]

Call Apple

 

[4JNA]

Good Luck

from the pics, looks to be not worth it if you have any warranty remaining that you want to keep...

 

[ascender]

Pics don't look too bad after all, I'll wait to see how much the Apple guys are going to charge. If its a blatant rip-off then I'll do it myself.

 

[ezekielrage_99]

Cool just bought a new mac and I have a 320GB 10,000rpm HDD sitting around.... this could be fun