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iMac 27" SSD Upgrade - Important Tip!

J

Jaspa

macrumors newbie
Dec 10, 2009
8
2
darrellishere said:
"Would be great if someone created an SSD drive that is actually the size and shape of an optical drive."

Or try this, sure it would fit in the imac too? or are the sata conectors different?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....36230&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_2558wt_1167
Click to expand...

I was looking for the optical bay enclosure for 2,5" drive but couldn't fine one in short notice. So I was planning to replace the optical drive with my SSD and duct tape it or what ever.. But the connector is different (micro-sata?). Could someone confirm this please. So I guess if u dont have the actual bay for the SSD u still need an adapter (female micro-sata - male sata). This what I found out so far. Please share your experiences and ideas for the optical drive to SSD. :eek:
 
J

Jaspa

macrumors newbie
Dec 10, 2009
8
2
wideblick said:
a very cheap method is following:

Additional to this post, please have a look on my last post with many other pictures:

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/8927668/




yesterday i opened my i5 again and tested following adapter (SLIM-SATA --> SATA), appr. 10 Euro / 14 USD

If you didn´t move or pull your imac, you can fix the ssd with tape, but it´s not recommended.


With new and cheap adapter everything works perfect.

Silent and fast system

:)​
Click to expand...

Great post. Unfortunately I was too late to notice it :D
 
J

Jaspa

macrumors newbie
Dec 10, 2009
8
2
mutle said:
I ordered a similar product from a french vendor: http://www.macway.com/fr/product/14...port-disque-dur-macbookmacbook-pro-unibo.html

It took only a few days to ship this to Germany. MacBidouille has a review of it too: http://www.macbidouille.com/news/20...our-remplacer-un-superdrive-par-un-disque-dur

(TIP: Use google translator if your french is as rusty as mine)

Unfortunately I'm still waiting for my iMac to ship, will be another week or two until I can finally use the Intel SSD.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip. I think I will go with cheap and easy adapter that wideblick posted.
 
M

mrplow

macrumors member
Sep 18, 2004
75
0
I think I missed something along this thread; Could someone confirm that this is exactly what I need to swap a 2.5" SSD for the superdrive in my 27" iMac?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812200470

Btw, the 30GB OCZ Vertex is $99 at newegg if anyone out there reading is on the fence. I think I'm about to bite and order one; I'm a little bummed about having to order the adapter too, oh well.
 
J

Jaspa

macrumors newbie
Dec 10, 2009
8
2
mrplow said:
I think I missed something along this thread; Could someone confirm that this is exactly what I need to swap a 2.5" SSD for the superdrive in my 27" iMac?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812200470

Btw, the 30GB OCZ Vertex is $99 at newegg if anyone out there reading is on the fence. I think I'm about to bite and order one; I'm a little bummed about having to order the adapter too, oh well.
Click to expand...

IMO male slimline SATA to female SATA. As in the wideblick's post.
 
csnplt

csnplt

macrumors 6502
Aug 29, 2008
320
1
Chicago Area
mrplow said:
I think I missed something along this thread; Could someone confirm that this is exactly what I need to swap a 2.5" SSD for the superdrive in my 27" iMac?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812200470

Btw, the 30GB OCZ Vertex is $99 at newegg if anyone out there reading is on the fence. I think I'm about to bite and order one; I'm a little bummed about having to order the adapter too, oh well.
Click to expand...

I think a better deal is the Kingston 40 GB SSD. It is an Intel X-25M G2, but with half the storage, and you can find it for $80 (or at least you could). If you can get it that low, it's a much faster drive, and a bit bigger, as well.
 
I

Imacman1986

macrumors newbie
Dec 20, 2009
1
0
Just wondering..

I just purchased an imac 27' quad core computer (the i5 core **** the i7 too bloody expensive!) Anyways I am intrested in putting in an SSD Inter x25-M into it? I mean without removing the 1tb harddrive that comes with it! Is this possible? Do I have to get apple to do it? IF I do it myself will it void the warranty?

Not expecting an answer for ALL the questions but mainly I am concerned with "is it possible" cause I am really interested in upgrading the slowest part of my computer.

Sorry if this is stupid... just a noob.. you know the drill
 
OldCorpse

OldCorpse

macrumors 68000
Dec 7, 2005
1,758
347
compost heap
Personally, I'm gonna wait. I don't think SSD technology is quite ready for prime time, the technology is still a bit too much in flux. I'll wait until solid standards develop, Apple climbs aboard the TRIM train (or whatever follows TRIM) and so on.

Besides, aren't you a bit nervous throwing all that cash and EFFORT on an iMac that may have to be returned due to a shedload of problems (flickering screen, yellowing screen etc., etc., etc.)... which can develop over weeks or months.

Too risky and too expensive as yet. In another couple of years, it may be a different story, though.
 
K

knewsom

macrumors 6502a
Jun 9, 2005
949
0
OldCorpse said:
Personally, I'm gonna wait. I don't think SSD technology is quite ready for prime time, the technology is still a bit too much in flux. I'll wait until solid standards develop, Apple climbs aboard the TRIM train (or whatever follows TRIM) and so on.

Besides, aren't you a bit nervous throwing all that cash and EFFORT on an iMac that may have to be returned due to a shedload of problems (flickering screen, yellowing screen etc., etc., etc.)... which can develop over weeks or months.

