Installing dual drives for 27inch iMac (HDD2.5 and SSD2.5) using mounting bracket

[tejeswara]

I'm currently upgrading my 2 Imacs one that’s late 2009 and another that’s mid-2011 and trying to not spend too much. I have also recently upgraded my 2 of my 2012 MacBook pros. I replaced the HDD drives with SSD and so have 2 spare 1TB and 500gb HDD. So I know in most cases it is best if you're replacing the original drive inside of your iMac you also add a thermal sensor. When looking into this I found that I can use a dual mounting bracket where I can place two drives in. So I was thinking that I could place a 256GB SSD along with my 1TB 2.5HDD from my MacBook. An SSD for booting the software and browsing and all so its snappy, and the HDD would be for storing files and anything if I need (don't use for the most part), or even back up my phone. So I guess my question here is because I'm using an apple HDD along with an SSD would I need to install a thermal sensor? or would that not be necessary because I'm using this drive? has anyone done this? Open to any and all comments or suggestions.

This is the mounting bracket I was thinking about using

Inateck SSD Mounting Bracket 2.5 to 3.5 with SATA Cable and Power Splitter Cable, ST1002S

Support 2. 5" Hard drives (SSD and HDD) and fits all popular PC casings if you want to mount 2. 5" Drives into your PC and got a free 3. 5" Slot, then this Inateck conversion bracket is the optimal solution meeting you requirements. It fits for 2x2. 5" Drives providing valuable space for addition...

www.amazon.com

with this I would get the bracket to mount two drives and the cables.

would this work for both my 2011 and 2009 27inch imac?
and this is a picture of my hdd from my macbook.

 

[Juicy Box]

So I guess my question here is because I'm using an apple HDD along with an SSD would I need to install a thermal sensor?

I don't know for sure, but I think the internal temperature sensors in the OEM Apple HDDs are only in the 3.5" drives.

Otherwise, I would think that a sensor would be needed when replacing the laptop HDDs with SATA SSDs.

I would just get the sensor, and if the cost is too much, do a SW solution like Macsfancontrol. You can also short the leads for the temp sensor on the SATA cable.

would this work for both my 2011 and 2009 27inch imac?

The bracket would, but for the cables, it totally depends on what you plan on using for the data and power.

The Mid 2011 iMac has three SATA connectors on the logic board, one is SATAIII and used by the HDD, one is SATAII and used by the ODD, and the third is unused unless you got the second drive SSD BTO option when the iMac was new.

These SATA connectors are not standard, two are slimline, and the HDD one is some proprietary connector.

I cannot remember if the Late 2009 also has the three SATA connectors on the logic board.


Either way, the logic board needs to be removed to get to these SATA connectors, so if you did not want to do that, you might want to consider using the ODD SATA data cable for the 2.5" HDD, and the OEM HDD data cable for the SSD.


There could be an issue where the ODD power isn't sufficient for the HDD. I forget if that is only 3.5" drives or HDD drives in general. If this is not an issue for the 2.5" drive, you don't need the bracket and can just put the 2.5" HDD in the ODD spot and use an adapter cable for the slimline to SATA. Then put the SSD in the poem HDD bay and use the HDD cables without an adapter (assuming you are not using a temp sensor).

If power is an issue, then you could swap the HDD and ODD power.


Basically, you got to let up know what you want to do. You want to remove the logic board? If not, are you okay with losing your ODD?

 

[tejeswara]

So I am fine with removing the logic board and okay with taking the time! I'm super into tech too so that should be fine. And power should be a problem either because with the link I posted in getting the mounting bracket, there's a power splitter included so I was hoping to use that. So what I was imagining was the I put an SSD and HDD inside the bracket and install it inside. I would use the power splitter connecting the two drives and then if I get the thermal sensor I would connect it to the end of the splitter and then the thermal sensor end to the power cable that's already coming from the sensor. That leaves the SATA cables. I would plug in the SATA cable that's already there and for the last one, I would need to plug in another SATA cable at the logic board and route it back to the top alongside the current SATA cable coming from there. This is for the 2011 iMac. For the 2009 Imac, I could theoretically do the same thing I figure out if there's a 3rd port for its well correct? at this point, I would have 8GB ram (I'm fine with this) possibly a WD SSD for my operating system, and HDD for storing files and whatnot. So I guess my last question now would be, would my iMac be slow using an SSD and HDD? or would it still be snappy because I'm running my operating system on an SSD? I will mostly be using it as an everyday average consumer checking mails, watching youtube, browsing the web, and all. Nothing extravagant or strenuous on the iMac. I appreciate the advice and time your taking to answer my questions and help me on my quest!

 

[tejeswara]

I don't know for sure, but I think the internal temperature sensors in the OEM Apple HDDs are only in the 3.5" drives.

Otherwise, I would think that a sensor would be needed when replacing the laptop HDDs with SATA SSDs.

I would just get the sensor, and if the cost is too much, do a SW solution like Macsfancontrol. You can also short the leads for the temp sensor on the SATA cable.


The bracket would, but for the cables, it totally depends on what you plan on using for the data and power.

