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Late 2012 iMac and an external SSD boot drive?

Release

Release

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 28, 2012
142
198
My machine is dying. It's probably the 1TB Fusion drive going bad but its an old machine and I'm already planning on upgrading once (if) Apple announces something new. In the meantime, the machine is hanging with beachballs ever few minutes and its driving me nuts.

Can I use a Samsung T5 external and have it make any difference at all? The iMac only has USB-2, Firewire 800 and TB-2 ports so I know any benefits of an SSD is essentially wiped out but will this be enough to hold me over until I can get a new one? I tried using an external carbon copy clone with a 7200HD and its usable, but barely.

I don't really want to put in internal SSD in there and spend 2 or 3 hundred bucks just to find out they're dropping a new machine in another month. Another idea is to get a Thunderbolt hub but again, thats a few hundred bucks I'd rather not spend.

So, does buying the T35 make any sense at all or is is basically the same as a standard HD with the old USB connections?

Any other suggestions on how to hold me over?
 
If it only has USB2 it is a 2011 model. When using that model I connected a Silicon Power TB drive externally, cloned the operating system using SuperDuper, chose this as the boot drive in System Preferences > Startup Disk by highlighting (Clicking). It worked great.

Regarding the new model Apple keep this very close to the chest so it is a matter of speculation.
 
Last edited:
OP wrote:
"My machine is dying. It's probably the 1TB Fusion drive going bad"

Not so fast.
(I'm old, I never move fast!)

What happens when you try to boot from the fusion drive?

When you boot from the EXTERNAL drive, can you "see" the fusion drive at all?

If so, can you copy stuff from it?

I'm wondering if the HDD portion of the fusion drive is failing, but the SSD portion is still ok?

It -might- be possible to "break apart" (de-fuse) the fusion drive into TWO SEPARATE DRIVES.
Then you might erase and restore the SSD portion, and if the HDD portion has problems, just leave it "dead in place"

Then, you can boot from the internal SSD -- it should boot very fast once it's been de-fused.
It's not large (I believe it's 128gb), but you can use your EXTERNAL drive for the things that "don't need speed" (movies, music pictures).

Don't write it off as "dead" until you've taken all available steps to "revive" it!
 
I have no idea why I thought the 2012 model only had USB 2. Turn out its actually 3 and the Samsung T5 external SSD I just bought is MUCH faster than what I was using. Still not sure if the fusion drive is going or not but I'm back up to speed and I've bought some more time with the machine! Yay me.
 
When you boot from the external SSD, can you still "see" the fusion drive?
Does it mount up on the desktop?
 
Yea, it shows up. It still works, it just hangs occasionally. I've run tests on it and everything says it's OK but the slowdowns had me too worried. This way I know I'll still be able to work in case it goes down.
 
RE:
"Yea, it shows up. It still works, it just hangs occasionally."

What I'd do:
1. When it's mounted, get whatever you wish to keep OFF OF it.
2. Use Disk Utility to erase it. Since it's a fusion drive, DU may either erase it "as separate volumes" (SSD and HDD), or it might erase the fusion drive "as a fusion drive" (I've never had one with which to experiment).
3. I'd suggest "breaking apart" the fusion drive. If the SSD portion still tests ok, I'd set that up to be the boot drive (Apple's built in SSDs are faster than SSDs connected via USB3).
4. If the HDD exhibits problems, I'd just "leave it dead, in place". And use external storage.
 
Release said:
My machine is dying. It's probably the 1TB Fusion drive going bad but its an old machine and I'm already planning on upgrading once (if) Apple announces something new. In the meantime, the machine is hanging with beachballs ever few minutes and its driving me nuts.

Can I use a Samsung T5 external and have it make any difference at all? The iMac only has USB-2, Firewire 800 and TB-2 ports so I know any benefits of an SSD is essentially wiped out but will this be enough to hold me over until I can get a new one? I tried using an external carbon copy clone with a 7200HD and its usable, but barely.

