Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

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

PaulKemp said:
I currently have a SSD in my 2011 iMac, but i want to add a 3.5mm harddive to it. I understand that since I only have one hdd, there is one available sata cable inside the machine. Aslo, that sata cable supports sata III.

Does this require a custom disk with the proprietary fan control? Or could I install a Seagate Barracuda 3 GB without any issue? Is there a bracked for the disk in the iMac? Thanks for the help. I currently have another thread going as well. Here's a link to the other thread
Click to expand...

Since you don't currently have a internal hard disk with any fan control ... I don't see where adding a hard disk would cause any fan speed issues whatsoever. :)

There are several guides to installing both a 3.5" hard disk and SSD disk in the 27" iMac and the extra SATA channel is available on the motherboard (you will need a SATA data cable and power Y-cable) so adding a standard disk drive of your choice should be fine. I assume your SSD was a oem factory original, but I have not seen how they mount that in the iMac. If your SSD is mounted in the standard 3.5" disk mount location, I would probably elect to put the heavier hard disk rigidly mounted in that location, then mount the lightweight SSD using any of the documented methods of your choice (even simple double-sided sticky tape).

Working inside the iMac is somewhat more involved than working in a conventional PC tower chassis. If you are not very comfortable with that environment, you may want to enlist the help of a technical friend (or pay Apple techs a lot of money to do it for you). Just go slow and be very careful and follow the guides through each step and it should go fine.

Here are some more installation guides (in addition too iFixit):
http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/imac_mid27_2011_ssddiy/
http://www.btobey.com/learn/imac-ssd-install.php


-howard
 
hfg said:
Working inside the iMac is somewhat more involved than working in a conventional PC tower chassis. If you are not very comfortable with that environment, you may want to enlist the help of a technical friend (or pay Apple techs a lot of money to do it for you). Just go slow and be very careful and follow the guides through each step and it should go fine.
http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/imac_mid27_2011_ssddiy/
http://www.btobey.com/learn/imac-ssd-install.php
Click to expand...

Comfortable and comfortable, i've never opened a iMac before. But i dont really se that as a problem, theres a first time for everything. I am willing to try and risk it.

The OWC way would be good anyway in regards to the fan control right? They say they have figured out a way to bypass the fan control. Have anyone tried it with a non-ssd drive?
 
PaulKemp said:
Comfortable and comfortable, i've never opened a iMac before. But i dont really se that as a problem, theres a first time for everything. I am willing to try and risk it.

The OWC way would be good anyway in regards to the fan control right? They say they have figured out a way to bypass the fan control. Have anyone tried it with a non-ssd drive?
Click to expand...

As I mentioned above, I don't think you have a fan control problem. :)

If you currently had a Apple hard drive installed which had some fan-control temperature sensing, then removing that disk drive with the sensor and installing a standard non-Apple disk drive which didn't have the temperature sensor would cause the fans to rev up to max speed all the time. Some upgrade kits include a small plug-in sensor which can be used in place of the special-drive internal one, your computer is probably already equipped with that part.

However, you don't have a temperature sensing disk drive in your iMac, you have a SSD which I don't believe has any sensor either. So adding a standard disk drive is not going to cause your fans to rev up to max speed, since your computer doesn't need the temperature sensor (actually, it probably has a small "plug" sensor already installed since it didn't come with a disk drive).

The fan speed going to maximum is caused by the removal of the sensor which is part of the original hard drive which is upgraded and now doesn't have one. Simply adding a hard drive has no effect on fan speed control.


The biggest risk of getting inside the iMac, in my opinion, is the possibility of damaging one of the fragile tiny connectors on the motherboard as you remove it or reinstall it. Read carefully any instructions on exactly how to release the connectors without damaging them or the cables. Also, keep track of which screws go where, as they can be different lengths and different thread sizes. Take your time, go slowly, and keep notes if necessary. Don't end up with any extra "spare" parts or screws, and reconnect the same number of connectors as you disconnected ... or else you will be taking it apart again! :) :rolleyes: :)



-howard
 
I posted a reply in your other thread, but I am going to reply here also. You WILL have problems with the fans.

In order for your iMac that has no hdd to not have problems, there is a special plug in the HDD power port that short circuits pins 2 and 7. When you install a HDD you have to remove the plug and insert the HDD power cable. Normal cables don't short pins 2 and 7 so the fans ramp up all the time.

