How to add SSD to late-2012 model?

[Fishrrman]

treekram wrote:
"Geez - why don't you read the previous posts. This has been discussed - the external SSD has been suggested but grandM has problem with their current external HDD dropping the connection so grandM is reluctant to go that route with the SSD."

The problems with -one- external HDD probably have nothing (zero) to do with connecting ANOTHER drive (SSD) to the Mini.

Could be the drive.
Could be the enclosure it's in.
Could be the cable.
Could be the port he's using.
Could be a hub, if he's using one.

I, too, have run into a hard drive here or there that had "connection problems".
But it has NEVER, not once interfered with the fact that I boot and run from an external SSD...

 

[treekram]

Would this kit have the same problem? Or would it be the correct cable? https://eustore.ifixit.com/en/Upgrades-Kits/Mac-Mini-Dual-Hard-Drive-Kit.html

This looks like the cable for the upper bay - which you already have. This is the most common need and they don't specify the bay location (which is also the case for iFixit in the US) so I think you'll get the wrong cable if you order this.

 

[treekram]

Would this kit have the same problem? Or would it be the correct cable? https://eustore.ifixit.com/en/Upgrades-Kits/Mac-Mini-Dual-Hard-Drive-Kit.html

Take a look at the following:
https://www.amazon.fr/niveau-disque-821-1501-821-1500-ordinateur/dp/B06Y13TVFW/

I did a translation and this appears to have both cables. There's also a similar item at Amazon US that says it has both cables. If there is a different Amazon store you would go to, you can check there. There is one review on the Amazon US site that says the cable was delicate.

It looks like the part # "821-1501-A" is for the upper bay and "821-1500-A" is for the lower bay (what you need). So you can use this to search for the cable you need.

 

[grandM]

I'm the OP and have successfully installed the SSD and replaced the stock 4GB RAM with 16GB (two 8GB memory sticks). So far I'm very impressed with what will be my wife's new computer (replacing a 2008 iMac) when I'm done transferring everything.

Here's a summary of the upgrade and my experiences...
I bought a 250GB Samsung 860 EVO SSD for use as the OSX/apps drive and finding the Apple factory-installed hard drive being in the "lower" bay (Disk utility gives this information), which apparently is the most common setup I also ordered the OWC "lower" bay kit (OWCDIYIMM11D2) which contains the cable, screws etc. and tools needed to make this possible.
For those reading who have the upper bay populated with the hard drive you need to buy a different kit from OWC called the "upper" bay kit (OWCDIYIMM11D2B).

The OWC kit appears to be quality throughout and contains everything you need including extensive step-by-step instructions (a paper booklet). I chose to read through this a couple of times first, then watch the installation video while actually performing the upgrade, taking it slow and pausing in between each step. A lot of connectors and other things are quite flimsy and care needs to be taken not to damage stuff.

The OWC kit also now also includes Bluetooth shielding foil, but you need to watch a separate video for that. So be sure to watch it and install the shielding as soon as you've removed the main board from the Mac mini enclosure so you don't forget all about it!

I had an anti-static wrist-strap attached to ground while upgrading, just to ensure any static electricity wouldn't damage things. All went quite smoothly except the part of sliding the main board out. It looked so simple in the video (just pull it out with the stiff wire insertion tool) but mine was completely stuck. After wiggling the board carefully in different directions it finally came loose and I was able to pull it out as in the video. Other than that it all went fine.

One thing I noticed was a BR-2032 coin-cell battery mounted on the main board. I assume it's for keeping the clock time when powered off, and I thought now would be a good time to replace it (I'm not too keen on disassembling the computer in a couple of months) but had to leave it in as I couldn't find that particular battery (online info tells me that the "BR" type can withstand higher temperatures than the commonly available "CR" type, so I'll have to order it from an electronics dealer or something when time comes for doing that). But unlike myself you're hereby informed prior to upgrading so you now have the opportunity to order and do it all in one go.

That's about it.
All that's left to do is transfer everything over from the old iMac (I'm having a little trouble with Migration assistant -one of them being that it appears not to transfer a user folder over to a separate drive from the boot drive, so I'll have to do most of it manually).

I finally found a good deal on the OWC kit. I do have a question on the ssd. I found a decent deal on the samsung eve 860. Apparently you've installed it. On this forum someone complained in a different thread having issues when the device went into sleep mode. Did you experience similar issues?

