Rip Those Macs Open

[Satrap]

People sell this Apple SSD from MacBook Pro Retina at eBay. You can find there some. But their are apple SSD, not faster as Build in SSD, and Price will be almost Same as if you buy it in Apple store

 

[zarzonis]

Rip Those Macs Open

Hi. I'd like to put a blade SSD in my 27" Late-2012 iMac but keep the standard 1TB hard drive in there too.

Any ideas where I can get hold of a compatible blade SSD? What exactly am I searching for? I searched for Apple Blade SSD amongst other things but can't seem to find anything.

In my opinion, buy a blade SSD adapter from maxupgrades and then install any standard SSD you want...
Faster,cheaper and potential of upgrading the SSD without to disassemble the whole iMac second time... Just remove the Display...

 

[Saturnine]

In my opinion, buy a blade SSD adapter from maxupgrades and then install any standard SSD you want...
Faster,cheaper and potential of upgrading the SSD without to disassemble the whole iMac second time... Just remove the Display...

Thanks for the advice.

I have to admit, I returned my first iMac (3.2GHz i5, 1TB HDD and 675MX) and went for the high-end model (3.4GHz i7, 1TB Fusion and 680MX.) I'm very happy with my decision as it only cost around £200 more, after discounts.

--

On another note, has anybody read the instructions on how to use the terminal to create your own Fusion drive? I don't understand how the system knows which physical disk is to be given priority (e.g. which one is the SSD.) Is there something programmed into CoreStorage so that 'it just knows?'

 

[hfg]

Thanks for the advice.

I have to admit, I returned my first iMac (3.2GHz i5, 1TB HDD and 675MX) and went for the high-end model (3.4GHz i7, 1TB Fusion and 680MX.) I'm very happy with my decision as it only cost around £200 more, after discounts.

--

On another note, has anybody read the instructions on how to use the terminal to create your own Fusion drive? I don't understand how the system knows which physical disk is to be given priority (e.g. which one is the SSD.) Is there something programmed into CoreStorage so that 'it just knows?'

Ideally, you should list the SSD first, followed by the hard disk(s). However, apparently the CoreStorage reads the SMART status of the drive to attempt to determine which is the faster and slower drives to connect them properly.

 

[zarzonis]

Rip Those Macs Open

Thanks for the advice.

I have to admit, I returned my first iMac (3.2GHz i5, 1TB HDD and 675MX) and went for the high-end model (3.4GHz i7, 1TB Fusion and 680MX.) I'm very happy with my decision as it only cost around £200 more, after discounts.

--

On another note, has anybody read the instructions on how to use the terminal to create your own Fusion drive? I don't understand how the system knows which physical disk is to be given priority (e.g. which one is the SSD.) Is there something programmed into CoreStorage so that 'it just knows?'

If it costs only 200£ for upgrades on CPU, GPU and Fusion Drive, then you made the right choice. In this price you would bought only a 256GB SSD and without even the Blade SSD adapter. Hope to be satisfied with your new iMac...
Have a nice day!

 

[kucyk]

Have anyone got the Single SSD Drives kit for iMac 27 inch 2012 Models with SATA Blade SSD Module from MaxUpgrades? Does it work?

 

[starscript]

I got a refurbished 27" 3.4 with 1TB fusion and 680MX. I maxed out the ram myself, and after turning on to make sure it booted, etc, I took the screen off and added a Samsung 840 instead of the 1TB physical drive. I disabled the Fusion through terminal to use the 128 Blade SSD as my boot drive.

Put the screen back on, turn on, everything works great.

I add my Thunderbolt display to the thunderbolt port, it works great.

I plug my WD Thunderbolt Duo 6TB drive into the iMacs other TB port and nothing. It doesnt even light up. I plug it into the Thunderbolt displays port and it works perfectly, at the end of the daisy chain.

I tried plugging the TB drive into to the port on my iMac that successfully accepted the thunderbolt display > Thunderbolt drive chain, and it did not work.

Very confused, not sure why the TB port on my imac will accept the drive at only when at the end of a chain?

Anyone encounter this before?

Could be a power management issue? is the WD getting it's power from the TB connection or an independent power supply?

 

[starscript]

I do not know, you have to buy it to find out.
https://www.maxupgrades.com/istore/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=402

If your using a Seagate barracuda 3TB it will use around 10w's of power,

If you'r iMac does not have a dedicated high end GPU I would assume their is 10 watts in the PSU. on the other hand if you have maxed out your specs in your iMac it would not surprise me if the PSU apple are using is within 10w of the max load.

so if you have the standard GPU then I would say worth a shot

 

[zarzonis]

Rip Those Macs Open

If your using a Seagate barracuda 3TB it will use around 10w's of power,

If you'r iMac does not have a dedicated high end GPU I would assume their is 10 watts in the PSU. on the other hand if you have maxed out your specs in your iMac it would not surprise me if the PSU apple are using is within 10w of the max load.

so if you have the standard GPU then I would say worth a shot

You are right about that but maybe it would be very tight limit for Apple. In case someone has his iMac maxed out, has a 3TB HDD and uses
Many high powered external USB devices maybe the PSU power was not enough. You can definitely add a 3TB HDD on iMac with maxed out without any problem because Apple offers this option. How many watts does a SSD uses? Less than 2 watts.

