Has anyone tried to ADD SSD to 2011 imac for HDD+SSD?

[paol]

Just wanted to clear up that there are no microSATA cables found anywhere in the iMac.

The cable that goes to the DVD drive, and the connector that comes off of the motherboard for the SSD, is a slimline SATA connector. Its a combination of the standard 7 pin SATA data cable, and a 6 pin slimline SATA power cable. (6+7 pin = 13 pin).

More information can be found about these cables in general here, and specifically with the iMac, iFixit confirms that the Sony Optiarc is standard slimline SATA here: http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iMac-Intel-27-Inch/1236/2

You are right.

This is what I bought: http://www.deltaco.se/?itemid=(SATA-SLM104). It was called slimline sata but too large.

Then I bought this after comparing to the DVD-cable: http://www.delock.com/produkte/grup..._SATA_13pin_7pin_SATA_+_SATA_Power_84418.html

It is also called slimline but clearly different. It looks just like the micro sata they had in the store, but fewer pins and thus smaller. That is why I was confused. Thanks for correcting.

And thankyou very much for the pictures and description of how to do it, I wouldn't have tried without it.

 

[ChargedPC]

And thankyou very much for the pictures and description of how to do it, I wouldn't have tried without it.

Always glad to help

 

[ben2e]

Just confirming the connections...

Thanks Paol for the part !

So for the idiots instructions, the small end of the cable you bought goes into the Sata1 port. The other end (the not-pigtail part) goes to the SSD, then where does the pigtailed plug go (looks like Sata power ?). Apologies as I don't know the technical names. I have the y-splitter setup with the accompanying fan noise.

 

[paol]

SATA power

The SATA power look like in this picture, the one in my cable don't fit in the SSD. I simply cut it off and attached a male sata power instead. Like in the chargedpc guide.

 

[klo1978]

Oh, I forgot to say. Fans and temp is working fine. I used a micro sata cable as the one to the DVD so the SSD gets both power and sata from the free sata port on the motherboard.

So where did you get the cable? If I read your right you were able to install your SSD into the extra port and not even mess with any of the other drive cables?

Your fans are working properly and have had no software installed to control them?

Great work and thanks!

 

[paol]

So where did you get the cable? If I read your right you were able to install your SSD into the extra port and not even mess with any of the other drive cables?

Your fans are working properly and have had no software installed to control them?

Great work and thanks!

Hi

I would not have done the installation if it was not like it should be, with fans and all working as it should, thus no y-splitter for power.

I got the cable from Kjell&Co, a retailer chain that has lots of cables among many other things. The first and wrong slimline cable was ordered by a local computer store.

Fans are working exactly as they did before the install, and the temperatures are like before the install. I actually tried the computer with the internal HDD unconnected and after only a few seconds the fan would rev to full speed. I have no additional software control.

I am very pleased with the results. And doing it was easier than I thought. The most complicated part was getting the right cable. I solved that by removing the motherboard, and taking the slimline cable to the ODD with me to the store to get the right end to the motherboard, the other end I modded myself by cutting the wires and attach the right sata-power connector.

I put the LCD in the wrap that the computer came in while I was out shopping, then cleaned it with a microfiber cloth and lastly used compressed air in a can to blow away any remaining dust particles.

I was scared before doing it, but now that I have tried (twice since first time was with wrong cable) I would not hesitate to do it again.

 

[ben2e]

My Intel 510 looks like the one in this link. I assume other SSD's are the same.
http://www.guru3d.com/article/intel-510-ssd-review/5

It has a two part connection, one side is SATA, the other I assume is power. For the cable in your picture, which part plugs into the SSD ? I assume the middle part but it doesn't look like it would work. Do you need a male to female sata adapter or something like that ? It looks like one side of the middle plug is regular sata format, but the other side would block teh plug going in.

Sorry, I'm connector challenged. I don't suppose you have a shot of it plugged into your SSD ?

 

[klo1978]

Hi

I would not have done the installation if it was not like it should be, with fans and all working as it should, thus no y-splitter for power.

I got the cable from Kjell&Co, a retailer chain that has lots of cables among many other things. The first and wrong slimline cable was ordered by a local computer store.

Fans are working exactly as they did before the install, and the temperatures are like before the install. I actually tried the computer with the internal HDD unconnected and after only a few seconds the fan would rev to full speed. I have no additional software control.

I am very pleased with the results. And doing it was easier than I thought. The most complicated part was getting the right cable. I solved that by removing the motherboard, and taking the slimline cable to the ODD with me to the store to get the right end to the motherboard, the other end I modded myself by cutting the wires and attach the right sata-power connector.

I put the LCD in the wrap that the computer came in while I was out shopping, then cleaned it with a microfiber cloth and lastly used compressed air in a can to blow away any remaining dust particles.

