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Installing SSD and moving the Logic Board in 2010 Mac Mini

Newfiebill

Newfiebill

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 6, 2011
183
112
Hi Guys & Gals,

I'm going to make the jump to an Intel SSD this weekend to replace my stock 320GB (5400 RPM) Drive in the 2010 Mac Mini.

Those of you that have actually done this, did you find that the Logic Board really needed to be shifted at all? I've been looking at the OWC installation Video and it would seem to me that the drive will lift out over the Logic Board without moving the board at all. It would mean that I would only have to detach the first SATA and two heat connectors. The least amount of connectors I have to pull the better I would assume. Also, I'm thinking that the black vinyl covering wrapped around the 320GB drive is there to protect the moving/electrical drive components on the bottom of the drive, which I would not need on the SSD. I know that I need/should replace the piece of tape to hold the heat sensor wire on the new SSD.

Any help would be great.....:)

2010 Mac Mini (2.4MHz - 8GB RAM Intel 80GB SSD(pending)) Air Port Extreme, 2TB Mini Stack External Dive, 16GB WiFi iPad, 32GB iPhone 3GS.
 
Last edited:
Newfiebill said:
Hi Guys & Gals,

I'm going to make the jump to an Intel SSD this weekend to replace my stock 320GB (5400 RPM) Drive in the 2010 Mac Mini.

Those of you that have actually done this, did you find that the Logic Board really needed to be shifted at all? I've been looking at the OWC installation Video and it would seem to me that the drive will lift out over the Logic Board without moving the board at all. It would mean that I would only have to detach the first SATA and two heat connectors. The least amount of connectors I have to pull the better I would assume. Also, I'm thinking that the black vinyl covering wrapped around the 320GB drive is there to protect the moving/electrical drive components on the bottom of the drive, which I would not need on the SSD. I know that I need/should replace the piece of tape to hold the heat sensor wire on the new SSD.

Any help would be great.....:)

2010 Mac Mini (2.4MHz - 8GB RAM Intel 80GB SSD(pending)) Air Port Extreme, 2TB Mini Stack External Dive, 16GB WiFi iPad, 32GB iPhone 3GS.
Click to expand...

I have not done an SSD per say, but I have made a little side business upgrading the hard drive on 2010 Mac Mini's and selling them on ebay. After having done 10 or so of these, yes you do need to pull the logic board out slightly. The hard drive will not lift up enough to give you the angle you need clear the logic board with out pulling it out.

That said, only pull it out enough to see a small gap of air between the black beisl in the rear and the alum case.

WRT the heat sensors... I have found that the smallest amount of rubber cement works well if you you loose the adhesive when transferring the sensor. 8/10 times you will have plenty of stick left though and wont need to add any.

The black cover I have also assumed was there for air flow as well. If the SSD has a smooth surface, and no logic board to short, you probably can do away with it.
 
Last edited:
tekkierich said:
I have not done an SSD per say, but I have made a little side business upgrading the hard drive on 2010 Mac Mini's and selling them on ebay. After having done 10 or so of these, yes you do need to pull the logic board out slightly. The hard drive will not lift up enough to give you the angle you need clear the logic board with out pulling it out.

That said, only pull it out enough to see a small gap of air between the black beisl in the rear and the alum case.

WRT the heat sensors... I have found that the smallest amount of rubber cement works well if you you loose the adhesive when transferring the sensor. 8/10 times you will have plenty of stick left though and wont need to add any.

The black cover I have also assumed was there for air flow as well. If the SSD has a smooth surface, and not logic board to short, you probably can do away with it.
Click to expand...

I will say that the OWC video is dead on. Follow it precisely. PAY ATTENTION TO THE SENSORS ON THE HDD. THEY BREAK VERY EASILY!!

I found that out the hard way. I have a new sensor on the way as we speak.

I second everything tek is saying. He's a smart guy :)


TEK - QUESTION - the glue...you can use standard rubber cement? It doesnt have to be a special kind of thermal glue or anything??
 
