How to upgrade the internal storage on a 21.5 inch iMac mid-2014

[comics addict]

I’m interested in upgrading the internal storage on my mid-2014 21.5 inch iMac (iMac 14,4) computer and wondering if anyone have done something similar before. I inherited the base specs of this machine so it still sports a mechanical HDD which I want to switch to a internal SSD to vastly improve system response times. Besides the HDD this machine is more than enough for my neeeds so I’m not currently looking forward to upgrading yet.

Any particular brand that I should consider for the ssd as well any and all tools that I should get before I attempt to upgrade this machine? Been years since I last thinkered with a computer and much less with a iMac so I would appreciate your help in getting ready to do this upgrade.

 

[pmiles]

Upgrading an iMac isn't for the faint of heart... you literally have to remove the glass from the front of the display to access the internals. Check out the OWC site for some videos. You will need a kit to remove and replace the glass. Don't have to buy from them, other places sell similar kits, but you will see all that will be involved and what you should be looking for. This will get you started.

 

[Juicy Box]

There are plenty of How-Tos on the internet that would be much more helpful for the actual install than what could be said on the forum.

I have used iFixit's guides on many different Macs, and YouTube usually fills in the blanks on things iFixit doesn't answer.

As for brands of SSDs, many people on here like the Samsung 860 EVO, which I have used a few times for internal replacements. But, I personally don't think brand has a huge impact on things. All of them will give you about 500MBps+ speeds.

NewEgg recently had a 1TB SATA SSD for $80, if you get that one, you would probably be fine.

For adhesive strips, get quality ones, like the iFixit ones. Get yourself a set of two just in case.

Give the glue strips some curing time. There are a few people on the forum that use cheap knock off strips and/or didn't give them time to cure and their display ended up falling off.


If you are looking for a easier solution, you can use an external SSD boot drive. You have options, but some are more expensive than others.

The easiest and cheapest option would be using a cheap USB3 SSD enclosure or USB3/SATA adapter cable. This would cost a little more than doing the internal, but give you a decent speed increase (about 400MBps) over the internal HDD. It is super easy and quick to do. And if you decide to ever go internal, then you can still do it. The biggest downside is that the USB3 option doesn't have TRIM support for MacOS.

Another option that isn't as easy to find and also would be a little more money would be using a TB1 or 2 enclosure with a SATA SSD. They are hard to fine, but I have a little hack for you. You can get a TB HDD, remove the HDD and put a SATA SSD in there. I like the LaCie Rigged TB drives, as you can replace the HDD for a SSD in about 1 minute. You will have a little bit higher speed versus the USB3 drive, but more importantly, you will have TRIM support.

If you are looking for speed, a TB3 NVMe over your TB1 port would be the fastest option, even faster than your internal SATA. You would have speeds about 900MBps. You will also have TRIM support. The biggest downside would be the cost and the extra equipment and adapters. If you are interested in this, let me know and I will elaborate. This is the current set up I have on my Late 2012 iMac.

You have a few other external option, but these would usually be less desirable. For example, you can use a high speed SD card on your SD card slot. This would be up to 300MBps, which is nice, but the cost per GB is very high.

 

[comics addict]

Thanks for your quick responses guys.

Upgrading an iMac isn't for the faint of heart... you literally have to remove the glass from the front of the display to access the internals. Check out the OWC site for some videos. You will need a kit to remove and replace the glass. Don't have to buy from them, other places sell similar kits, but you will see all that will be involved and what you should be looking for. This will get you started.

Those OWC ones were the first ones I have seen. Their videos were very helpful in figuring out Ochoa the whole upgrade process would work out. Are there any other vendors I should be on the look out for?

There are plenty of How-Tos on the internet that would be much more helpful for the actual install than what could be said on the forum.

I have used iFixit's guides on many different Macs, and YouTube usually fills in the blanks on things iFixit doesn't answer.

