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Rip Those Macs Open

Mitch619 said:
I'm seriously contemplating opening my 21.5

I'm looking at the samsung 500gb 840 series (non pro)

I've opened every Macbook pro I've owned since 2006, so I have experience repairing various things. I'll admit I never even thought about opening my 2012 iMac, but now it actually seems easier to open than replacing an iphone 4 screen.

How has the new adhesive worked for you all? does the screen sit flush like it used to? Is it slightly off?
Click to expand...

Good question...

I have opened and tinkered macbook, macbook pro 15", 17", iMac 24", imac 2010 27".

This seems easier, all things considered. Just the added inconvenience of needing to purchase new tape. The guts layout looks much more accessible than the 2010 27"...
 
iMac: Fusion Drive to SATA

Saw this on a French Website...

http://www.macbidouille.com/news/20...es-classiques-sur-le-port-du-ssd-fusion-drive

iMac_2012.jpg


I think will do it, this will allow a 2.5 inch drive instead of flash drive.'

lot of comments there too.
 
damn really tempting to rip my iMac 27" (late 2012) but I still have no guts to do that, maybe I just will take safe way using external SSD adapter via thunderbolt to achieve great performance on my iMac, since there are no apple store in my country only apple premium seller
 
Hi everyone,

i just ordered the samsung 840 serie SSD 250gb.

When i received all the stuff, i will upload pictures and videos about the installation and benchmarks.


I have the iMac 21,5 late 2012 with the 650M.
 
CyriliMac said:
Hi everyone,

i just ordered the samsung 840 serie SSD 250gb.

When i received all the stuff, i will upload pictures and videos about the installation and benchmarks.


I have the iMac 21,5 late 2012 with the 650M.
Click to expand...

Looking forward to hear from you, I assume you are going to replace the HDD and not considering the Maxupgrades adapter, right?
 
yes exactly i will replace the HDD 1To (5400 rpm) to the Samsung 840 SSD.

And the 21,5 iMac doesn't need any SSD support because they got the same size (hdd & ssd).

Here is the 21,5
12-iMac-2012.jpg.jpg
 
Hey guys, nice thread with tons of good information!

I read it's possible to ugrade to i7 3770 CPU, but how is about XEON? Did anyone tried or read somthing about it? I have here an E3-1230V2 and as I want anyway replace HDD with SSD, thought maybe to put this CPU inside.
 
I've a question about the Samsung 840 serie.

Should I set up the SSD on windows before replace it into the iMac or not ?
 
For some SSD you cannot Update Firmware in Mac, in this Case you need to do it on Windows PC. Crucial and Samsung should be possible to update. Maybe you will need external cd/dvd drive to boot and Upgrade.
 
Satrap said:
For some SSD you cannot Update Firmware in Mac, in this Case you need to do it on Windows PC. Crucial and Samsung should be possible to update. Maybe you will need external cd/dvd drive to boot and Upgrade.
Click to expand...


That what i explained lol....

Should I need to update the firmware on windows before replace it or not
 
Depends on which FW is on your SSD. I didnt Upgrade anything on my 256gb 840 Pro and its working perfect in my Mac mini Late 2012
 
Hi everyone, my first post here.
Till now i was planning to buy a hackintosh. But now as i saw this amazing thread, i'm thinking of buying a real iMac 27. I'll buy the model with the i5 3470 CPU and i'll add the 680MX GPU. Apart from the GPU everything else is the same with the basic model. I wanted to add the fusion drive but right now i don't have the money. But in the next 1 year i'll definately add an SSD(Blade SSD) and also keep the stock 1TB HDD. The SSD will be for the OS and the apps and the HDD only for storage. However i have some questions and i would be grateful to hear an answer.

1) On the first 5 pages i saw a picture with a void warranty sticker on a screw. In order to add the sword SSD, must i brake this sticker or not? I don't want to lose my warranty.
If yes, in order to replace the the stock HDD with a casual SSD(not Blade, just a 2.5") must i brake this sticker or not? I'm asking because i didn't understand where this sticker is.

2) Let's say that i added an blade SSD and also have the stock HDD. Can i choose to boot for the sword SSD by default and leave the HDD only as storage?

3) Maybe in 2 years and if the 3470 lucks of power for my need, i'll change the CPU with a 3770. This will void my warranty, right?

4) Can i replace the HDD with another one of 3TB with 7200rpm?

5) One last question here. In order to install the blade SSD which tools do i need? Please suggest me a blade SSD with 128GB that will fit into the iMac.

Thank you in advance, i hope to have a nice day all of you. I'm looking forward to your answers.
 
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zarzonis said:
1) On the first 5 pages i saw a picture with a void warranty sticker on a screw. In order to add the sword SSD, must i brake this sticker or not? I don't want to lose my warranty.
If yes, in order to replace the the stock HDD with a casual SSD(not Blade, just a 2.5") must i brake this sticker or not? I'm asking because i didn't understand where this sticker is.

2) Let's say that i added an blade SSD and also have the stock HDD. Can i choose to boot for the sword SSD by default and leave the HDD only as storage?

3) Maybe in 2 years and if the 3470 lucks of power for my need, i'll change the CPU with a 3770. This will void my warranty, right?

4) Can i replace the HDD with another one of 3TB with 7200rpm?

5) One last question here. In order to install the blade SSD which tools do i need? Please suggest me a blade SSD with 128GB that will fit into the iMac.

Thank you in advance, i hope to have a nice day all of you. I'm looking forward to your answers.
Click to expand...