I was scared before doing it, but now that I have tried (twice since first time was with wrong cable) I would not hesitate to do it again.

Thank you for your help, I am confused though, I do not see how it is possible to attach the 7+6 pin portion of this cable:

http://www.delock.com/produkte/grup..._SATA_13pin_7pin_SATA_+_SATA_Power_84418.html

to an say an ssd drive that looks like this:

http://www.ocztechnology.com/res/manuals/OCZ_Vertex3_Product_sheet.pdf

I do see how you would switch the 15 pin power from m to f by splicing.

Thanks again for any help

 

[ben2e]

Seems like you'd need a 7-pin male to 7-pin female adapter.

 

[paol]

Cables

Seems like you'd need a 7-pin male to 7-pin female adapter.

Yes, you can use an adapter, but I just cut it and attached it to another cable I already had. The difficulty was finding the right part to the motherboard, everything else is solvable

So to clarify, the black plug is sata power for the SSD. The white connector is molex, i removed it and connected the red and black cable to the ones from my motherboard. If you don't wan't to cut the cords you can just buy another adapter cable to have in between. There is not too much room for lots of adapters, but you can probably make it fit.

I still recommend taking the computer apart, take the ODD cable and SSD with you to a store and show them so you get exactly what you need.

The red cable in the picture below is the sata, the white connectors is Molex power and the last picture is a adapter to fit the ssd. I did not have this, I just cut the cords and attached the two ends to each other with a little connector.

Last is a picture of the install going on. I had some extra tools to determine that the first cable was wrong without removing it, that is not necessary normally. You can also see that the yellow and black cable from the SSD is loose since I don't need them, I just taped them with electrical tape.

 

[paol]

Cables

These are the two cables I used. I cut off the male sata power and white Molex and connected them with an electrical terminal block.

 

[klo1978]

These are the two cables I used. I cut off the male sata power and white Molex and connected them with an electrical terminal block.

Thanks so much, I finally follow you! When you cut off the male sata power and the white molex, what did you do with the extra two wires that ran to the molex.

 

[nightfly13]

Did the deed.. 2 issues

So a friend and I spent 3+ hours opening (several times) my iMac and we got an SSD in now (OWC, it's pretty fast).

I had one 'port' (for lack of knowing the word I mean - it's late) on the logic board. This port that couldn't find a wire for was labeled 'HDD Fan' and sure enough, iStat and SMCFanControl both report the HDD fan is at 0.

This COULD be because the HDD temp sensor is disabled because I've used a SATA Y Splitter for the power connector leading to the HDD to also power the SSD? Or is it because I failed to connect a cable (searched and searched once I got the logic board back in - couldn't find any missing cable).

I'm reticent to copy a bunch of user files to the HDD until I confirm whether I have a lose or disconnected cable, or maybe it's merely the common HDD replacement Fan issue with a simple fix.

Input greatly appreciated!

Secondly, my built-in speaker doesn't want to work. I get the loud Apple chord when it boots, but when I hit the up/down volume buttons on the keyboard I get a crossed circle and system preferences shows only one audio device: encoded audio (optical). The built-in speakers aren't functioning. I thought this COULD be because I just cloned my user settings from my Mac Pro.... or do I likely have another disconnected cable? Since the boot chord plays, I'm hoping it's a software issue.

 

[nightfly13]

On user upgrading..

Whether or not it's worth doing yourself is quite subjective, based on skill level, how much you like tinkering, whether it's fun or stress for you, your financial situation, etc. That said, I'm probably glad for the experience gained by doing the SSD install myself (well, with a friend) and it's probably not worth $150 to have someone else do it, but man, it's a bear!

I've changed out/added HDD/SSDs in 4-5 laptops and a Mac Mini. I'd been inside a G5 iMac before (just for RAM). I felt pretty comfortable inside a Mac, had the Charged PC guide open (it mislead us/missed steps several times - way way way better than no guide and I'm thankful for it, but I had several times I was stuck guessing) and this was the hardest hardware work I've ever done. Lots of cables to snap, tight squeezes, smudges on screen/glass. Just a nightmare installation, really. If the SATA ports on the LB were on the other side, and it was just a matter of removing the glass and LCD screen, then it'd be another story entirely.

To be honest, my stock HDD felt very quick on the new machine. SSDs are great (this is my third) but it's not a slow machine on the spindle. Leaving it stock and adding a TB SSD in 6-ish months isn't a bad idea.

Buying the Apple SSD isn't crazy talk, either. Yes it's $600 for a little bit slower SSD that's really worth $450, but still speedy and.. yeah I'd love a 256GB SSD, just can't afford it.

Maybe I'll feel differently if/when my two post-upgrade issues get resolved, but man, be warned, not for the faint of heart - and really if you ask me, not a 1-man job. Possible? Yes. But not advisable, imho.

