iMAC 2009 HDD replacement with an SSD

[aquilc]

Hi,

I shall be replacing an iMAC's HDD with an SSD. I already researched about the procedure, and found that the iMac 9,1 (Early 2009 20" model) uses a heat sensor for the HDD.
Do I need to attach this sensor to the SSD?

If no, will this affect the iMAC in any way?

Also, I am entertaining the thought of using a SAMSUNG EVO 850 with the capacity of 500GB, will it function properly with the iMAC?

 

[Dopeyman]

You're going to need this cable:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIDIMACHDD09/

 

[billk]

can you share the procedure and what you went with. I have my late 2009 imac 27" I want to upgrade to SSD that I extracted from my late 2012 MacBook retina. thanks

 

[AlaskaMoose]

What I would do is to buy a 1TB SSD from the same company as the complete installation kit. No sense to remove the screen to replace the HD with a small SSD.

SSD and bracket:
https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/imac/early-2009

Removal/installation Kit:
https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIYIMACHDD12/

Also, take your time before you open your iMac, since you should first organize and clean the internal HD using Disk Utility, then create a bootable clone of the internal HD on the new SSD. You will also need a cable, enclosure, or a USB/SATA dock like the one shown at the bottom of the page on the first link above. Docks like the one shown cost a lot less at Amazon. But the complete kit and SSD's shown on the links are quite good and worth the money.

 

[billk]

Thanks AlaskaMoose, only issue is my HDD is dead and I wont be able to clone unfortunately. Any helpful tips there?

Also if I want to just replace with a new HDD do you know what would be the one to use? The guy at apple repair shop said it was quite specific. Cheers.

Also, take your time before you open your iMac, since you should first organize and clean the internal HD using Disk Utility, then create a bootable clone of the internal HD on the new SSD. You will also need a cable, enclosure, or a USB/SATA dock like the one shown at the bottom of the page on the first link above. Docks like the one shown cost a lot less at Amazon. But the complete kit and SSD's shown on the links are quite good and worth the money.

 

[ThugFreak]

Thanks AlaskaMoose, only issue is my HDD is dead and I wont be able to clone unfortunately. Any helpful tips there?

Also if I want to just replace with a new HDD do you know what would be the one to use? The guy at apple repair shop said it was quite specific. Cheers.

Deleted

 

[mpainesyd]

My tips for booting an "old" Mac from an external SSD are here
http://www.mpainesyd.com/filechute/BOOT_OSX_SSD.pdf
That was in 2014 so some of the links may no longer work. I recently retired that Mac but the booting and system operation worked well.

 

[otterslapper]

I replaced my failed original HDD on my 2009 iMac about 5 years ago with a Seagate 2TB HDD. That failed a couple of months ago so I replaced with a SSD. I am trying to hold out for the new iMac so want to keep this one going as long as possible. I took the old controller off the HDD and just plugged that into the sensor to stop the fans, and it has been working perfectly since. I also found there is enough room to swap the HDD if you pull the screen down and just detach the camera cable (top left). I can change the HDD/SSD in about 20 minutes now.

 

[sab2el]

Hi,

I shall be replacing an iMAC's HDD with an SSD. I already researched about the procedure, and found that the iMac 9,1 (Early 2009 20" model) uses a heat sensor for the HDD.
Do I need to attach this sensor to the SSD?

If no, will this affect the iMAC in any way?

Also, I am entertaining the thought of using a SAMSUNG EVO 850 with the capacity of 500GB, will it function properly with the iMAC?

I have an iMac early 2009 and have upgraded to a 512 gb ssd. Keep in mind those have nvidia chipsets and sometimes the iMac will boot at 1.5 gbs at sata 1 speeds and sometimes at 3gbs at sata 2 speeds. It’s quite random and after multiple or a single reboot solves the problem.