1) Sticker is on One of screws for CPU cooler. So for replacing HDD or adding SSD you dont Need to Touch it. Regarding warranty Apple says, only authorized technicians are allowed to open the devices, theoretically you will loose warranty.

2) I think Mac will try to make FD out of both devices. Surely there is a way around but I let others speak about this :)

3) If you replace CPU it will definitely void warranty as you have to break the seal.

4) yes, I did it for my iMac 2011, but fan was going to be loud as hell.

5) I think you can find some of 128gb in used condition on eBay or on some forums like here. R.OG was going to sell his 128gb here :) everything else as new or used I saw for really high prices starting from 240gb for example from OWC or used blade ssd from retina MBP
 
Satrap said:
1) Sticker is on One of screws for CPU cooler. So for replacing HDD or adding SSD you dont Need to Touch it. Regarding warranty Apple says, only authorized technicians are allowed to open the devices, theoretically you will loose warranty.

2) I think Mac will try to make FD out of both devices. Surely there is a way around but I let others speak about this :)

3) If you replace CPU it will definitely void warranty as you have to break the seal.

4) yes, I did it for my iMac 2011, but fan was going to be loud as hell.

5) I think you can find some of 128gb in used condition on eBay or on some forums like here. R.OG was going to sell his 128gb here :) everything else as new or used I saw for really high prices starting from 240gb for example from OWC or used blade ssd from retina MBP
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for your reply... You really helped me a lot... About the warranty. If I open the iMac to add the blade SSD and after that somewhen I need to go the iMac for repair, how will they understand and prove that I opened it?
About the 3tb drive. The fan will spin faster due to the 7200rpm or the high capacity?
 
I think they will not find out if you make everything carefully :) But sometimes they just can see it :)

Regarding HDD, it's not because of bigger capacity or 7200rpm. I assume they have kinda apple modified firmware on the drives they put in to iMacs. As I replaced my HDD in 2011 iMac the fan was going to spin at 100% all the time, after placing the old one (Seagate 1TB, 7200rpm) which was shipped with iMac fan was running silent again
 
Satrap said:
I think they will not find out if you make everything carefully :) But sometimes they just can see it :)

Regarding HDD, it's not because of bigger capacity or 7200rpm. I assume they have kinda apple modified firmware on the drives they put in to iMacs. As I replaced my HDD in 2011 iMac the fan was going to spin at 100% all the time, after placing the old one (Seagate 1TB, 7200rpm) which was shipped with iMac fan was running silent again
Click to expand...
Does the same thing happen if I install just a regular SSD? Or this happened only with hdds?
One last question. If I choose to install only an SSD does it matter which brand and model I choose or not? I'm thinking of buying the OCZ vector...
 
maziboss said:
Please confirm my my thought.
I have a new iMac 27" i5. I wanna buy this drive from OWC company:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/Aura_Pro_Retina_2012 and put it to blank slot on motherboard. This is SSD for MacBook Pro Retina.
How this SSD will work with the iMac 27"?
We can found here a few different opinion and I have to be sure before i buy it.
Thank You in advance.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you need to buy a Macbook Pro RETINA SSD. Apple use same SSD in Macbook Pro Retina and iMac 2012, so this from OWC will work. As opinion you can try to buy such blade SSD on ebay as used item. But price is pretty much the same.

There are 2 different blade SSD types apple is/was using. One is long and small (for Macbook Air 2011 for example) another one, new one is shorter but also wider. This one is for retina MBP. so you need this one! iMac 2012 has this slot on the motherboard as well.

zarzonis said:
Does the same thing happen if I install just a regular SSD? Or this happened only with hdds?
Click to expand...
not sure 100%, I replaced HDD with SSD in my mac mini and it's still quiet.

zarzonis said:
One last question. If I choose to install only an SSD does it matter which brand and model I choose or not? I'm thinking of buying the OCZ vector...
Click to expand...

I try not to use OCZ in the last time. I didnt had any very bad experience with it, but ... just dont like them anymore. I Also read alot of negative reports about OCZ in the last time.
I used or am still using Crucial M4, Samsung 830 and 840 PRO SSDs for my Macs.

In Windows PCs I still use OCZ and Sandisk, but they will be replaced soon :)
 
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Rip Those Macs Open

Satrap said:
Yeah, you need to buy a Macbook Pro RETINA SSD. Apple use same SSD in Macbook Pro Retina and iMac 2012, so this from OWC will work. As opinion you can try to buy such blade SSD on ebay as used item. But price is pretty much the same.

There are 2 different blade SSD types apple is/was using. One is long and small (for Macbook Air 2011 for example) another one, new one is shorter but also wider. This one is for retina MBP. so you need this one! iMac 2012 has this slot on the motherboard as well.


not sure 100%, I replaced HDD with SSD in my mac mini and it's still quiet.



I try not to use OCZ in the last time. I didnt had any very bad experience with it, but ... just dont like them anymore. I Also read alot of negative reports about OCZ in the last time.
I used or am still using Crucial M4, Samsung 830 and 840 PRO SSDs for my Macs.

In Windows PCs I still use OCZ and Sandisk, but they will be replaced soon :)
Click to expand...

Thank you for your very helpful informations. I managed to have another question...:p
In case I put a 840 pro or a vector and in the future I must send the iMac for repair will I must reinstall the stock HDD or it doesn't matter?
 
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To be honest, I would put the stock HDD back inside iMac. Otherwise they might have questions. At least I would ask how comes that insiders a third party hardware and who put it inside :)
 
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