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iMac 27" SSD Upgrade - Important Tip!

A

abdulx2000

macrumors newbie
Mar 2, 2011
1
0
orange.x said:
Hi, I want to replace my ODD in my 27" late 2009 iMac. I ordered an optibay on eBay what appears to be the wrong one :D

But now I just realised that I don't want to wait 3 weeks for something to ship from China. So I searched around and found that I need a slimline (micro) sata > sata converter. But there seem to be many options for this.

As far as I can see in the iFixit teardown (http://guide-images.ifixit.net/igi/EPwDee2LtB2jCXO6.huge) that is a slimline sata cable. And it should be 6p+7p=13p right? That summs it up that I need a male slimline 13p sata to a female 22p sata.

I bought this adapter.
tragant61695.jpg


And I'm picking up an OCZ Vertex 2 180GB tomorrow. Downloaded an image of Lion so I can test that one, probably going to install Snow Leopard after it.

I'm curious how fast I can install OSX Lion from a USB key to my SSD :p
Click to expand...

so how did it go? i'm planing to get the exact same SSD and an optibay. which optibay u got? and did the converter work?
 
N

Nuje

macrumors newbie
Sep 29, 2009
2
0
OptiBay Temp Sensor fix

Not sure if this was covered previously, but regarding the temp sensor from the SuperDrive that connects to the logic board: Instead of splicing wires or spending $20 on a do-nothing (or not much) part, you can simply remove the temp sensor from the SuperDrive.

It's not soldered to anything besides a tiny little circuit board/sensor that's glued (under the black tape) to the aluminum housing for the SuperDrive.

40 seconds under the wife's blow dryer to soften the glue a bit, pulled it off, stuck it to the OptiBay (12.7mm, on 2009 27" iMac, with Intel X25-M 160GB SSD), plugged it in - and all is quiet and quick in iMac-land.
 
S

sonystyle

macrumors newbie
Aug 10, 2008
12
0
I replaced my 2009 27" iMac's Optical Drive with SSD using caddy's optibay.
Eveyrthing is fine, except the fans are all running high! I tried to make a jumper and short the ODD TEMP connecctor on logic board but it didn't help! I even thought maybe the jumper wasn't conntected properly, so I used the original temp sensor cable from old optical drive and joined the wires properly on the other end, but it didn't help either! Fans are still running high!

As last solution, I tried software method via SMC Fan Control, but strange enough, none of those commands in terminal worked out for me...

What I'm doing wrong?? Right now in SMC Fan Control and iStat pro all temperatures are normal, but fans are running all above 4000!!

Any help is appreciated! :)
 
I

ibail

macrumors newbie
Apr 7, 2011
1
0
iMac Hard Drive Fan running very fast & loud - fixed

I recently replaced the hard drive in my 21.5" iMac. Even though I replaced the existing 500GB Seagate drive with a 2TB Seagate drive (Barracuda Green, ST2000DL003, cost me AU$95), the iMac can't detect the temperature sensor of the drive. Apple wanted to charge me AU$335 to do a "like-for-like" replacement of the 500GB drive, and were going to take 2 working days to do it).

I found a piece of shareware software: HDDFanControl http://hddfancontrol.com/HDDFanControl/HDD_Fan_Control.html which fixes the problem! It allows the iMac to detect the HDD temperature via S.M.A.R.T. sensors, and therefore the iMac now controls the Hard Drive Fan appropriately to the temperature of the drive.

Note: don't install iStat menus if you want to use HDDFanControl - iStat stops HDDFanControl from being able to see the disk's temperature via SMART.

It was a much better, cheaper, less risky and quicker solution than shorting out the sensor (which will cause the fan to not speed up, ever, and may cause overheating of the iMac or drive), or purchasing a separate sensor to stick to the drive (which would require soldering as the connector is different from the Seagate connector.
 
S

sonystyle

macrumors newbie
Aug 10, 2008
12
0
sonystyle said:
I replaced my 2009 27" iMac's Optical Drive with SSD using caddy's optibay.
Eveyrthing is fine, except the fans are all running high! I tried to make a jumper and short the ODD TEMP connecctor on logic board but it didn't help! I even thought maybe the jumper wasn't conntected properly, so I used the original temp sensor cable from old optical drive and joined the wires properly on the other end, but it didn't help either! Fans are still running high!

As last solution, I tried software method via SMC Fan Control, but strange enough, none of those commands in terminal worked out for me...