 

[ben2e]

These are the two cables I used. I cut off the male sata power and white Molex and connected them with an electrical terminal block.

OK, I think I see. So the 13 pin connector goes into the MB ? I've forgotten what sockets were available there. Thanks for all the replies and clarification. I think I had used Sata0. Do you happen to have a shot of the MB with the cable in ?

 

[paol]

Thanks so much, I finally follow you! When you cut off the male sata power and the white molex, what did you do with the extra two wires that ran to the molex.

I just taped them with electrical tape and put them aside. Since they come off the SSD, there is no voltage on them, I just taped them to be extra safe.

 

[paol]

OK, I think I see. So the 13 pin connector goes into the MB ? I've forgotten what sockets were available there. Thanks for all the replies and clarification. I think I had used Sata0. Do you happen to have a shot of the MB with the cable in ?

Yes, that is correct. It is connected to SATA 1, the one closest to the edge and only one empty.

I don't have a picture and it would have been hard to take a good one since I didn't remove the MB entirely, I just loosened it and then lifted it so I could put in my cable. There is a good picture at chargedpc's blog.

 

[klo1978]

Yes, that is correct. It is connected to SATA 1, the one closest to the edge and only one empty.

I don't have a picture and it would have been hard to take a good one since I didn't remove the MB entirely, I just loosened it and then lifted it so I could put in my cable. There is a good picture at chargedpc's blog.

Thanks so much for all your great help, yours is the first setup I have seen that makes sense. How long was the sata cable you used and was it straight on both ends or did it have a riht angle at either end?

With your help I am, finally willing to tackle this one now that I know what cables to use, I didn't want to mess with the cables to the other drives and mess with fan issues or fan controlling software!

Thanks again

 

[nightfly13]

My SATA cable was 18" and that's easily 8" too long. I used right angle connectors - either would work, straight probably would be easier.

 

[ben2e]

Yes, that is correct. It is connected to SATA 1, the one closest to the edge and only one empty.

I don't have a picture and it would have been hard to take a good one since I didn't remove the MB entirely, I just loosened it and then lifted it so I could put in my cable. There is a good picture at chargedpc's blog.

So at the bottom of the right-hand picture right ?

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U2NGfYXXh4s/TclqBvUnC-I/AAAAAAAAADE/SYG0PsaGgJk/s1600/Motherboard+cables.png

So that one 13 pin in the MB, 7-pin to the SDD and power went to SDD via your adapter.

OK, Got it now. I'll also try to do it without removing the MB. That was by far the most difficult and painful part of the process for me.

 

[ben2e]

Single cable solution ?

http://www.amazon.com/Slimline-pin-SATA-Female-Cable/dp/B0056OB8GK

Has 22-pin sata+power female to 13-pin slimline female.

http://www.amazon.com/Slimline-pin-SATA-Female-Cable/dp/B0056OB8GK

Please let me know if I'm wrong.

 

[paol]

http://www.amazon.com/Slimline-pin-SATA-Female-Cable/dp/B0056OB8GK

Has 22-pin sata+power female to 13-pin slimline female.

http://www.amazon.com/Slimline-pin-SATA-Female-Cable/dp/B0056OB8GK

Please let me know if I'm wrong.

Looks correct too me.

You only need a very short cable, 15 cm is more than enough. Mine was probably 25 cm which was way too long, had to fold it three times but was no problem, there was room for spare cable.

 

[ben2e]

Thanks ! I ordered one and will report back. Assuming a cable is a cable, and this has the right connections, I'm hopeful it'll work.

On the Fan issue, has anyone else had luck with fan speed control software ? I've tried SMCFanControl HDD. Nothing decreased the jet engine noise.

 

[Besk one]

The install sucks, you need 3 parts from Apple - SATA cable, Optical Drive Pressure Wall and Mounting Brackets.

Or you go ghetto like me and just order the cable and then double sided sticky tape the SSD down.

It's a pain, but man if you do it right and use the SSD for Apps and System and the spinning disk for user data and other data storage, it will FLY.

 

[ben2e]

One Cable Works !

http://www.amazon.com/Slimline-pin-SATA-Female-Cable/dp/B0056OB8GK

Has 22-pin sata+power female to 13-pin slimline female.

http://www.amazon.com/Slimline-pin-SATA-Female-Cable/dp/B0056OB8GK

Please let me know if I'm wrong.

Just confirming that this cable works and is the right length as well so no y-splitter, adapter, surgery.

My big issue is my fan still goes nuts. In fact, my CPU fan seems to be pegged at a high speed. Anyone have an idea why the CPU fan would spin up and stay ? I hope all the motherboard reinserting stress wasn't too much and broke something. It's not fun having an iMac that sounds like a vacuum.