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Would love to know so I could feel better about buying it. Not really sure what other choice i have. I say it's $800 because the SSD is $700 on top of the cost of the 2TB Fusion which comes stock. It feels like I am in 1995 paying a thousand dollars for a 1GB hard drive!

I use some sample-heavy VST's which do well with SSD. I also want to put all my apps on the internal SSD. Maybe I am unaware of some great ways to configure the apps, samples, data and large iTunes library which may allow me to work with the 512GB SSD option? That is so very small in this day and age!

I will be using a FW800 external to record audio onto.

Don't go for a USB enclosure if your apps have a high I/O requirement. Look at the Startech thunderbolt enclosures. They aren't that expensive and you can put a couple of SSD's in there. Much better performance than USB.
 
@ tubeexperience; thanks for the tip on the Samsung! save me 50 bucks...... and regarding the trackpad plus mouse; I went to the Apple store yesterday and mentioned how I love the trackpad. The worker guy said that he finds the mouse is better for exacting cursor placement, but of course the trackpad for gestures. I played with the tracking speed, played with the mouse and sure enough the mouse felt better for cursor placement, which can mean a lot in tiny fields in music apps. I figure I will grab one or the other depending on the duties.

ambientdaw, you should find out how much your local AASP (Apple Authorized Service Provider) charge for installing an aftermarket SSD. I should be ~$100.

Also, if you do go that route, make sure your AASP install the In-line Digital Thermal Sensor Cable ($40) or your fan will spin out of control.
 
I must say it's very exciting to hear things like "incredibly faster", etc. but I'm wondering what the real-world applications are of such blazing speed. Would it allow me to run sample-heavy VST's like NI's Kontact better than the Evo?
It would allow you to run sample-heavy VST's like NI's Kontact better than the Evo, it would allow you to do literally everything better and faster, without exception.

You'll just have to understand that everything will be faster by a fraction of seconds to seconds. Only you can determine if saving that amount of time is worth it, or if you can perceive time differences on that level. Many people on this forum claim to be unable to detect them. I certainly can.

Also, opening up your brand new iMac would void the warranty, I have to say this is one of the first threads where I have seen that offered as a serious suggestion.
 
Don't go for a USB enclosure if your apps have a high I/O requirement. Look at the Startech thunderbolt enclosures. They aren't that expensive and you can put a couple of SSD's in there. Much better performance than USB.
Hmmmm, you mean instead of the FW? Are the fans noisy?
 
I must say it's very exciting to hear things like "incredibly faster", etc. but I'm wondering what the real-world applications are of such blazing speed. Would it allow me to run sample-heavy VST's like NI's Kontact better than the Evo?

Honestly, varian55zx is over exaggerating.

The biggest difference will be in benchmarks.

It would allow you to run sample-heavy VST's like NI's Kontact better than the Evo, it would allow you to do literally everything better and faster, without exception.

You'll just have to understand that everything will be faster by a fraction of seconds to seconds. Only you can determine if saving that amount of time is worth it, or if you can perceive time differences on that level. Many people on this forum claim to be unable to detect them. I certainly can.

Also, opening up your brand new iMac would void the warranty, I have to say this is one of the first threads where I have seen that offered as a serious suggestion.

Well, guess what?

From the money he saved by getting the Samsung 850 EVO, he can go buy 32GB of RAM and still have money left over.

And I bet having 32GB RAM instead of 8GB RAM makes a big difference.
 
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Well, guess what?

From the money he saved by getting the Samsung 850 EVO, he can go buy 32GB of RAM and still have money left over.

And I bet having 32GB RAM instead of 8GB RAM makes a big difference.
You're probably right about that. I'm happy for him

I'm just trying to do what's right, the user experience, and speed of this set up are not comparable to the 1tb SSD. They just aren't.

So other potential buyers reading this thread who may be swayed by it need somebody who is actually going to say how good something is when compared to something else. That's how you make an informed decision (and thus spend effectively).

If you listen to most of the posts here you'd just come to the conclusion that all SSDs, ram etc are exactly the same. Which simply isn't true.
 
You're probably right about that. I'm happy for him

I'm just trying to do what's right, the user experience, and speed of this set up are not comparable to the 1tb SSD. They just aren't.