What I'm doing wrong?? Right now in SMC Fan Control and iStat pro all temperatures are normal, but fans are running all above 4000!!

Any help is appreciated! :)
Click to expand...

Anyone has any idea?? I'm kinda stuck!! :(
 
S

sonystyle

macrumors newbie
Aug 10, 2008
12
0
sonystyle said:
I replaced my 2009 27" iMac's Optical Drive with SSD using caddy's optibay.
Eveyrthing is fine, except the fans are all running high! I tried to make a jumper and short the ODD TEMP connecctor on logic board but it didn't help! I even thought maybe the jumper wasn't conntected properly, so I used the original temp sensor cable from old optical drive and joined the wires properly on the other end, but it didn't help either! Fans are still running high!

As last solution, I tried software method via SMC Fan Control, but strange enough, none of those commands in terminal worked out for me...

What I'm doing wrong?? Right now in SMC Fan Control and iStat pro all temperatures are normal, but fans are running all above 4000!!

Any help is appreciated! :)
Click to expand...

Alright, I resolved the issue by replacing a ODD thermal sensor with a new one. I used the Apple's spare part #922-2992 . you can buy it here: http://www.applecomponents.com/item...or-optical/0000004398?pn=1&s=9229&per_page=30.
It comes with an adhesive side that you can easily attach to your SSD's body and voila, it works!! :D

Might be useful for someone with same issue! ;)
 
channelinspire

channelinspire

macrumors member
Jun 23, 2010
82
1
Dallas, TX
sonystyle said:
Alright, I resolved the issue by replacing a ODD thermal sensor with a new one. I used the Apple's spare part #922-2992 . you can buy it here: http://www.applecomponents.com/item...or-optical/0000004398?pn=1&s=9229&per_page=30.
It comes with an adhesive side that you can easily attach to your SSD's body and voila, it works!! :D

Might be useful for someone with same issue! ;)
Click to expand...

I had the same issue when upgrading from a WD Black 1TB to a WD Black 2TB drive. My fan ran at 4K RPM all the time. I ordered the same part and put it in today. It is working perfectly and now I am booting from my SSD and my 2TB Black drive is there for iTunes and data.
 
M

mocsharp

macrumors member
Dec 7, 2009
67
0
mocsharp said:
Just ordered an Intel 320 160GB from amazon for $299.99. Can't wait to install it in my mid-2010 imac 27" .
Click to expand...

Got my Intel 320 SSD installed last night along with Silverstone SDP08 and WD Scorpio Black 320GB, everything went pretty well. The WD scorpio drive has its built-in temperature sensor, so I can simply short the original HDD temp sensor.

it's super fast, after OSX install, first boot took less than 10 seconds.
 
M

mocsharp

macrumors member
Dec 7, 2009
67
0
mocsharp said:
Got my Intel 320 SSD installed last night along with Silverstone SDP08 and WD Scorpio Black 320GB, everything went pretty well. The WD scorpio drive has its built-in temperature sensor, so I can simply short the original HDD temp sensor.

it's super fast, after OSX install, first boot took less than 10 seconds.
Click to expand...

Xbench results:

Results 373.50
System Info
Xbench Version 1.3
System Version 10.6.7 (10J869)
Physical RAM 8192 MB
Model iMac11,3
Drive Type INTEL SSDSA2CW160G3
Disk Test 373.50
Sequential 258.26
Uncached Write 283.35 173.97 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 265.87 150.43 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 172.87 50.59 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 414.44 208.30 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 674.42
Uncached Write 462.33 48.94 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 492.48 157.66 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 2229.66 15.80 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 775.77 143.95 MB/sec [256K blocks]
 
L

LemonPepper

macrumors newbie
Apr 28, 2011
11
0
I'm probably being obtuse here, but being relatively new to the hardware aspect of this, and pretty tired, I want to ensure my ducks are in a row--measure twice, cut once.

I've got a 27" 2009 i5 iMac with a recently-failed HDD. If I want to replace it with an Intel 160GB 2.5" SSD do I need the parts from Picho's post #253 on this thread? Or would that be only for those who want to install a HD in place of the SuperDrive?

I will have a printed guide for reference during the actual process (no laptop conveniently available but just want to ensure the parts are compible.
 
Last edited:
S

sinitry23

macrumors member
Aug 30, 2009
34
0
Hi,

If I wish to install one OWC SSD hard drive in replacement where the super drive is located can I set that to the primary drive? If I want to do this, do I boot from my snow leopard disk and after formatting both hard drives, choose the SSD as my primary?
 