As for brands of SSDs, many people on here like the Samsung 860 EVO, which I have used a few times for internal replacements. But, I personally don't think brand has a huge impact on things. All of them will give you about 500MBps+ speeds.

NewEgg recently had a 1TB SATA SSD for $80, if you get that one, you would probably be fine.

For adhesive strips, get quality ones, like the iFixit ones. Get yourself a set of two just in case.

Give the glue strips some curing time. There are a few people on the forum that use cheap knock off strips and/or didn't give them time to cure and their display ended up falling off.


If you are looking for a easier solution, you can use an external SSD boot drive. You have options, but some are more expensive than others.

The easiest and cheapest option would be using a cheap USB3 SSD enclosure or USB3/SATA adapter cable. This would cost a little more than doing the internal, but give you a decent speed increase (about 400MBps) over the internal HDD. It is super easy and quick to do. And if you decide to ever go internal, then you can still do it. The biggest downside is that the USB3 option doesn't have TRIM support for MacOS.

Another option that isn't as easy to find and also would be a little more money would be using a TB1 or 2 enclosure with a SATA SSD. They are hard to fine, but I have a little hack for you. You can get a TB HDD, remove the HDD and put a SATA SSD in there. I like the LaCie Rigged TB drives, as you can replace the HDD for a SSD in about 1 minute. You will have a little bit higher speed versus the USB3 drive, but more importantly, you will have TRIM support.

If you are looking for speed, a TB3 NVMe over your TB1 port would be the fastest option, even faster than your internal SATA. You would have speeds about 900MBps. You will also have TRIM support. The biggest downside would be the cost and the extra equipment and adapters. If you are interested in this, let me know and I will elaborate. This is the current set up I have on my Late 2012 iMac.

You have a few other external option, but these would usually be less desirable. For example, you can use a high speed SD card on your SD card slot. This would be up to 300MBps, which is nice, but the cost per GB is very high.

Thanks for the suggestions although I am still inclined to go the internal storage route even if it’s more labor intensive. also thanks for clarifying that the brand of the SSD is not that important for reliability. Any other reputable vendors that you guys recommend for the installation kit besides the OWC and iFixit ones than have been mentioned?

 

[Sully]

Thanks for your quick responses guys.



Those OWC ones were the first ones I have seen. Their videos were very helpful in figuring out Ochoa the whole upgrade process would work out. Are there any other vendors I should be on the look out for?




Thanks for the suggestions although I am still inclined to go the internal storage route even if it’s more labor intensive. also thanks for clarifying that the brand of the SSD is not that important for reliability. Any other reputable vendors that you guys recommend for the installation kit besides the OWC and iFixit ones than have been mentioned?

I recently switched out the mechanical hard drive on a similar iMac using the OWC kit. It’s a fun project and the iMac is like a new machine. But, we only use it for the web and email. No heavy duty lifting.

 

[comics addict]

I recently switched out the mechanical hard drive on a similar iMac using the OWC kit. It’s a fun project and the iMac is like a new machine. But, we only use it for the web and email. No heavy duty lifting.

Following the lead with the video from OWC, how long did it take you to open the computer, add in the drive and sealed the machine back on? Would like to know what to expect from it.

 

[Juicy Box]

Any other reputable vendors that you guys recommend for the installation kit besides the OWC and iFixit ones than have been mentioned?

Those two are the only name brand ones I know about. You might be able to find Apple's.

I am not sure if it is still the case, but before iFixit adhesive strips were the ones to get, as they were more like Apple's and much easier to cut if needed to remove the display again.

My advice would be what ever brand you go with, get the strips from their websites, and maybe not Amazon or similar. Amazon is known to have knockoff posing as official brands, and the adhesive strips is not something you cheap out on.