So other potential buyers reading this thread who may be swayed by it need somebody who is actually going to say how good something is when compared to something else. That's how you make an informed decision (and thus spend effectively).

If you listen to most of the posts here you'd just come to the conclusion that all SSDs, ram etc are exactly the same. Which simply isn't true.

So, let's see.

Set up 1:

256 GB (faster) SSD + 1 TB (slower) SSD
32 GB DDR3 1876MHz memory
+ money left over

OR

Set up 2:

1 TB (faster) SSD
8 GB DDR3 1876MHz memory

__

Set up 1 is clearly favorable to Set up 2
 
I would absolutely go with setup 1 if it did not mean modifying Apple's (unfortunately) closed system.
 
If he/she needs to take it in for warranty, he/she can swap the original parts back.
You'll be voiding the warranty, and if there's any issues that you need to take it into Apple' they'll know that it was opened, regardless if you replace the upgraded parts for stock. Re-opening increases the risk of damaging the computer.

While personally, I can be tempted to do this myself, the risk of damaging the computer and voiding the warranty is to high imo. I may take it to an authorized apple dealer (non-apple store) after the warranty have them do it. Of course finding non-apple store authorized apple dealers is harder and harder these days as the Apple store has killed of that market.
 
Hmmmm, you mean instead of the FW? Are the fans noisy?

A little. But I unplugged them. I have a couple of SSD's in there and they don't get hot. I've been running for around 18 months with this config - the fans aren't needed. Silence.
 
PCIe SSD's are just expensive plus Apple tax (they are buying it, having it delivered than installed for you), that's all there is too it.

Sure you can find a SATA SSD much cheaper online but you are comparing two different things. Don't be surprised if two different things have two different prices.
 
I would absolutely go with setup 1 if it did not mean modifying Apple's (unfortunately) closed system.

It's not really modifying. It was always designed so that there could be a hard drive there.

You'll be voiding the warranty, and if there's any issues that you need to take it into Apple' they'll know that it was opened, regardless if you replace the upgraded parts for stock. Re-opening increases the risk of damaging the computer.

While personally, I can be tempted to do this myself, the risk of damaging the computer and voiding the warranty is to high imo. I may take it to an authorized apple dealer (non-apple store) after the warranty have them do it. Of course finding non-apple store authorized apple dealers is harder and harder these days as the Apple store has killed of that market.

I am not sure about other countries, but in the United States, using aftermarket parts does not void the warranty. (Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act)

Of cause, if you broke something in the process (for example, cracked the screen while performing the upgrade) then the warranty is voided.
 
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I am not sure about other countries, but in the United States, this does not void the warranty.
Technically you are correct, but in practice it happens all the time, I was at the apple store a couple of weeks ago, where someone had their screen replaced by a third party and Apple told them their warranty was voided and they wouldn't fix the phone.
 
Technically you are correct, but in practice it happens all the time, I was at the apple store a couple of weeks ago, where someone had their screen replaced by a third party and Apple told them their warranty was voided and they wouldn't fix the phone.

You need to point out the law to them.

I brought in my MacBook Pro with a Data Double installed and an employee refuses the repair.

I show him the law, and he said never mind and accepted it. I got the laptop back repaired a week later.
 
You need to point out the law to them.
The issue is, if apple can connect the unauthorized work to the issues that brought the person in, they you can argue all you want about the law. They'll just say it was damaged by the work and recommend you take it back to where the original work was done.

I'm not willing to risk voiding my warranty by opening up the computer
 
The issue is, if apple can connect the unauthorized work to the issues that brought the person in, they you can argue all you want about the law. They'll just say it was damaged by the work and recommend you take it back to where the original work was done.

I'm not willing to risk voiding my warranty by opening up the computer

Yes, that is true, but Apple has to be able to demonstrate that repairs/parts directly causes the issue.

In my case, Apple cannot demonstrate that having the Data Doubler in the optical slot somehow caused the logic board to fail (because it didn't).
 
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Have you considered going refurb?

