Confirmed: Adding a 2nd Hard Drive to Non-Server Minis

[slyseekr]

iFixit Releases their Kit

For anyone interested in a more "complete" upgrade. iFixit has released their "Mac Mini Dual Hard Drive Kit", though it's out of stock.

$70, but you it comes with everything you'll need, including mounting grommets and a complete toolset.

 

[Dusky600]

For anyone interested in a more "complete" upgrade. iFixit has released their "Mac Mini Dual Hard Drive Kit", though it's out of stock.

$70, but you it comes with everything you'll need, including mounting grommets and a complete toolset.

been meaning to ask, did you dissasemble the whole mac mini like the ifixit guide ? or were you able to insert the 2nd hdd through the space there ?

 

[slyseekr]

been meaning to ask, did you dissasemble the whole mac mini like the ifixit guide ? or were you able to insert the 2nd hdd through the space there?

I only disassembled the mini to the point where I could slide the logicboard out an inch in order to fit the second hard drive in, the only cables I disconnected were the fan and the PSU cable behind the RAM slots.

I only really had to slide the logicboard out because my SSD was a hair too thick to be able to squeeze it through the space and seat it properly.

I'm not sure if iFixit has corrected their teardown process, but they fail to mention that you must also remove the screw underneath the fan that secures the logicboard into place, I believe they also fail to mention that you should disconnect the PSU cable.

 

[Dusky600]

I only disassembled the mini to the point where I could slide the logicboard out an inch in order to fit the second hard drive in, the only cables I disconnected were the fan and the PSU cable behind the RAM slots.

they wrote up a new guide to go with the kit but they tear the mini down to the point you can get the hdd's support out of the mini.

just wondering if it was possible to just slide it in.

 

[ikduncan]

Definately nOt enough space to just slide it in.


Cant belive im the only one who got the wrong cable from vis! And they havent replied to me email yet!

QUOTE=Dusky600;13189488]they wrote up a new guide to go with the kit but they tear the mini down to the point you can get the hdd's support out of the mini.

just wondering if it was possible to just slide it in.[/QUOTE]

 

[karellen]

I got the wrong one too.

I emailed them first thing on Monday explaining the problem and they asked me to send it back and they'd send me the correct one when they get more.

Posted it yesterday and got a dispatch email this afternoon.

 

[OTACORB]

Hey Guys,

My son ordered a Mac Mini 2.5 Core i5 and was planning to add a 2nd hard drive, so when I ordered my cable he ordered one too. However, he ended up getting the Mac Mini Quad Core i7, so he doesn't need the cable. This is the 2010 lower hard drive flex cable. Still in the package!

If anyone wants it, please send me a PM. I can take a payment via paypal and ship it out ASAP. $33 is what we paid for the part and $16 for shipping. If we can get $45 for it, its yours and I will ship it via USPS first class parcel.

Thanks and I hope no one minds me offering this up!

 

[Dusky600]

Hey Guys,

My son ordered a Mac Mini 2.5 Core i5 and was planning to add a 2nd hard drive, so when I ordered my cable he ordered one too. However, he ended up getting the Mac Mini Quad Core i7, so he doesn't need the cable. This is the 2010 lower hard drive flex cable. Still in the package!

why doesnt he need the cable for the i7 anymore ? cant he stick a 2nd hard drive into the i7 ? oh nevermind the quad is the server model right ?

 

[OTACORB]

why doesnt he need the cable for the i7 anymore ? cant he stick a 2nd hard drive into the i7 ?

The Mac Mini server comes with 2 hard drives, so it already has the needed cable. He was initially not getting the server version, but after reading all the speed comparison and considering he mainly does a ton of DVD ripping and nothing really graphic intensive. He decided the server version was his best option even though it doesn't offer discreet GPU.

 

[japtor]

they wrote up a new guide to go with the kit but they tear the mini down to the point you can get the hdd's support out of the mini.

just wondering if it was possible to just slide it in.

Got my SSD in today and did the upgrade finally. Like slyseekr I didn't dismantle the whole thing. I followed their new guide up to the point where they slid the board out a bit basically and improvised from there. I got some little foam pads the other day and that worked to secure the SSD down there...hopefully they can hold up to the temperature.

I put some down on the inside of the mini itself so I couldn't push the drive completely down, and one on each screw hole on the bracket (in lieu of grommets+screws), then just jammed it in there. It was a pretty tight fit but it's working, been running for about 10 hours now just transferring stuff from my old setup.

I didn't have to disconnect the power cable, but I did the fan and IR ones. If anything the power cable had enough slack to make it difficult to fit the drives in next to it. I pulled the board out more just to pull the cable a little out of the way actually.

 

[ikduncan]

replacement cable arrived from VIS and now installed.

Put a samsung 9.5mm 1tb in the upper and replaced the 500gb stock with a
corsair force 3 120Gb SSD

smoking hot!

 

[krburrell]

replacement cable arrived from VIS and now installed.

Put a samsung 9.5mm 1tb in the upper and replaced the 500gb stock with a
corsair force 3 120Gb SSD

smoking hot!

Did you notice if the samsung 9.5mm 1tb made the mini run cooler?

