Exchange dead HD or Buy new imac and if so..

[micke1967]

Hi
It seems as my iMac from 2013 with Fusiondrive 16GB ram 3.9Ghz has died on me..The HD seem to be dead.

It also seems as I can get the HD replaced with a new SSD on 1TB for around 1000 EUR

Now even if I do that excahnge its still a 4 year almost 5 year old iMac with no warranties.

So what do you people think...would it be smarter to purchase a new iMac wich would cost around 2500-3000 EUR??

And if purchasing a new iMac which model is most bang for the buck?
I realize its all depending on specific needs and so on but still interested in comments..

I use VM Ware fusion alot and watch movies a lot + do some photo editing. and so on..
best regards micael

 

[keysofanxiety]

There's an old Talaxian expression: "When the road before you splits in two, take the third path."

Buy a 1TB SATA SSD (under $300). Plug it in via a USB>SATA dock/enclosure (dirt cheap) and install macOS directly to that, using it as your boot drive from there. Performance will be practically identical with real-world usage but at a fraction of the cost/hassle compared to a replacement SSD or a brand-new machine.

 

[Fishrrman]

I agree with keys above.

Get a USB3 SSD and plug it in.
Put the OS on it, set it up to become an "external boot drive" (easy).

Once you are back up running that way, now you can "go after" what's left of the internal drive.
I'm going to -guess- that the HDD portion may have failed, leaving the SSD portion still usable.

But if "one side" of the fusion drive fails, it "takes the data along with it".
Not easily recovered (hope you have a backup).

In my opinion it -IS NOT- worth spending 1000 EUR to get fixed. NO!

Either do a "USB SSD workaround" as above, or shop for a new iMac.

 

[bopajuice]

A 1000 euro sounds like a lot just to replace a hard drive with an SSD. First and foremost I would shop around for a better deal.

 

[micke1967]

Hi and thanks for all replies...Ive now decided to go for a new iMac after all getting new warranty and full ssd..

However does anyone know things I could try to save data from my dead iMac??
I do have some external harddrives...
Could they somehow be used??
Or when I get the new iMac - could that one be used??

best regards Micael

 

[velocityg4]

Hi and thanks for all replies...Ive now decided to go for a new iMac after all getting new warranty and full ssd..

However does anyone know things I could try to save data from my dead iMac??
I do have some external harddrives...
Could they somehow be used??
Or when I get the new iMac - could that one be used??

best regards Micael

You could pull the hard drive and put it in an external enclosure. Then try to recover the data. I like Stellar Phoenix for data recovery. Odds are data recovery is not possible on a failed HDD. You could luck out.

While it is open. Install a new HDD. Rebuild it as a fusion drive and install OS X. Then sell it. An iMac with a working boot drive is worth a whole lot more than an iMac which won't boot.

As for external drives. Use them with your new iMac for Time Machine backups. Rotate them out. So, you always have one stored in a fire/water resistant safe or off site.