This is useful stuff, thanks guys.
I plan on putting a larger SSD in my Macbook Pro later this year and moving my current one into my 2010 mini, didn`t realise it was such an involved job :eek:
 
drew.bowser said:
TEK - QUESTION - the glue...you can use standard rubber cement? It doesn't have to be a special kind of thermal glue or anything??
Click to expand...


I have not had a problem yet. You use thermal paste when attaching a heat sink because the compound actively assists in transferring heat away from the processor and to the heat sink.
The purpose of adhering the heat sensor is only to keep it in contact with the part that is being monitored. As long as the adhesive doesn't break down in nasty ways under 60C - 90C then all should be fine.

I am using standard Elmers rubber cement. $1.44 for a jar at wally world.
 
philipma1957 said:
www.applecomponents.com

has the lowest cost replacement parts if you break them


http://www.applecomponents.com/item...nsor-and/0000004780?pn=1&cmp=0167&per_page=30


http://www.applecomponents.com/item...e-w-tape/0000004781?pn=1&cmp=0167&per_page=30
Click to expand...

Well, technically they do! However shipping is a bit expensive and i'm hoping they WILL actually ship it. I requested overnight shipping on Wed, and it looks like I am going to have to wait til monday to get the part. not to happy...

Im tired of listening to a 5500 rpm fan in my ear... at least it is cool!
 
Tek, is there plenty of room for 2 ssd's? I want to remove the optical, put the ssd there and put a ssd in place of the hard drive or maybe use a 7200 rpm drive in place of the slow hard drive.
 
bearcatrp said:
Tek, is there plenty of room for 2 ssd's? I want to remove the optical, put the ssd there and put a ssd in place of the hard drive or maybe use a 7200 rpm drive in place of the slow hard drive.
Click to expand...

I know it has been done, but I have not done it myself. I have replaced the optical with a blu-ray drive, and know that there is room for a 12.5mm drive up there (so you can get a 1TB drive in there). There is a plastic tray that holds the optical drive and I would think that the screw holes would at least partially line up with the screw positions of a ssd or HD, but again, I haven't done it.
 
To the OP: We're on the verge of getting the new generation of SSDs from Intel, Micron, and SandForce over the next few months. Probably best to wait a bit to see how the new ones are (and/or wait for the current-gen ones to drop in price).
 
Update!

I done the switch to SSD last night in the Mac Mini. I used the Intel X25-M SATA 80GB SSD and used Carbon Copy Cloner to Clone the New and old drives.

Holy crap, what a difference in speed! Outlook, Word, iTunes, etc open and loads in a blink of an eye, less than one bounce! Mac OSX loads in about 25 seconds from a power off state!

I never had a hitch with the swap and it took about 45 minutes. I really took my time pulling the sensor sockets and SATA connectors and had the OWC video on the iPad to follow while I switched them out. I put the old 320GB (5400RPM) drive into the new enclosure and I am now using that for my Time Machine Drive.

Four observations that may help OP. 1) I didn't have to pull the Power Connector on the Logic Board to move it out 2) I didn't have to disconnect the Air Port Antenna just moved it out of the way 3) I left the plastic covering on the old drive. (I did remove the two pieces of tape that cover the SATA connector and the heat sensor wire and put them on the new SSD). and 4) be VERY VERY careful removing the heat sensor on the old Drive don't FORCE it.

If you are thinking about possibly swapping out your Mac Mini Drive, go for it, it's not that hard and the difference (from the 320GB 5400 RPM) drive is unbelievable.
 
^Awesome to hear, thanks for the update. It seems like an SSD is a no-brainer if one wants to do an upgrade. I've used a few SSDs in netbooks and some PCs and the difference always amazes me.

Planning on picking up a Mini at some point and putting an SSD.. looks like its quite the process. Wish it was easier to do in an iMac as well.
 
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