Unless you don't install the virtual machine on the SSD - install it on an external drive leaving the SSD as accessible to it - or shove the SSD in via USB connection for the purpose of the firmware update (unless the firmware update won't run over USB?)
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Has anyone tried to ADD SSD to 2011 imac for HDD+SSD?
- Thread starter Crwoo
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Unless you don't install the virtual machine on the SSD - install it on an external drive leaving the SSD as accessible to it - or shove the SSD in via USB connection for the purpose of the firmware update (unless the firmware update won't run over USB?)
Yes, depending on the model year you will need to perform some variation of this surgery.
I personally pay the AASC to perform any extensive upgrades on my newer systems, The older out of warranty 24" systems I play with on my own.
Cheers,
Ok to add more fuel to this, there actually seems to be about 101 ways around the temp sensor thing…if only someone had clear answers about which cable shorts what out.
Heres another one - according to a few if you order an SSD only iMac, Apple connects the SSD to the standard hard drive sata port with the temp sensor in.
None of the SSD drives have their firmware in, so they must use a special cable for SSD only iMacs with the pins 7 and 2 already shortened out. Im not sure how in these systems the HDD fan works…I guess they decided it didn't need to for the SSD - perhaps its not even mounted in the HDD area anyway…
So the question is, is this the case, and if so whats the SSD cable part as this will short out pins 7 and 2 and I don't know why everyone in this thread doesn't know this and just order this very cable to solve the problem…
EDIT/UPDATE: Ok it would seem actually that Apple DONT ship SSD only iMacs with a different cable. The SSD uses the other port - so the main HDD port is empty - but that of course would cause the fan issues, so Apple engineers fit a plug to the power port which shorts pins 7+2 to turn off the temperature prob.
So that idea is out of the window.
Looking at Apples cable closer though, there are 7 individual wires going into it..
http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/mac/imac2011/_DSC6518.jpg
If only someone could tell me which side pin 1 starts it would be very easy to cut wires 2+7, use this cable for power still and short them together with a jumper block.
Heres another one - according to a few if you order an SSD only iMac, Apple connects the SSD to the standard hard drive sata port with the temp sensor in.
None of the SSD drives have their firmware in, so they must use a special cable for SSD only iMacs with the pins 7 and 2 already shortened out. Im not sure how in these systems the HDD fan works…I guess they decided it didn't need to for the SSD - perhaps its not even mounted in the HDD area anyway…
So the question is, is this the case, and if so whats the SSD cable part as this will short out pins 7 and 2 and I don't know why everyone in this thread doesn't know this and just order this very cable to solve the problem…
EDIT/UPDATE: Ok it would seem actually that Apple DONT ship SSD only iMacs with a different cable. The SSD uses the other port - so the main HDD port is empty - but that of course would cause the fan issues, so Apple engineers fit a plug to the power port which shorts pins 7+2 to turn off the temperature prob.
So that idea is out of the window.
Looking at Apples cable closer though, there are 7 individual wires going into it..
http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/mac/imac2011/_DSC6518.jpg
If only someone could tell me which side pin 1 starts it would be very easy to cut wires 2+7, use this cable for power still and short them together with a jumper block.
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According to OWC if you short the cables to make the computer think that you don't have a HDD installed so you can install a non apple HDD, then the fans don't rev up, but they don't work at all according to the temperature. So the HDD may heat and cause damage to the computer. So this isn't a good idea.
Well thats not an issue with an SSD - and we've been using this method since 2009 with no problems.
Also you can install HDFanControl to do the monitoring over S.M.A.R.T if you want the HDD fan to do its job properly.
I'll be fitting the quietest, greenest, low power, low heat drive I can buy anyway as its all for media storage with dual SSD's running raid 0.
Looking at pictures its actually quite easy to do and I don't understand why there are pages and pages of confusion here regarding the fans. Its taken me 10 days to figure this simple "mythical" solution out because there is so many un-truths, mistakes, confusion and misunderstanding (from people who think they know what they are going on about, which is the worse kind) in this and other threads.
