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DIY - Lets take this 2013 iMac apart and upgrade to SSD!

I just ripped my new 27" iMac apart to do a CPU and Samsung Evo SSD install. I did see the PCIe socket was soldered to the board, so once those are available I will be cutting it apart again to install that and hopefully create a fusion drive of SSD/PCIe speed haha.
 
CompanionCube said:
I just ripped my new 27" iMac apart to do a CPU and Samsung Evo SSD install. I did see the PCIe socket was soldered to the board, so once those are available I will be cutting it apart again to install that and hopefully create a fusion drive of SSD/PCIe speed haha.
Click to expand...

bah, a lost chance. Hey, whoever does this next, can you see if there are any identifying numbers/labels on the power/SATA cable, the left hard drive bracket, or the right hard drive bracket?
 
What kind of SSD can be used to upgrade to Fusion Drive?

Hi guys,
Im using a late 2013 iMac. Unfortunately, I forgot to purchase Fusion Drive. Now i want to buy an SSD to upgrade to Fusion Drive.
Can you guys help me to find a correct one?

My specs:

Order ME087ZP/A Model A1418
Family Late 2013 ID iMac14,3
RAM 8GB VRAM 1GB
Storage 1 TB (5400 RPM)

Thanks in advance,
Eric
 
EricDraven said:
Hi guys,
Im using a late 2013 iMac. Unfortunately, I forgot to purchase Fusion Drive. Now i want to buy an SSD to upgrade to Fusion Drive.
Can you guys help me to find a correct one?

My specs:

Order ME087ZP/A Model A1418
Family Late 2013 ID iMac14,3
RAM 8GB VRAM 1GB
Storage 1 TB (5400 RPM)

Thanks in advance,
Eric
Click to expand...

If you're still within the return period, I recommend that you return the iMac and get one with the Fusion Drive pre-installed. Adding the Fusion Drive on your own is quite hard since the drives Apple use are custom and not available at retail.
 
Hellhammer said:
If you're still within the return period, I recommend that you return the iMac and get one with the Fusion Drive pre-installed. Adding the Fusion Drive on your own is quite hard since the drives Apple use are custom and not available at retail.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your fast reply and recommend but I still want to ask cuz I search and find that we can use OEM Apple SSD PCIe from Macbook Air/Pro. I find many of kind of items on eBay.

Regards,
Eric
 
I'm going to purchase a new 27" iMac and I'm confused about which drive configuration would be optimal for editing video. Naturally, all my media will be stored on external drives.

But for online storage do I go with 1 TB Fusion or pay more for a 256GB or 512GB SSD?

Given that ALL my video media will be stored on external drives, are there any negatives to getting a faster drive that has smaller storage? Will the general computer functions suffer in any way?

Thanks.
 
Last edited:
what SSD to purchase

Regarding what SSD to purchase I would suggest the new Samsung 1TB Evo super fast.

SSD-compare-OWC-extreme-to-Samsung-EVO.jpg
 
This imac situation has been really bothering me. The fact that the 2012 model and earlier could take 2 drives and this 2013 can't is Apple non sense. They are good with non sense.

So, wanting two drives, I found this post. I ust thought I would mention that there is a seller on ebay fast_macs that tells me they can add a second drive to an imac.

If anyone doesn't want to mess this task themselves, this may be a way to go or a source of information.

Im going to buy my new imac with a 500gig ssd. I would like to have a 2tb drive also for storage. Then of course, as Apple has dictated to me, Im going to have to get an USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt enclosure to host a few more physical drives outside the computer.

While we have come so far with storage, Apple has just set us back years with this one drive option.
 
Anyone seen any third party or used PCIe SSD blades compatible with late 2013's for sale yet?
 
yjchua95 said:
They're not going to be on sale any time soon. OWC took quite a long time to come up with their own blade mSATA SSDs for the Ivy Bridge Macs.
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I'd be happy if I could find someone selling Apple blades larger than 128gb.
 
If i wanted to keep my current 3.5 and add a SSD, i would need the maxupgrade kit, correct? Whats the overall opinion of their product? I just want to add the SSD to run windows, no fusion drive or anything special..
 
Not looking to hijack this thread, but didn't want to start a new one for a quick question - this thread seems most relevant!

If a 2012/2013 iMac is ordered with Flash only, is the HDD bay totally empty? Is there even a onnector there?

If I recall, the blade style SSD has it's own PCIe connector on the logic board, correct?

Thanks!
 
Johnf1285 said:
Not looking to hijack this thread, but didn't want to start a new one for a quick question - this thread seems most relevant!

If a 2012/2013 iMac is ordered with Flash only, is the HDD bay totally empty? Is there even a onnector there?

