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

[astrocramp]

I also want to install two OWC 120GB Mercury EXTREME™ Pro 6G SSD's in RAID 0 config. SATA 0 and SATA 1 are SATA III, SATA 2 is SATA II. Here you have an example of RAID 0 with two SSD's http://www.hardmac.com/news/2011/07/25/an-ssd-raid-0-in-an-imac-2011

If you buy OWC Mercury Extreme Pro 6G SSD there will be no fan issues http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/SSDMX6G120T/ because they worked them out.

My plan is to keep original HDD in and throw out the optical drive and put in two SSD's. Simple as that

Looks like software raid does well! I know if you have owc do the upgrade there's no fan issues...but also for DIY with their drives?

 

[likegadgets]

Looks like software raid does well! I know if you have owc do the upgrade there's no fan issues...but also for DIY with their drives?

I too read the OWC FAN issue resolution as one where they do the install and not native to the drive (Maybe it is a proprietary cable?).

 

[Imserious]

All talk

You guys all keep going around in circles...

Plain and simple,

You need this cable: http://www.amazon.com/Slimline-pin-S.../dp/B0056OB8GK

And ANY current SSD. You dont need owc drives for this to work without fan issues. Trust me, I used the above cable and an Kingston hyper-x 555MB/s read/write SSD.. Install it yourself, a monkey can do it..

Imserious

 

[likegadgets]

You guys all keep going around in circles...

Plain and simple,

You need this cable: http://www.amazon.com/Slimline-pin-S.../dp/B0056OB8GK

And ANY current SSD. You dont need owc drives for this to work without fan issues. Trust me, I used the above cable and an Kingston hyper-x 555MB/s read/write SSD.. Install it yourself, a monkey can do it..

Imserious

Is this the case if you REPLACE the hard drive with a SSD rather than ADD an SSD while retaining the factory Hard Drive?

 

[kgian]

And don't forget that you are talking about the 27 models and not the 21.5

 

[Imserious]

Is this the case if you REPLACE the hard drive with a SSD rather than ADD an SSD while retaining the factory Hard Drive?

Just adding an SSD, if you want to swap it well...... your silly. Thats why apple dont even swap it, just adds as the HDD included has the temp sensors are built in with no way around them other than soft.. Yes mine is the 27" as the title says 2011 not 21 or 27" specifically.



Imserious

 

[A Macbook Pro]

I probably wouldn't have the balls to do this myself. Are there any YouTube videos out there? Maybe in a year or two when my iMac needs a bit of a general boost for the newer apps.

 

[klo1978]

Just adding an SSD, if you want to swap it well...... your silly. Thats why apple dont even swap it, just adds as the HDD included has the temp sensors are built in with no way around them other than soft.. Yes mine is the 27" as the title says 2011 not 21 or 27" specifically.



Imserious

Amen, no reason or way to swap without ending up with a crappy, broken system that uses software to mask the problem.

 

[c613m]

You guys all keep going around in circles...

Plain and simple,

You need this cable: http://www.amazon.com/Slimline-pin-S.../dp/B0056OB8GK

And ANY current SSD. You dont need owc drives for this to work without fan issues. Trust me, I used the above cable and an Kingston hyper-x 555MB/s read/write SSD.. Install it yourself, a monkey can do it..

Imserious

21" iMac users warning: This cable will not work in the 21" iMac.

Your statement that a monkey could do it? Well, I wouldn't say that for the 21" version. I think things in this model are tighter that the 27" model. It was difficult.

 

[amd is the best]

Took my iMac back apart to ensure all connections were good. They were. I then removed the SSD completly and the fans still ran at full warp.

I brought it in to Apple for repair and they had to replace the mainboard and a wire because the ambient air temp sensor wasn't working. The guy also mentioned it was mounted on the CPU heatsink?

I got it back and everything is fine now however I really want the SSD in there. I am skeptical to pull it all apart and have this issue again. Can someone tell me exactly where the ambient temp sensor is so I can be EXTRA careful?

 

[amd is the best]

Update! 100% successful install! Loving the SSD!

 

[c613m]

Update! 100% successful install! Loving the SSD!

Very nice! Congrats Quite a difference in speed isn't it?

 

[0118517]

Took my iMac back apart to ensure all connections were good. They were. I then removed the SSD completly and the fans still ran at full warp.

I brought it in to Apple for repair and they had to replace the mainboard and a wire because the ambient air temp sensor wasn't working. The guy also mentioned it was mounted on the CPU heatsink?

I got it back and everything is fine now however I really want the SSD in there. I am skeptical to pull it all apart and have this issue again. Can someone tell me exactly where the ambient temp sensor is so I can be EXTRA careful?

Well, the exact same thing happened to me. I could have written your post.
I am also considering, if I have the guts to do it again, and I wouldn't get an answer to that question either.

 

[kgian]

Update! 100% successful install! Loving the SSD!

So, how did you do it the second time without any problems??

 

[c613m]

Has anyone succesfully updated the Firmware on these OCZ Sata III drives using Bootcamp? The only method I see is by running Ubuntu or some crap... which I'm trying to stay away from.

 

[simon567]

Where people have had to take their computers to Apple for repair, what kind of expense are we talking? A new logic board can't be cheap?