As for overall kits, I would try to find some that does not come with a SSD, and buy that separately, you can save a lot by doing this. For example, the price for just a 1TB SATA SSD from OWC is $200:

OWC 1.0TB Mercury Extreme Pro 6G SSD

Limited Edition Black Drive 2.5" SATA SSD featuring the best performance and longevity for every use.

eshop.macsales.com

You can get 1TB SSDs for less than half that price. Even getting a higher end SSD like the Samsung 860 EVO is a lot cheaper than OWC's SSD. @ Bestbuy, it currently is $120:

Samsung 860 EVO 1TB Internal SATA 2.5" Solid State Drive MZ-76E1T0B/AM - Best Buy

Shop Samsung 860 EVO 1TB Internal SATA 2.5" Solid State Drive products at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. Price Match Guarantee.

www.bestbuy.com

Another thing I would recommend is to find a kit with a "pizza cutter" cutting tool. Safer than using a razerblade. No matter what tool you use, make sure you be careful around the camera. Watch a few videos to see where to avoid cutting.

Thoroughly clean the old adhesive strips with alcohol, and don't rush this step as it is one of the most important steps to ensure you have good adhesion when putting things back together.

 

[Sully]

Double post

 

[Sully]

It took me about an hour and a half. Someone who was less timid could do it in 30 minutes.

 

[comics addict]

Those two are the only name brand ones I know about. You might be able to find Apple's.

I am not sure if it is still the case, but before iFixit adhesive strips were the ones to get, as they were more like Apple's and much easier to cut if needed to remove the display again.

My advice would be what ever brand you go with, get the strips from their websites, and maybe not Amazon or similar. Amazon is known to have knockoff posing as official brands, and the adhesive strips is not something you cheap out on.

As for overall kits, I would try to find some that does not come with a SSD, and buy that separately, you can save a lot by doing this. For example, the price for just a 1TB SATA SSD from OWC is $200:

OWC 1.0TB Mercury Extreme Pro 6G SSD

Limited Edition Black Drive 2.5" SATA SSD featuring the best performance and longevity for every use.

eshop.macsales.com

You can get 1TB SSDs for less than half that price. Even getting a higher end SSD like the Samsung 860 EVO is a lot cheaper than OWC's SSD. @ Bestbuy, it currently is $120:

Samsung 860 EVO 1TB Internal SATA 2.5" Solid State Drive MZ-76E1T0B/AM - Best Buy

Shop Samsung 860 EVO 1TB Internal SATA 2.5" Solid State Drive products at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. Price Match Guarantee.

www.bestbuy.com

Another thing I would recommend is to find a kit with a "pizza cutter" cutting tool. Safer than using a razerblade. No matter what tool you use, make sure you be careful around the camera. Watch a few videos to see where to avoid cutting.

Thoroughly clean the old adhesive strips with alcohol, and don't rush this step as it is one of the most important steps to ensure you have good adhesion when putting things back together.

Thanks for your suggestions. Ended up buying the 500GB OWC DIY kit regardless since it would come all in one package plus a enclosure for the OEM drive & that way I don't have to wait for everything to get here. I know that I'm been a bit impatient but the darn machine is extremely slow compared to my non-Retina MacBook Air with similar specs that's driving me bonkers.

It took me about an hour and a half. Someone who was less timid could do it in 30 minutes.

Thanks for the estimate. I have already seen a few videos online on how to do the upgrade and while I need to be extremely careful I don't think it's going to be a problem. Fingers crossed because upgrading to a newer iMac is out of the question right know and we're using it more frequently that we have in the past few years.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

I would not recommend opening the iMac unless you're certain of your abilities to do the job. It's very easy to break something inside.

You can get about 85% of the speed of an internally-installed SATA SSD by buying an EXTERNAL USB3 SSD, plugging it in, and setting it up to be the new boot drive.

If you do this, you now can re-use the old (slow) internal HDD for "extra space", or as a backup.

The iMac will boot and run as well from an external SSD as it does from the internal drive -- but MUCH faster.

You'll come back here and tell us, "I would never have believed that doing something as simple as this would make such an improvement..."