If I recall, the blade style SSD has it's own PCIe connector on the logic board, correct?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

If you are still looking ...

It has been posted in other threads that if you have a 27" SSD-only iMac (2012/2013) that the hard disk connectors are on the board, however no SATA power/data cable or hard disk brackets are supplied. There is also a different spring-tension mount pivot (mechanism) to compensate for the additional weight of the hard disk.

You can purchase the parts at various Mac parts houses such as this one:
(here are the needed part numbers and prices -- for 27" iMac)

http://applecomponents.com/?search_within=1&p=all_items&last_cmp=0215&last_cat=&s=hard+drive



-howard
 
dzone said:
Regarding what SSD to purchase I would suggest the new Samsung 1TB Evo super fast.

View attachment 451958
Click to expand...

dam glad i didn't go this route,no offense,but two years ago if not more i bought a ssd for my mac and these were the speeds i had gotten from ocz,glad to see that apple actually gives a great flash storage when purchased
 
Has anyone attempted to install a PCIe SSD on their base model late 2013 27" iMac? I want to do this but I don't want to tear open my iMac and find out I don't have the slot since my computer didn't have an SSD from the factory.
 
Sorry to resurrect an old thread but I am now looking to replace the HDD in my late 2013 27" iMac with a 500GB Samsung SSD using the SATA connection. From what I gather, I will need the following:
1) 2.5" to 3.5" adapter bracket
2) enable TRIM
3) fan control adapter?

Can anyone confirm that these are the requirements? Anything else? Is the fan control adapter necessary?
 
cere said:
Sorry to resurrect an old thread but I am now looking to replace the HDD in my late 2013 27" iMac with a 500GB Samsung SSD using the SATA connection. From what I gather, I will need the following:
1) 2.5" to 3.5" adapter bracket
2) enable TRIM
3) fan control adapter?

Can anyone confirm that these are the requirements? Anything else? Is the fan control adapter necessary?
Click to expand...

Don't know if you did the upgrade, but it's my understanding that a fan control adapter isn't needed with the Late 2013 27" iMac – but there's some conflicting info out there.
 
A warning to those contemplating doing a DIY drive swap or modification on an iMac: I have 25 years cracking my own PCs. I bought the kits for swapping the 5400 with SSD in my mid-2011 iMac, watched all the videos and rehearsed the procedure. I thought it went well, but the iMac is now dead (long story). So much for trying to get a few more less expensive years out of my beautiful Mac.

Lesson: I should have taken the job to an Apple authorized dealer and let them do it.
 
Easttime said:
A warning to those contemplating doing a DIY drive swap or modification on an iMac: I have 25 years cracking my own PCs. I bought the kits for swapping the 5400 with SSD in my mid-2011 iMac, watched all the videos and rehearsed the procedure. I thought it went well, but the iMac is now dead (long story). So much for trying to get a few more less expensive years out of my beautiful Mac.

Lesson: I should have taken the job to an Apple authorized dealer and let them do it.
Click to expand...

Maybe you need more years of experience. :cool:

I've opened up my 2011 27" iMac plenty of times. And I don't work for Apple or any other computer servicing center.
 
Dopeyman said:
I've opened up my 2011 27" iMac plenty of times. And I don't work for Apple or any other computer servicing center.
Click to expand...
I wasn't addressing my anecdote to you, nor do I work for Apple or an authorized repair Center. Just putting it out there for others who might think that opening iMacs is as risk free as opening PCs. Glad it worked well for you. It didn't for me, and it was a costly choice.
 
Installed Samsung Evo 850 Pro 1TB SSD in my late 2013 iMac today. Used a 3.5" to 2.5" adapter from OWC, as well as their thermal sensor.

6923a1e48434c8949180af7f4051fd18.jpg


f3b63d4be8c1bbce376c402b530145aa.jpg


72070be8e3f03a2585ee183cc072b269.jpg


3042b721925468b60b8523c0c78a8fae.jpg
 
KOTULCN said:
Installed Samsung Evo 850 Pro 1TB SSD in my late 2013 iMac today. Used a 3.5" to 2.5" adapter from OWC, as well as their thermal sensor.
Click to expand...

How's your machine runing now? I'm considering of doing a double SSD (BeyBlade or M.2. + 2.5" SSD) combo install (because why not if already removing screen).

I'm wondering if it's a smart idea since the later iMacs have 5k display which seems more reasonable of a machine to be upgrading....coz SSD's can drain me for 600€+ easily.

With it considering a RAM upgrade as well (current 8GB).

What was your budget & how do you feel about it now? Worth it for an old 2013 model?
 
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