 

[grandM]

treekram wrote:
"Geez - why don't you read the previous posts. This has been discussed - the external SSD has been suggested but grandM has problem with their current external HDD dropping the connection so grandM is reluctant to go that route with the SSD."

The problems with -one- external HDD probably have nothing (zero) to do with connecting ANOTHER drive (SSD) to the Mini.

Could be the drive.
Could be the enclosure it's in.
Could be the cable.
Could be the port he's using.
Could be a hub, if he's using one.

I, too, have run into a hard drive here or there that had "connection problems".
But it has NEVER, not once interfered with the fact that I boot and run from an external SSD...

I must admit the external option is appealing. If I recall clearly you said trim isn't possible in that setup though?

 

[Neodym]

I must admit the external option is appealing. If I recall clearly you said trim isn't possible in that setup though?

It is possible with Thunderbolt, but normally not with USB. I am not sure, though, whether USB with UASP might allow for trim.

 

[macstatic]

I finally found a good deal on the OWC kit. I do have a question on the ssd. I found a decent deal on the samsung eve 860. Apparently you've installed it. On this forum someone complained in a different thread having issues when the device went into sleep mode. Did you experience similar issues?

I'm the OP (who also installed a Samsung 860 SSD in a late-2012 Mac Mini) -for some reason I wasn't able to include the quote from me which you quoted... anyway:

No, I can't say we've had any issues with it going into sleep mode.
To recap: this Mac Mini now an internal hard drive (original 500GB hard drive), a second internal drive (Samsung 250GB 860EVO SSD). For backup purposes we have an external G-tech G-drive with a 2GB hard drive (originally 500GB, but the case opened and the hard drive itself replaced). It's connected to the Mac Mini via Firewire 800 and runs/backs up as long as the computer isn't shut down or in sleep mode. Its RAM is also upgraded to the maximum of 16GB.

As a second back up we have another G-drive which we attach once in a while. This is in case of theft, fire etc. so we don't loose absolutely everything, even though the backup isn't necessarily from today. Chronosync software is used for this.

It all appears to work very well. A HUGE step up from the 2008 iMac my wife used before. Hardly any more spinning beachball or waiting for this and that

 

[grandM]

I'm the OP (who also installed a Samsung 860 SSD in a late-2012 Mac Mini) -for some reason I wasn't able to include the quote from me which you quoted... anyway:

No, I can't say we've had any issues with it going into sleep mode.
To recap: this Mac Mini now an internal hard drive (original 500GB hard drive), a second internal drive (Samsung 250GB 860EVO SSD). For backup purposes we have an external G-tech G-drive with a 2GB hard drive (originally 500GB, but the case opened and the hard drive itself replaced). It's connected to the Mac Mini via Firewire 800 and runs/backs up as long as the computer isn't shut down or in sleep mode. Its RAM is also upgraded to the maximum of 16GB.

As a second back up we have another G-drive which we attach once in a while. This is in case of theft, fire etc. so we don't loose absolutely everything, even though the backup isn't necessarily from today. Chronosync software is used for this.

It all appears to work very well. A HUGE step up from the 2008 iMac my wife used before. Hardly any more spinning beachball or waiting for this and that

in doubt between crucial mx500 vs 860 evo...
especially endurance, speed is less important

 

[grandM]

I ordered the crucial

 

[treekram]

in doubt between crucial mx500 vs 860 evo...
especially endurance, speed is less important

I ordered the crucial

As I mentioned in my earlier posts, the Crucial MX500 has gotten good initial reviews and I think it will work fine for you.

What I've seen of the manufacturer endurance figures is that the MX500 500GB is 180TB, the Samsung 860 Evo 500GB is 300TB, the 850 Evo was half of the 860. To give you some perspective, I have a 240GB OCZ Vector 150 in my 2012 Mini. I used it daily for just under 3 years and I spend a lot of my day on the computer. I've done quite a bit of coding on the computer (which includes a database app) and I've also done quite a bit of video editing as well, which will typically use more erase/write cycles than typical coding. The input and output videos are stored on HDD's, but the file cache is easily 10GB+ after several video files are edited. I looked up what the OCZ endurance was and one article said it was 50GB/day, which, with a 5-year warranty, worked out to be over 90TB. I recently ran the utility that Toshiba/OCZ have for their SSD's and it came back being 93% healthy.

If you're buying a new SSD now, most users in everyday use won't reach the rated endurance rating before they're ready to move on. But if you're buying a used SSD from somebody you don't know, I always caution people because you don't know what people have done with their SSD.