If you do short these pins in your HDD power cable, then the fans don't ramp up, but if the HDD gets hot due to increased activity it can fry your computer.

I don't know if it will pass the apple hardware test without an apple firmware HDD...
 
OK, so the problem here is that you guys are saying different things. However, the argument that hfg makes, saying that "since my current harddrive doesnt have a temp reader, there will not be a issue" seems valid. Thoughts? If somebody has first hand experience with this i would like to know.

However, on the OWC site, they say that they have overcome the issue with the fan control. Can somebody verify this? Especially when adding a 2nd 3.5MM disk. NOT replacing the disk the iMac came with.

Anyway, thanks to the both of you. I really appreciate the replies. :)
 
Last edited:
I added a Samsung 830 256GB to the free (secondary) SATA connector on the logic board of my mid 2010 (11,3) iMac. I know this is not the same model as the OP but bear with me... All fans in my iMac went to max rpm and AHT ("d" at startup) pointed out it was a malfunction on the logic board, i.e. a temp sensor error.
I knew it was not related to a loose connector, short, ... because I could reproduce the problem by connecting the Samsung SSD and it would disappear again when disconnecting.

Instead of leaving the stock drive plugged in as shipped, connecting it to the secondary SATA connector and the Samsung SSD to the primary SATA connector solved my problem entirely. Fans are running normally without aid of fan software.

I don't know why, but one possibility I can think of is that SSD drives from Apple, OWC, ... don't report temperature but some newer SSD's like Samsung 830 do and mess up the logic board's fan management??
 
Well ... my reasoning was that you are not removing anything.

1- You are adding a disk drive of your choice.
2- You are adding a new SATA data cable to the spare SATA port on the motherboard.
3- You are adding a Y-Cable adapter to get another SATA power connector.

Thus, if you have a thermister plug somewhere, it is still there when you are done.


If this is incorrect, I would like to know as well as I am thinking of upgrading my mid-2010 iMac for a 2011 ( if the new ones don't show up soon! ) and I will be performing the same upgrade on the 2011 model.



-howard

----------
Bacci said:
I added a Samsung 830 256GB to the free (secondary) SATA connector on the logic board of my mid 2010 (11,3) iMac. I know this is not the same model as the OP but bear with me... All fans in my iMac went to max rpm and AHT ("d" at startup) pointed out it was a malfunction on the logic board, i.e. a temp sensor error.
I knew it was not related to a loose connector, short, ... because I could reproduce the problem by connecting the Samsung SSD and it would disappear again when disconnecting.

Instead of leaving the stock drive plugged in as shipped, connecting it to the secondary SATA connector and the Samsung SSD to the primary SATA connector solved my problem entirely. Fans are running normally without aid of fan software.

I don't know why, but one possibility I can think of is that SSD drives from Apple, OWC, ... don't report temperature but some newer SSD's like Samsung 830 do and mess up the logic board's fan management??
Click to expand...

Wow ... this is strange!

My 27" iMac is the same model ( mid 2010 11,3 ) which came with a 2TB drive from Apple. I added the Apple plastic "compression spacer" part to provide a mounting location for the second drive, and mounted a OWC SSD in that space. I ran a new SATA data cable over to the motherboard spare port, and used a Y-adapter power cable to create a second power plug from the one originally plugged into the disk drive. I do not recall switching the data cables between the drives either on purpose or accidentally.

I had no fan issues at all when doing this.


-howard
 
Last edited:
hfg said:
Well ... my reasoning was that you are not removing anything.

1- You are adding a disk drive of your choice.
2- You are adding a new SATA data cable to the spare SATA port on the motherboard.
3- You are adding a Y-Cable adapter to get another SATA power connector.

Thus, if you have a thermister plug somewhere, it is still there when you are done.

-howard
Click to expand...

If you do this, you will pass the apple hardware test and the HDD fan will NEVER ramp up, even if there is need to. This may fry your computer...
 
kgian said:
If you do this, you will pass the apple hardware test and the HDD fan will NEVER ramp up, even if there is need to. This may fry your computer...
Click to expand...

Yes, as long as the motherboard or the sata plug itself is NOT looking for the hdd fan control.
 
I just got my hands on the special 21.5 2011 imac SSD power cable. I also got a OCZ vertex 3 240gb for cheap, 120 euros.