Looking at the cable in these photos and using Apples manual drawing
http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/mac/imac2011/_DSC6518.jpg
http://www.hardmac.com/news/2011/05...le-to-replace-the-hard-drive-of-the-2011-imac
The cable handily has all 7 pins on a separate wire. You can work out from the manual drawing which pin is number 2 and obviously 7 is at the opposite end. Just before they into the drive you can cut each of these cables and short them together. Job done - no Y splitter cable nonsense, no messing around, fit any drive you like. I wouldn't bother worrying about the fans if you're swapping the main HD drive out for an SSD. They don't give off any heat - I had dual raid 0 SSD's in my 2009 iMac and that ran (and still does) perfectly for two years.
Ill probably buy HDTempControl for the green drive i fit into the main bay but ill do a stress test on the drive and see what the heat gains are, as it won't be getting used much - if its idle and medium use settings are not enough to raise the fan above 1000rpm anyway I'll probably disabled HDDTempControl so there isn't another minor background process checking.
Hope that helps - i'll make a very clear post about HD upgrading after this - maybe worth making a sticky so others don't get so confused in the future. Googling brings up loads of out of date blogs from May saying its impossible to change the main drive, there are also lots of people telling lies (or hiding the truth) for commercial interest, people like OWC who want to offer a turnkey solution and make money from it - and then there are threads with lots of confusion in. It doesn't help someone who comes into it with very little knowledge.
bad idea. Usually low level access to devices via vmware is a bad idea. Don't forget you fusion acts as a go between the hardware and software level so firmware update might or might not work. I know from experience that flashing firmware on android phones via fusion doesn't work. So my advice is to just install bootcamp and do it that way. But if one wishes to experiment than do it via fusion and post results
Well, my OCZ drive lasted a whole 2 months. Crapped out on me, do yourselves a favour and don't buy an OCZ drive.
Just bought an OWC drive and can already tell it's better. It also lists the correct temperature on the drive, whereas the OCZ drive listed 128C.
Just my 2 cents.
Just bought an OWC drive and can already tell it's better. It also lists the correct temperature on the drive, whereas the OCZ drive listed 128C.
Just my 2 cents.
Yeah I'll be doing the warranty replacement, and then selling it for DIRT cheap. I just couldn't wait that long to get a replacement back. It's an Agility 3.
By reading around the internet about upgrading my base 2011 imac to SSD, I stumbled upon the service and repair manual for it, which has full info about dissasembling and installing cables and SSD.
I thing it might help some people...
http://hotfile.com/dl/133287858/d16de5f/imac_21_mid11.pdf.html
I thing it might help some people...
http://hotfile.com/dl/133287858/d16de5f/imac_21_mid11.pdf.html
This is the latest version which has the info about the SSD parts. There is another pdf circulating (earlier document version) of the mid 2011 imacs which DOES NOT have that info...
Hi there everyone. Is there a definitive guide to adding an SSD to 2011 iMac's? I have one and am looking to add it to the HDD already installed. If there isn't one with all the temperature sensor business does anyone know a place in the UK which can do this addition. Thanks a lot!!!
Curve Ball
How about this one....
I have a Mid-2011 27" iMac BTO with 256GB SSD (Primary) + 1TB HDD (Secondary).
I want to replace the 1TB HDD Secondary with a SSD.
Is this just a simple swap then?
How about this one....
I have a Mid-2011 27" iMac BTO with 256GB SSD (Primary) + 1TB HDD (Secondary).
I want to replace the 1TB HDD Secondary with a SSD.
Is this just a simple swap then?
So i still need cables to replace the secondary 1TB HDD with a SSD?
My Primary is already the Apple 256 SSD.
You won't need cables to replace the drive but I would advise against this (Unless you buy an Apple-Firmware based hard drive) because your Hard Drive fan will run wide open if you do.
So is this possible for the iMac 27" 2011 and is there a guide? Just want to add an SSD to my 1TB hard drive.
brilliant. thanks a lot. I have been looking at the new OWC extreme pro 6G SSD. Does anyone have any experience with this drive? Or are there some better ones? Thank yoooou!