 

[Dusky600]

did you guys that already mounted your hdd's put anything around your hd's ? like a cover or something ?

im wondering if putting it in without anything else is a good idea

 

[ikduncan]

im not sure what you are getting at to be honest.

It certainly isn't hot, but i have it in the top slot with an sad underneath...

I suspect the heat you are referring to would have been taken care of with the 10.7.1 update?


as for wrapping the drive, i used the black shield from the apple 500gb on the
1tb samsung, and mounted it with 4 standard laptop hard drive screws in the chassis and some rubber grommets from a mac pro hard drive.

i did have to take the whole thing apart to mount correctly though..

Did you notice if the samsung 9.5mm 1tb made the mini run cooler?

 

[c.dub]

*edit*

Nevermind. Plz delete.

 

[OTACORB]

When I opened my Mac Mini Server I found that only the lower drive had the wrap on it. The upper drive didn't have anything wrapped around it. Since the lower drive was my SSD and totally sealed, I didn't use the wrap at all as I didn't see a need too.

I do find the server runs a bit cooler than the non-server version. Not really sure as to why.

 

[c.dub]

I have a Mac Mini with the AMD 6630 GPU and I want to install a Crucial M4 SSD in the second HDD bay. I located the cable I need, but the only thing I am unsure about is the rubber feet people are mentioning which stops the drive from sitting loose inside the Mini. Does anyone know the name for these rubber feet? Can I get them at any computer parts store? Also, I understand the M4 is a tighter fit compared to other drives. Would this mean I don't need these rubber feet?

 

[japtor]

did you guys that already mounted your hdd's put anything around your hd's ? like a cover or something ?

im wondering if putting it in without anything else is a good idea

I put the HD in the original HD slot and black wrap/cover thing that the OEM drive comes with, with the SSD in the upper (when right side up) bay.

I have a Mac Mini with the AMD 6630 GPU and I want to install a Crucial M4 SSD in the second HDD bay. I located the cable I need, but the only thing I am unsure about is the rubber feet people are mentioning which stops the drive from sitting loose inside the Mini. Does anyone know the name for these rubber feet? Can I get them at any computer parts store? Also, I understand the M4 is a tighter fit compared to other drives. Would this mean I don't need these rubber feet?

The proper installation involves grommets which fit into the holes in the frame along with some special screws. iFixit has those, but I don't know if they sell them separately from their whole kit (with their toolkit and cable for $70).

I used these, got mine at Lowes. It was a pretty tight fit so I'm not sure it'd be all that necessary for yours...and considering they weren't meant for this something else would probably be better, perhaps something like the pads Apple uses here and there (but no clue what they're called).

 

[OTACORB]

Folks can do what they want, but when I stalled my 750gb drive in the upper bay, then my SSD in the lower bay, I didn't use these pegs or anything. This was on the standard mini non-server model. These drives fit so tight in such a cramped space that honestly I didn't see the need. I could shake my mini and nothing moved whatsoever. So, I think this is much to do about nothing.

In the server version Apple uses these little squishy pad like things and though I did put those back in my server, they sure made it a difficult fit because it is so tight.

 

[krburrell]

In the server version Apple uses these little squishy pad like things and though I did put those back in my server, they sure made it a difficult fit because it is so tight.

For the server version did you have to take everything apart like the ifixit instructions or could you slide the drives out like the non-server version.

 

[OTACORB]

For the server version did you have to take everything apart like the ifixit instructions or could you slide the drives out like the non-server version.

Yes, I did have to take it just about totally apart and the reason is that the upper drive has screws on the side that you must be able to get too in order to swap out that drive. However, if all you are doing is replacing the lower drive, then you really don't have to do anymore than you do with a non-server Mac Mini.

 

[kteboyle]

Putting mini back together after upgrade.

Hey all,
got all the components finally and installed my 2nd harddrive last night. One problem came up for me that I was hoping others may be able to help with.

When putting the mini back together, I slid the AC-In socket retainer back around the AC-In connector, and it seemed snug, but once I put all the other components back in the system and turn it over, the retainer seems to fall off and rattle around in the case. Does anyone have any advice for getting this to fit back on correctly?

I tried to reseat it 3 times, and it kept falling off.

Thanks,

 

[krburrell]

Yes, I did have to take it just about totally apart and the reason is that the upper drive has screws on the side that you must be able to get too in order to swap out that drive. However, if all you are doing is replacing the lower drive, then you really don't have to do anymore than you do with a non-server Mac Mini.

Thanks for info!!!

 

[slidor]

Hi,

did anybody manage to add a ssd to the empty bay and use the ssd as boot media?

I don't want to peel all the "shielding" off the original hdd.

Greetings
slidor

 

[Daud]

Hi,

did anybody manage to add a ssd to the empty bay and use the ssd as boot media?

I don't want to peel all the "shielding" off the original hdd.

Greetings
slidor

I did. The original drive in black foil left on went to the lower (when belly up) bay and the SSD to the upper one. The original was never activated. I did cmd-R interent recovery of the OS to the SSD. Everything works well, only the SSD (OWC Mercury) bought in January has sleep problems (no wake up).