I paid less than $3500 for a Late 2015 iMac with the 4GHz i7, 32GB of factory RAM, 1TB factory SSD and the R395X. Saved a significant amount over new and with factory everything it's all under warranty for 3 years (via AppleCare). Could have saved a few hundred more with the 512GB SSD, but it did not enter refurb until I had placed my current order and I ended up needing the extra space anyway for my BootCamp partition.
 
tubeexperience, I am not picking nits here or with you as it's a bit off-topic. As a service and goods provider with supplied warranties and as an Apple product owner, you did violate one of the terms of their limited warranty, under "What is not covered under this Warranty" - part "(g) to an Apple Product that has been modified to alter functionality or capability without the written permission of Apple", which could have led them to exert part "(c) to damage caused by use with another product" - and there's nowhere in that limited warranty that puts a burden of proof on Apple. But, read on as there are other protections afforded you - and Apple...

As to the Act, IMHO you're misrepresenting the intent of the Act - I have to use it daily and there's a "Businessperson's Guide to Federal Warranty Law" portal (https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/businesspersons-guide-federal-warranty-law) that I refer to often, including resolution of disputes - which Apple includes in their Limited Warranty, for claims or disputes. The Act outlines what is required of businesses in relation to providing implied/expressed full/limited warranties, and what is to be contained in and addressed in warranties, nothing more.

The FTC and State rules also address consumer rights, and Apple provides links to consumer's rights in the countries they do business in.

As to your "success", I don't see it that way according to Apple's Limited Warranty - they also include a stated option to repair or replace a part or product at their discretion, and I'm paraphrasing here with this point. Apple could have also required you to restore the original parts prior to an evaluation and servicing - it's in their Limited Warranty. My take is that the rep simply opted to save you the time of restoring the Mac and making a return trip and have a defective part evaluated and - likely - replaced. Cheers!
 
tubeexperience, I am not picking nits here or with you as it's a bit off-topic. As a service and goods provider with supplied warranties and as an Apple product owner, you did violate one of the terms of their limited warranty, under "What is not covered under this Warranty" - part "(g) to an Apple Product that has been modified to alter functionality or capability without the written permission of Apple", which could have led them to exert part "(c) to damage caused by use with another product" - and there's nowhere in that limited warranty that puts a burden of proof on Apple. But, read on as there are other protections afforded you - and Apple...

As to the Act, IMHO you're misrepresenting the intent of the Act - I have to use it daily and there's a "Businessperson's Guide to Federal Warranty Law" portal (https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/businesspersons-guide-federal-warranty-law) that I refer to often, including resolution of disputes - which Apple includes in their Limited Warranty, for claims or disputes. The Act outlines what is required of businesses in relation to providing implied/expressed full/limited warranties, and what is to be contained in and addressed in warranties, nothing more.

The FTC and State rules also address consumer rights, and Apple provides links to consumer's rights in the countries they do business in.

As to your "success", I don't see it that way according to Apple's Limited Warranty - they also include a stated option to repair or replace a part or product at their discretion, and I'm paraphrasing here with this point. Apple could have also required you to restore the original parts prior to an evaluation and servicing - it's in their Limited Warranty. My take is that the rep simply opted to save you the time of restoring the Mac and making a return trip and have a defective part evaluated and - likely - replaced. Cheers!

Apple doesn't get to violate the law.

It said pretty clearly:

In a Consumer Alert issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the agency confirmed that “The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act makes it illegal for companies to void your warranty or deny coverage under the warranty simply because you used an aftermarket part.”

Also, there's no real "modification" going on: you are just putting a hard drive (SSD) into an existing hard drive slot.

It's not like you are cutting a hole into an iMac so that you can fit a hard drive.
 
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"What is not covered under this Warranty" - part "(g) to an Apple Product that has been modified to alter functionality or capability without the written permission of Apple"

There have been many LONG threads on this before and no agreement among some here, but I completely agree with tubeexperience. Nothing is being modified here at all. You are just swapping one drive for another (aftermarket) drive. This is no more modifying than me putting new spark plugs in my car.

I agree this does put you at risk somewhat, as Apple can try and say your crummy drive install job caused say the logic board problem you are now having... but to just automatically say your warranty is void is not consistent with the provisions of the MM warranty act.
 