The Mid 2011 iMac has three SATA connectors on the logic board, one is SATAIII and used by the HDD, one is SATAII and used by the ODD, and the third is unused unless you got the second drive SSD BTO option when the iMac was new.

These SATA connectors are not standard, two are slimline, and the HDD one is some proprietary connector.

I cannot remember if the Late 2009 also has the three SATA connectors on the logic board.


Either way, the logic board needs to be removed to get to these SATA connectors, so if you did not want to do that, you might want to consider using the ODD SATA data cable for the 2.5" HDD, and the OEM HDD data cable for the SSD.


There could be an issue where the ODD power isn't sufficient for the HDD. I forget if that is only 3.5" drives or HDD drives in general. If this is not an issue for the 2.5" drive, you don't need the bracket and can just put the 2.5" HDD in the ODD spot and use an adapter cable for the slimline to SATA. Then put the SSD in the poem HDD bay and use the HDD cables without an adapter (assuming you are not using a temp sensor).

If power is an issue, then you could swap the HDD and ODD power.


Basically, you got to let up know what you want to do. You want to remove the logic board? If not, are you okay with losing your ODD?

So I am fine with removing the logic board and okay with taking the time! I'm super into tech too so that should be fine. And power should be a problem either because with the link I posted in getting the mounting bracket, there's a power splitter included so I was hoping to use that. So what I was imagining was the I put an SSD and HDD inside the bracket and install it inside. I would use the power splitter connecting the two drives and then if I get the thermal sensor I would connect it to the end of the splitter and then the thermal sensor end to the power cable that's already coming from the sensor. That leaves the SATA cables. I would plug in the SATA cable that's already there and for the last one, I would need to plug in another SATA cable at the logic board and route it back to the top alongside the current SATA cable coming from there. This is for the 2011 iMac. For the 2009 Imac, I could theoretically do the same thing I figure out if there's a 3rd port for its well correct? at this point, I would have 8GB ram (I'm fine with this) possibly a WD SSD for my operating system, and HDD for storing files and whatnot. So I guess my last question now would be, would my iMac be slow using an SSD and HDD? or would it still be snappy because I'm running my operating system on an SSD? I will mostly be using it as an everyday average consumer checking mails, watching youtube, browsing the web, and all. Nothing extravagant or strenuous on the iMac. I appreciate the advice and time your taking to answer my questions and help me on my quest!

 

[Juicy Box]

So what I was imagining was the I put an SSD and HDD inside the bracket and install it inside.

I am currently using a similar set up in a Mid 2011 iMac. I am using a dual bracket in the HDD bay to have two SSDs in a SW RAID0 for the boot drive. I am removing the ODD and having a third SSD to use as a Windows drive.

I am also installing a more modern and powerful GPU, which is what has me currently stalled due to not having a three-pipe GPU.

The logic board is complexly removed and has been for over a month now, due to waiting for the new GPU heat sink. Back in the end of March or beginning of April, I could only find one on eBay, from oversea, and warning me of the long ship times. After waiting for over a month, it arrived last week. I picked it up at the post office, and immediately alarmed that it was in a soft bag, and not a box.

Took it home, and of course the heat sink was bent to almost a 45 degree angle, (supposed to be 90). I complained to the seller and they apologized, refunded me my money, but now I am still out of a heat sink and going on two months of waiting.

This is the dual bracket I got when it was on sale for $5:

CORSAIR Dual SATA Drive Enclosure for 2.5" Solid-State Drives Black CSSD-BRKT2 - Best Buy

Shop CORSAIR Dual SATA Drive Enclosure for 2.5" Solid-State Drives Black at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. Price Match Guarantee.

www.bestbuy.com

I would use the power splitter connecting the two drives and then if I get the thermal sensor I would connect it to the end of the splitter and then the thermal sensor end to the power cable that's already coming from the sensor.

This would work, although I think you could put the sensor before the splitter as well. Depending on doing it before or after, one way might have a better fit for the cables.

That leaves the SATA cables. I would plug in the SATA cable that's already there and for the last one, I would need to plug in another SATA cable at the logic board and route it back to the top alongside the current SATA cable coming from there.

Yup, that would work.

So I guess my last question now would be, would my iMac be slow using an SSD and HDD? or would it still be snappy because I'm running my operating system on an SSD?

Yes, and no.

Having the SSD as the boot drive will give you a huge performance increase, and generally would feel like a much newer computer.

But, keeping a HDD inside, especially a much slower 2.5" drive could slow things down. I personally wouldn't use a 2.5" HDD in anything if I was worried about speed.

Keep in mind that an old FW800 enclosure with an SSD is about as fast as most 2.5" SATA HDDs when it comes to sequential speeds, but the old FW800 totally destroys HDDs when it comes to random speeds.

Although, it all depends on how much you use the HDD.

You could create a Fusion Drive, which would give you optimal speeds, automatically putting data you access often on the SSD, while still having a larger HDD for stuff you access less often but still need.

Having everything on a Fusion Drive is generally easier for using as well, no need to configure stuff to be saved a separate drive.