I'd really like to do the upgrade, but I'm increasingly wondering whether to just replace the DVD drive. I know it's SATA 2 vs 3, but it seems a hell of a lot easier and will still offer a decent improvement over the standard HDD.

I contacted a few local AASPs to ask if they could upgrade it for me, but I've been told that as AASPs they can only make modifications approved by Apple (I don't suppose anyone could recommend somewhere in north west England? ).

 

[0118517]

So, how did you do it the second time without any problems??

Well, I also did it again, and this time, there were no problems. I was a lot more careful, though. I used this guide: http://www.btobey.com/learn/imac-ssd-install.php

 

[c613m]

I hate asking the same question, but no one seems to know. Has anyone succesfully updated their OCZ SATA III drive to 2.11 firmware (with only the iMac). Bootcamp? Anything??

 

[amd is the best]

So, how did you do it the second time without any problems??

I followed the same procedure however I was EXTREMELY careful. On attempt number one I left the one fan in place and left the memory in place and tried just tipping the board up enough to plug in the slimline cable. I must have pinched something in the process. On the second attempt I took those parts out and removed the board. All went well.

Where people have had to take their computers to Apple for repair, what kind of expense are we talking? A new logic board can't be cheap?

Mine was covered under warranty luckily. The i7 mainboard was $738 or something like that. It was on my repair bill. Good thing I didn't have to pay that!

Well, I also did it again, and this time, there were no problems. I was a lot more careful, though. I used this guide: http://www.btobey.com/learn/imac-ssd-install.php

+1

I hate asking the same question, but no one seems to know. Has anyone succesfully updated their OCZ SATA III drive to 2.11 firmware (with only the iMac). Bootcamp? Anything??

I did not use boot camp however I did use a live copy of Ubuntu with the OCZ linux tool and it was very easy. Theoretically you could just boot a to a live version of Ubuntu (10.10 32 bit) and run the upgrade from there. I did use my PC to do this so I can't say for 100% sure it'll work on the iMac but I don't see why it wouldn't. If/when there is another update I'll give it a try.

 

[amd is the best]

Also thought it would be good to mention this:

Be extremely careful when handling the power supply! My iMac was unplugged for 5 minutes or more and when disassembling the iMac for my SSD upgrade I got electrocuted! The PSU must store power in capisitors of some sort and it got me good. Felt like a 110v shock (yes, I've been shocked before). Just be careful, maybe attempt to turn the iMac on while being unplugged to discharge it.

 

[Louney]

I'm gonna add an SSD to my iMac setup, but as I don't want to open the machine, i'm gonna plug it throught Firewire 800, and boot on it.

I know it's not the best option but the results are pretty stunning despite the firewire limitation, from what I read on forums.

Anyone did this before ?

 

[c613m]

I'm gonna add an SSD to my iMac setup, but as I don't want to open the machine, i'm gonna plug it throught Firewire 800, and boot on it.

I know it's not the best option but the results are pretty stunning despite the firewire limitation, from what I read on forums.

Anyone did this before ?

Never tried it. But it's 6Gbps (2011 iMac) vs. 800Mbps (Firewire 800).

 

[th-gates9345]

I'm gonna add an SSD to my iMac setup, but as I don't want to open the machine, i'm gonna plug it throught Firewire 800, and boot on it.

I know it's not the best option but the results are pretty stunning despite the firewire limitation, from what I read on forums.

Anyone did this before ?

I think your going to get less performance than with factory internal HDD.
Just a waste of money

 

[paol]

SSD in Firewire chassis

I'm gonna add an SSD to my iMac setup, but as I don't want to open the machine, i'm gonna plug it throught Firewire 800, and boot on it.

I know it's not the best option but the results are pretty stunning despite the firewire limitation, from what I read on forums.

Anyone did this before ?

Yes, I did it before installing my Vertex 2 in my new iMac. Random read with FW was 11 Mb/s, wich is half of what it performs internally (22 Mb/s), but even 11 Mb/s was 20 times faster than the internal HDD.

SSD with Firewire 800 is very snappy, substantially faster than the internal HDD. The OS started fast, applications with one bump in the dock. Doubling that speed by installing it internally gives a performance increase that I don't notice. Applications still start with one bump. Maybe the OS boots a little faster.

Sustained read and write is a lot faster internally. I got about 60 Mb/s with Firewire and I get 200 Mb/s with SATA. So if you gonna transfer large files you will benefit with SATA.

If you are gonna use the SSD as a drive for OS and apps, go for it, it will be a substantial speed increase over the internal HDD.

 

[fromeout11]

I did not use boot camp however I did use a live copy of Ubuntu with the OCZ linux tool and it was very easy. Theoretically you could just boot a to a live version of Ubuntu (10.10 32 bit) and run the upgrade from there. I did use my PC to do this so I can't say for 100% sure it'll work on the iMac but I don't see why it wouldn't. If/when there is another update I'll give it a try.

Was the SSD fully formatted as HFS+ when you updated the firmware? I've tried to update the firmware on mine from Boot Camp (which is running on the HDD), but no dice. I heard somewhere that the SSD needs to be formatted as NTFS, or have an NTFS partition, for the firmware update to succeed. Thoughts?