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And, chiming in again about this, I was writing specifically to the situation described by tubeexperience, however, it's relevant to the issue at hand - I don't see how I could have more clear about this in my earlier post. And, in my earlier post, Apple does not stop anyone from making mods to their products - but they do want a notification in writing if you do - this accommodation abides by the Act's requirement you're alluding to here. Again, no offense intended here, but the "rules" are pretty clear and I follow them, and I never, ever, get any crap from Apple.

I've added RAM to my Mini Servers and made mods to my Mac Pros in my office, but I abided by Apple's Limited Warranty - I notified them of changes, it's in my product's records, and there's absolutely ZERO risk - done, QED. I brought in a Mini Server that was having some issues with a stock hard drive, the Genius saw that I had Kingston RAM in it, looked at my records, and didn't even question me about "where's the stock RAM?". I've made mods to most of my 50-odd Macs in my company, and I tell them of those mods.

Don't notify Apple, be prepared for being informed you're not following the requirements of their Limited Warranty. I never wrote, inferred, or implied "you can't make changes to your Mac", so don't imply that I did, please? I adhere to my responsibilities as a consumer under the Act and State rules, and I never have problems. You didn't notify Apple of the changes you made to your Mac. You can offer that you're entitled to make changes to your Mac, and I will not dispute that - I write contracts for a living, and I'm guessing that you don't. Read Apple's Limited Warranty, which does comply with the Act, and tell me where I'm wrong - there's no rider/text/demand/inference whatsoever that restricts you from installing 3rd-party products, but there are allowances for them to reject your warranty claim and appeal their decision if you don't follow their Limited Warranty. Apple gives it's product owners more "outs" than most companies I deal with. I'll wait...
 
And, in my earlier post, Apple does not stop anyone from making mods to their products - but they do want a notification in writing if you do - this accommodation abides by the Act's requirement you're alluding to here.

I read what you wrote twice here, and are you really trying to say before I can replace the drive in my iMac I need to write a letter to Apple to let them know I did that so as not to void the warranty? That is not at all what the warranty text you quoted says.

If that is what you are trying to say, that is the most unusual interpretation of both the law and Apple's warranty I have ever seen.

The MM warranty act is clear. I can replace parts on my iMac if I want without Apple's permission and it will not violate the warranty. If I screw up my iMac in doing so, that is on me.

I'll wait...

This really does sound like you only want to argue and condescend rather than have a polite discussion.
 
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And, chiming in again about this, I was writing specifically to the situation described by tubeexperience, however, it's relevant to the issue at hand - I don't see how I could have more clear about this in my earlier post. And, in my earlier post, Apple does not stop anyone from making mods to their products - but they do want a notification in writing if you do - this accommodation abides by the Act's requirement you're alluding to here. Again, no offense intended here, but the "rules" are pretty clear and I follow them, and I never, ever, get any crap from Apple.

I've added RAM to my Mini Servers and made mods to my Mac Pros in my office, but I abided by Apple's Limited Warranty - I notified them of changes, it's in my product's records, and there's absolutely ZERO risk - done, QED. I brought in a Mini Server that was having some issues with a stock hard drive, the Genius saw that I had Kingston RAM in it, looked at my records, and didn't even question me about "where's the stock RAM?". I've made mods to most of my 50-odd Macs in my company, and I tell them of those mods.

Don't notify Apple, be prepared for being informed you're not following the requirements of their Limited Warranty. I never wrote, inferred, or implied "you can't make changes to your Mac", so don't imply that I did, please? I adhere to my responsibilities as a consumer under the Act and State rules, and I never have problems. You didn't notify Apple of the changes you made to your Mac. You can offer that you're entitled to make changes to your Mac, and I will not dispute that - I write contracts for a living, and I'm guessing that you don't. Read Apple's Limited Warranty, which does comply with the Act, and tell me where I'm wrong - there's no rider/text/demand/inference whatsoever that restricts you from installing 3rd-party products, but there are allowances for them to reject your warranty claim and appeal their decision if you don't follow their Limited Warranty. Apple gives it's product owners more "outs" than most companies I deal with. I'll wait...

Well, I am listening.

Suppose (for the sake of the argument) that I just bought a 27-inch iMac and want to put in my Samsung 850 EVO SSD in it, how should I go about notifying Apple and get "written permission from Apple"?

Who gives the "approval"?

And what if Apple said "no"? Now, what?
 
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