I don't really want to put in internal SSD in there and spend 2 or 3 hundred bucks just to find out they're dropping a new machine in another month. Another idea is to get a Thunderbolt hub but again, thats a few hundred bucks I'd rather not spend.

So, does buying the T35 make any sense at all or is is basically the same as a standard HD with the old USB connections?

Any other suggestions on how to hold me over?
Click to expand...
I have a late 2012 iMac...do know if it's the WD or Seagate as the spinning hard drive?
 
No idea. I bought the external SSD to keep it running long enough to get a new one.... if Apple ever announces it. I thought about opening it up and replacing the Fusion drive with an internal SSD but I'm far from delicate and I know I'd screw it up somehow. Graceful is not one of my strengths. LOL!
 
Also have an 2012... Are you sure about the Thuderbolt 2? I was sure it was TBolt 1....

My SSD portion of the fusion drive is going...multiple hardware tests show that's the problem, not the HDD part...I've been exploring options, but one thing I'm having trouble finding is what kind of drive is in the SSD slot and what can be put in to replace it...so if anyone in this thread knows, help a beagle out :)
 
Beagle wrote in #11 above:
"My SSD portion of the fusion drive is going...multiple hardware tests show that's the problem, not the HDD part...I've been exploring options, but one thing I'm having trouble finding is what kind of drive is in the SSD slot and what can be put in to replace it...so if anyone in this thread knows, help a beagle out"

My advice to you would be the same as to the OP:
Get a USB3 EXTERNAL SSD, plug it in, and set it up to become the boot drive.
You DON'T need to spend much money.
For example, I just saw this at dealnews.com today:
240gb SSD for $40 @ newegg:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...D=552179&SID=dbVzQtaGl3b0tNcXdBQWNEQDg5MEFBQU
(no financial interest and sorry for the long URL)

Then get a $13 USB3/SATA adapter dongle like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-Inch-Adapter-Optimized-EC-SS31/dp/B017NIDXF0

Will plug right in, and for $53 you've "revived" the iMac enough to last for a couple more years, at the very least.

Once you have the iMac up-and-running using the external SSD, you can "attack" the internal fusion drive.
I would "split it" into standalone SSD and HDD portions.
I would then erase and test both portions.
If the SSD has failed, I would just leave it "dead, in place", and continue to use the internal HDD for extra storage. I would also put a copy of the OS onto it -- you always always ALWAYS want "a SECOND bootable-to-the-finder copy of the OS" within reach.

One more advantage of doing this:
Eventually, you'll want another Mac.
When that time comes, just unplug the boot SSD, and take it to your new Mac, and "repurpose it". Easy as it gets.
 
Last edited:
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Thanks for the input....Did find this link last night which got into details about the blade replacement (you need an adapter cuz it's an mSATA drive which special apple smaller than normal pins).
https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/239719/imac-27-late-2012-ssd-upgrade

I do know for sure it's the SDD portion (I've already done splitting the fusion, testing each sperately etc..I think I even had the apple store check iirc, but being out of warranty, them replacing it wasn't cost effective...I'm concidering a local certified shop to do a replacement install with a new bigger ssd, but still likely not worth it.)

Have some thoughts on putting a SDD in where the HDD is, but have also concidered the external idea.
 
Fishrrman said:
Beagle wrote in #11 above:
"My SSD portion of the fusion drive is going...multiple hardware tests show that's the problem, not the HDD part...I've been exploring options, but one thing I'm having trouble finding is what kind of drive is in the SSD slot and what can be put in to replace it...so if anyone in this thread knows, help a beagle out"

My advice to you would be the same as to the OP:
Get a USB3 EXTERNAL SSD, plug it in, and set it up to become the boot drive.
You DON'T need to spend much money.
For example, I just saw this at dealnews.com today:
240gb SSD for $40 @ newegg:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...D=552179&SID=dbVzQtaGl3b0tNcXdBQWNEQDg5MEFBQU
(no financial interest and sorry for the long URL)
Click to expand...