S

sinitry23

macrumors member
Aug 30, 2009
34
0
sinitry23 said:
Hi,

If I wish to install one OWC SSD hard drive in replacement where the super drive is located can I set that to the primary drive? If I want to do this, do I boot from my snow leopard disk and after formatting both hard drives, choose the SSD as my primary?
Click to expand...

Also, if I install the SSD where the super drive is located and leave my currect 1tb sata hard drive. I won't need to short out my temperature sensor right?
 
R

Researcher

macrumors newbie
Jan 24, 2010
20
0
Europe / Greece / Macedonia / Drama
LemonPepper said:
I'm probably being obtuse here, but being relatively new to the hardware aspect of this, and pretty tired, I want to ensure my ducks are in a row--measure twice, cut once.

I've got a 27" 2009 i5 iMac with a recently-failed HDD. If I want to replace it with an Intel 160GB 2.5" SSD do I need the parts from Picho's post #253 on this thread? Or would that be only for those who want to install a HD in place of the SuperDrive?

I will have a printed guide for reference during the actual process (no laptop conveniently available but just want to ensure the parts are compible.
Click to expand...


Why don't you buy a 3.5" SSD instead?
 
S

sinitry23

macrumors member
Aug 30, 2009
34
0
Hi everyone!

I need some help before I start purchasing the hardware needed for the SSD upgrade.

I have a late model 2009 iMac 27, i7 with 1tb sata hard drive pre-installed. I would like to add a 120gb SSD drive internally so it can be my primary OS hard drive. To get this done are the steps below correct?

1. Purchase SSD drive, CD-Rom bracket to hold SSD drive, mini SATA adapter.
2. Remove LCD screen and super drive afterwards
3. Mount CD-rom bracket to where the super drive use to be
4. install new SSD drive into CD-Rom bracket
5. attach mini SATA adapter to the SSD drive and connect the other end to the mother board?
6. reinstall Snow Leopard OS

If I am not removing my current 1TB hard drive, do I still need to short the hard drive temperature sensor?
 
toxotis70

toxotis70

Suspended
Aug 22, 2007
61
0
athens, greece
I have the same setup (iMac 27" late 2009 i5), and i want to ask the same things ...
I dont use DVDs any more, so can i replace it with an ssd ?
What EXACTLY parts do i need (except from ssd) ?
 
E

Exirion

macrumors newbie
Jun 16, 2011
22
0
stridemat said:
I took a risk on the above and it worked. What exactly does it do? & thank you!
Click to expand...
The daemon sets the maximum fan speed to 1500rpm when it starts. As the iMac forgets this setting after a sleep-wake cycle, the daemon repeats that after your Mac wakes from sleep.

The installer starts the daemon right away, so a reboot is not necessary. And of course, it's installed on your system such that it starts automatically at boot time, already before logging in.

Thanks for your positive response :)
 
iSee

iSee

macrumors 68040
Oct 25, 2004
3,540
272
I've been monitoring this thread since I got my 2009 i7 when they came out...

I finally put in an SSD -- the 600GB Intel 320. It screams! It's like a brand new machine. I replaced the original HDD and it was pretty easy.

Thanks to all who offered advice and info. :)
 
B

bdeitemeyer

macrumors member
Nov 10, 2009
81
0
iSee said:
I've been monitoring this thread since I got my 2009 i7 when they came out...

I finally put in an SSD -- the 600GB Intel 320. It screams! It's like a brand new machine. I replaced the original HDD and it was pretty easy.

Thanks to all who offered advice and info. :)
Click to expand...

How much did the 600GB model run you? I too have the 2009 i7 iMac and am hopeful to perform the same upgrade. Did you buy any other parts for this upgrade?
 
L

leftheaded

macrumors member
May 10, 2010
43
0
does the info in this thread apply to the new 27" iMac released in May 2011? I'm thinking about getting one, but would like to swap the standard HDD with my own SSD.
 
R

RoyalFlushAK(s)

macrumors member
Jun 15, 2011
68
0
here is what you should do and have your machine flying

here you have a OWC bracket for 3.5" to 2.5" for $18, and a 120GB SSD for $280

I did it on my iMac and there's no comparison with a 7200rpm HHD. this SSD runs real FAST

RoyalFlush,
 
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