I am going to do the upgrade following the excellent owc video guide. Fingers crossed...
 
kgian said:
I just got my hands on the special 21.5 2011 imac SSD power cable. I also got a OCZ vertex 3 240gb for cheap, 120 euros.

I am going to do the upgrade following the excellent owc video guide. Fingers crossed...
Click to expand...

Hey all
I'm in the same situation. Have you done it? Did it work? Share your results if you can!
 
Manosioa said:
Hey all
I'm in the same situation. Have you done it? Did it work? Share your results if you can!
Click to expand...

I ordered a mini display port cable from eBay. You need to plug it in the thunderbolt port in order to reposition the motherboard correctly. Wen I will have it in 7-10 days I will do it. I am sure it is going to work fine...
 
Does it make a difference if your system is running of either of the SATA ports? I plan to add an SSD to compliment the current HDD, and i want the SSD to run the system.

I've read through most of this thread, and quite a few others.. And I have to say that I'm probably too scared to do it myself. Not taking the thing apart, but more regarding he temperature issue. :)
 
I'll be performing this upgrade again Wednesday when my parts arrive :D. The 120GB SSD just isn't enough and the prices have come down substantially on the 256's. I also ordered a 2.5TB hard disc to replace the 1TB secondary drive in there too. Should be nice!
 
Hi guys,

I will be adding a Samsung 830 SSD in addition to my 500GB WD in my 2011 21.5'' iMac. I have see both the iFixit and OWC videos for their DIY kits and it doesn't seem that complex. I have a question about the custom SATA cable Apple uses. I can buy the kits of iFixit or OWC but I already have everything from them but the power cable. I looked through this thread, the forum and googled it but I can't seem to find this cable sold separately and I cannot justify giving 50 bucks for the whole kit when I have everything but the power cable.

There were some talks about the power splitter, my question is for that - if I use power split from the power of the super drive would it trigger the fans problem?

Also if the above written works fine, could you recommend me a good SATA power splitter cable to buy?

Thanks.
 
You can get the cable from eBay. That's where I got mine. I am going to perform the installation tomorrow. Wish me luck!
 
kgian said:
You can get the cable from eBay. That's where I got mine. I am going to perform the installation tomorrow. Wish me luck!
Click to expand...

Good luck and keep us updated how it goes. Are you planning to split power from the HDD or the Super drive or you got the actual custom sata power cable from eBay?

As far as the splitter cable I found this on eBay but not sure whether it would work:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/190726805661?_trksid=p5197.c0.m619
 
That's exactly the cable I saw in the iFixit and OWC videos. I didn't know it was sold separately, that's why I asked. Now I see it even has its own serial number. Thanks for the link, please post here when you install it if it works ok.
 
I just finished! Everything works fine. I used the excellent owc video. At 6:55 it says to first angle the logic board and then detach the small connectors. That is what I did and it put some strain in the connectors. If I did it again I would first detach them and then angle the logic board.

The hardest part was reseating the logic board and fitting all those thick cables in place. you have to take it slowly and don't push anything. At first I used a strait SATA data cable and it wouldn't fit. The connector was too long. Then I used another cable with an angled connector and that was ok.

After I closed the computer I ran the apple hardware test and it finished with no problems. I booted into OSX and it asked me to partition the new disk. I did it.

In total it took around 1:30 hours to complete. It was not very hard but you have to have the video and follow each step carefully. I had it in my iPad and was going step by step.

Now, when I get some time I'll have to reinstall OSX and windows 7. I won't go the clone way as I am not sure about alignment. Also don't forget to use trim enabler for the OSX part. As I am mainly a windows guy i'll have a small 50gb OSX partition and a 180-190 one for win7...
 
Last edited:
I have a 2008 20" iMac. I want to keep my HDD as it's working perfectly fine. Is there a way of adding an SSD without removing my Superdrive?

Or would a Hybrid drive be best?
 
Last edited:
kgian said:
At first I used a strait SATA data cable and it wouldn't fit. The connector was too long. Then I used another cable with an angled connector and that was ok.
Click to expand...

Congrats on the install. I have a question on the data cable. You said you used angled connector. Did you mean something like that:

http://upload.ecvv.com/upload/Product/20116/China_right_angle_sata_data_cable2011651606091.JPG

as opposed to the standard one like that:

http://www.msy.com.au/pimages/cable/sata.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back