Comments on Adata drives at newegg and amazon are making me gunshy on them, despite some good deals....
As i'm researching drives, a friend suggest a hybrid drive, like the seagate Firecuda
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...beb-4819111bef9a&pf_rd_r=RE8P2DJG90J70DCNPNN5

As it's what's basiclly in the computer now, right? the fusion drive? should work pretty well?
Anyone have experience with these?

(I'm a bit concerned with pure SSD and page writes/scratchdisk as i do a lot of graphics work which often hits that)
 
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Fishrrman said:
Beagle wrote in #11 above:
"My SSD portion of the fusion drive is going...multiple hardware tests show that's the problem, not the HDD part...I've been exploring options, but one thing I'm having trouble finding is what kind of drive is in the SSD slot and what can be put in to replace it...so if anyone in this thread knows, help a beagle out"

My advice to you would be the same as to the OP:
Get a USB3 EXTERNAL SSD, plug it in, and set it up to become the boot drive.
You DON'T need to spend much money.
For example, I just saw this at dealnews.com today:
240gb SSD for $40 @ newegg:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...D=552179&SID=dbVzQtaGl3b0tNcXdBQWNEQDg5MEFBQU
(no financial interest and sorry for the long URL)

Then get a $13 USB3/SATA adapter dongle like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-Inch-Adapter-Optimized-EC-SS31/dp/B017NIDXF0

Will plug right in, and for $53 you've "revived" the iMac enough to last for a couple more years, at the very least.

Once you have the iMac up-and-running using the external SSD, you can "attack" the internal fusion drive.
I would "split it" into standalone SSD and HDD portions.
I would then erase and test both portions.
If the SSD has failed, I would just leave it "dead, in place", and continue to use the internal HDD for extra storage. I would also put a copy of the OS onto it -- you always always ALWAYS want "a SECOND bootable-to-the-finder copy of the OS" within reach.

One more advantage of doing this:
Eventually, you'll want another Mac.
When that time comes, just unplug the boot SSD, and take it to your new Mac, and "repurpose it". Easy as it gets.
Click to expand...
What is the difference in throughput between USB3 vs TB? I had always understood TB to be faster, but I could be totally wrong. I have my Imac running on external ssd through TB.

Thanks.
 
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"As i'm researching drives, a friend suggest a hybrid drive, like the seagate Firecuda"

My opinion only follows:
STAY AWAY from these.
Get a REAL SSD.

"... that is all..."
 
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Avoid Hybrid and Fusion like the plague!

In real terms TB is no quicker than USB3. I have two backup drives cloned via SuperDuper, one TB and the second USB3, both Kingston Now 300 drives. Smart Update clones to each in less than one second difference!
 
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Fishrrman said:
Beagle wrote in #11 above:


My advice to you would be the same as to the OP:
Get a USB3 EXTERNAL SSD, plug it in, and set it up to become the boot drive.
You DON'T need to spend much money.
For example, I just saw this at dealnews.com today:
240gb SSD for $40 @ newegg:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...D=552179&SID=dbVzQtaGl3b0tNcXdBQWNEQDg5MEFBQU
(no financial interest and sorry for the long URL)

Then get a $13 USB3/SATA adapter dongle like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-Inch-Adapter-Optimized-EC-SS31/dp/B017NIDXF0

Will plug right in, and for $53 you've "revived" the iMac enough to last for a couple more years, at the very least.

Once you have the iMac up-and-running using the external SSD, you can "attack" the internal fusion drive.
I would "split it" into standalone SSD and HDD portions.
I would then erase and test both portions.
If the SSD has failed, I would just leave it "dead, in place", and continue to use the internal HDD for extra storage. I would also put a copy of the OS onto it -- you always always ALWAYS want "a SECOND bootable-to-the-finder copy of the OS" within reach.

One more advantage of doing this:
Eventually, you'll want another Mac.
When that time comes, just unplug the boot SSD, and take it to your new Mac, and "repurpose it". Easy as it gets.
Click to expand...

This just made my life so much better. Thanks!
 
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