Too risky and too expensive as yet. In another couple of years, it may be a different story, though.
Click to expand...

Well, with me, I'm going to wait until I have a machine that I'm happy with otherwise before installing the SSD. Too much trouble to uninstall it later if I need to swap the machine or get it repaired by the geniuses!
 
W

WilliamG

macrumors G4
Mar 29, 2008
10,007
3,894
Seattle
I've read this thread from end to end and I still don't understand a few things..

What is this "cheap adapter" people are talking about, and what is it for? I thought you just unplug the cables from the 3.5" in the iMac, and then plug those cables into your SSD? (OCZ Vertex in my case) Then do I NEED to ground the temperature cables, and where do I ground them? And do I need a caddy, and where the heck do you get a caddy from?

All help appreciated....
 
K

knewsom

macrumors 6502a
Jun 9, 2005
949
0
I think there was a link to where you can get a caddy.

...the adapter is if you want to replace your optical drive with an SSD. If you want to replace your 3.5, you don't need one.
 
W

WilliamG

macrumors G4
Mar 29, 2008
10,007
3,894
Seattle
knewsom said:
I think there was a link to where you can get a caddy.

...the adapter is if you want to replace your optical drive with an SSD. If you want to replace your 3.5, you don't need one.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the reply. I found a link earlier on in the thread to an adapter on Amazon for the 3.5" to 2.5". Must have missed that on the way through.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002EJI6CO/ref=ox_ya_oh_product

So now I have the suction cups from ifixit's teardown guide on the way, the 3.5" -> 2.5" adapter on the way, my SSD in hand, torx screwdrivers in hand. I suppose I should order my i7 iMac, though, eh? :D


All I need to know is one more thing!!:

For my OCZ Vertex, do I need to short out some pins or something for my fans not to go wild? Or can I just use SMC Fan Control to limit those fan speeds after a quick install?

Thanks again!
 
B

Baja-Skunkworks

macrumors newbie
Nov 12, 2009
4
0
WilliamG said:
Thank you for the reply. I found a link earlier on in the thread to an adapter on Amazon for the 3.5" to 2.5". Must have missed that on the way through.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002EJI6CO/ref=ox_ya_oh_product

So now I have the suction cups from ifixit's teardown guide on the way, the 3.5" -> 2.5" adapter on the way, my SSD in hand, torx screwdrivers in hand. I suppose I should order my i7 iMac, though, eh? :D


All I need to know is one more thing!!:

For my OCZ Vertex, do I need to short out some pins or something for my fans not to go wild? Or can I just use SMC Fan Control to limit those fan speeds after a quick install?

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

This is my first mac. I was hesitant at first but made the plunge into this upgrade. From start to finish I had her buttoned up in 30 min flat. Then about an hour for the OS installation. I went with the Intel 160 and put the OEM HDD into an external enclosure with firewire 800. I was very impressed with how serviceable the iMac was considering there is virtually no visible hardware. A couple of notes from my experience.

1. The screen protector/glass goes all the way to the edge of the case. Because of this it is very easy to remove with just your finger tips along the edge and without the suction cups

2. There is a three (if I remember correctly, maybe two) pin connector with two wires going to the HDD. When you replace the HDD you will not use this connector but will need to short the two wires to keep the fan speeds down.

3. Some of the screws used to hold the screen to the case are right next to the magnets used to hold the screen protector/glass. This makes it difficult to reinstall the screws as the magnets pulls the screws from the driver. Use a set of bent tweezers to hold onto the screws while you are getting them started.

4. Make sure you have a can of compressed air to blow off any dust before reinstalling the screen protector/glass

That's about it. So far I am happy with the install.
 
W

WilliamG

macrumors G4
Mar 29, 2008
10,007
3,894
Seattle
Just ordered my 27" i7 iMac. This marks my very first Mac "desktop" computer, having owned just laptops since I started using Apple-based systems. Pretty excited. :) Will pop in another 2x2GB to have 8GB total, and my Vertex SSD.

My only fear is being able to get all the dust out of the computer. I HATE dust specks behind the glass. I'm OCD that way!
 
K

kb27973

macrumors newbie
Nov 10, 2009
19
0
fhall1 said:
Just got to Staples or BestBuy or Walmart and get a can...should be cheaper than that.
Click to expand...

Bring your ID. Got mine at Target and got carded LOL! Guess kids these days must be inhaling it because my can says: "Contains a bitterant to help discourage inhalant abuse". What a world we live in.
 
3

33scottie33

macrumors regular
Aug 24, 2006
114
5
New York
Placing a new thermal cable in an old iMac?

My 27" 2.8 GHz should arrive on Monday and I just ordered the 3.5 250MB Colossus SSD from Amazon. Can't wait to put it in!

So far, I have read that the only two workarounds for the thermal heat cable is to either (1) short it out with a wire or (2) use a thermal cable from an older iMac and stick it to the SSD.

I have an older iMac that I'm going to put on eBay. If I take the thermal cable from it and place in my new iMac, could I then take the cable and drive from my new iMac and place it in the old iMac? Any thoughts? In theory it seems like it would work, but the old iMac may not be able to properly read the temperature using the new cable.

Thanks!
 
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