 

[starscript]

You are right about that but maybe it would be very tight limit for Apple. In case someone has his iMac maxed out, has a 3TB HDD and uses
Many high powered external USB devices maybe the PSU power was not enough. You can definitely add a 3TB HDD on iMac with maxed out without any problem because Apple offers this option. How many watts does a SSD uses? Less than 2 watts.

You are completely correct about the power usage of a SSD, the samsung 840 is rated at .15 W probably more like 1 or 2 w depending on the vender this might vary I have read about some SSD using as much power as a HDD but these SSD's your not going to find in any consumer grade computer.

And I would not worry about drawing to much current off the 12V rail as i'm currently running a 4 disk raid using 3Tb seagate barracuda off ummm extremely cheap PSU and so far it's working as I can pray for it not to overload .

I will say the biggest problem you may encounter using a SSD and HDD is finding a flat surface to velcro your SSD with, I personally looped back the tape I used to seal my mac up. It's a very bogged job but work with the tools you have to hand

 

[kucyk]

I got the SSD drive installed yesterday. I didn't even bother to remove the stock HDD drive. Plenty of room inside.

Also, I got those http://www.ebay.es/itm/271182033956...sid=p3984.m1439.l2649&clk_rvr_id=480901411344 and they are 100% genuine.

 

[zarzonis]

I got the SSD drive installed yesterday. I didn't even bother to remove the stock HDD drive. Plenty of room inside.

Image

Also, I got those http://www.ebay.es/itm/271182033956...sid=p3984.m1439.l2649&clk_rvr_id=480901411344 and they are 100% genuine.

Kucyk, did you bought the maxupgrade blade ssd adapter?
Did you used a "Y" Connector in order to give power to both SSD and HDD from the stock power cable? Any problem to fit the SSD in the iMac? What did you use to stick the SSD in?
Sorry for the many questions...

 

[kucyk]

Kucyk, did you bought the maxupgrade blade ssd adapter?
Did you used a "Y" Connector in order to give power to both SSD and HDD from the stock power cable? Any problem to fit the SSD in the iMac? What did you use to stick the SSD in?
Sorry for the many questions...

No I haven't, I plan to do it later this year and put another SSD, I just disconnected the HDD and connected SDD, didn't bother to stick it, it's just there between the back cover and the screen

 

[zarzonis]

Rip Those Macs Open

Thank you for your answer. Yes you just put the SSD and disconnected the HDD. I didn't give attention at this in the picture.
When you move the iMac the SSD move too or not? Because you sent you didn't stick it.

 

[timothevs]

Pardon me if this has already been answered. But has anyone tried the MaxUpgrade SSD+HDD kit? I am rather curious.

 

[DrPatryk]

I did

I did ... but I have a problem now ..
I should have 16gb ram and only 8GB shows up
And also I am not sure if I connected the 4 antennas in order .... any one has a picture of how the antennas should be connected ?

ps. I have upgraded the CPU to i7-3770K Unlocked one and added the MaxUpgrade SSD+HDD kit but if you look closely the bracket needs to be redesign a little... but it fits

Some pictures:
https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A5G4TcsmGn1N3j

 

[zarzonis]

Rip Those Macs Open

I did ... but I have a problem now ..
I should have 16gb ram and only 8GB shows up
And also I am not sure if I connected the 4 antennas in order .... any one has a picture of how the antennas should be connected ?

ps. I have upgraded the CPU to i7-3770K Unlocked one and added the MaxUpgrade SSD+HDD kit but if you look closely the bracket needs to be redesign a little... but it fits

Some pictures:
https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A5G4TcsmGn1N3j

About Ram problem, maybe you damaged the ram stick or the Ram slots. Have you any other laptop to try them? Or do you have another ram to try to the iMac?
One question about 3770k. This CPU is designed to overclock it. Is it possible to do this on an iMac?
About antennas check zuri's video. You'll probably get your answer...

http://vimeo.com/63435766

 

[kucyk]

Thank you for your answer. Yes you just put the SSD and disconnected the HDD. I didn't give attention at this in the picture.
When you move the iMac the SSD move too or not? Because you sent you didn't stick it.

It doesn't move, it fits between the cover and the screen ideally.

 

[zarzonis]

It doesn't move, it fits between the cover and the screen ideally.

Thanks for the info my friend... Probably that's what I'll do... No adhesive at all and in case I need to take the iMac to an Apple Store for repair, just remove the SSD and put the cables back to the HDD...

 

[kucyk]

Thanks for the info my friend... Probably that's what I'll do... No adhesive at all and in case I need to take the iMac to an Apple Store for repair, just remove the SSD and put the cables back to the HDD...

Exactly, I didn't even stick the screen back to the cover. I got the Genuine Apple Tape Kit from Ebay, I stick those strips to the cover, but I decided not to "activate" them on the screen side.

The original bottom adhesive strip is still there because I haven't removed the screen entirely, also the screen fits very tightly and as long as you don't move your iMac, you will be fine with putting a bit of adhesive tape in the top, so you don't have to fight with those adhesive strips again if you need to make a small change inside.

 

[zarzonis]

Exactly, I didn't even stick the screen back to the cover. I got the Genuine Apple Tape Kit from Ebay, I stick those strips to the cover, but I decided not to "activate" them on the screen side.

The original bottom adhesive strip is still there because I haven't removed the screen entirely, also the screen fits very tightly and as long as you don't move your iMac, you will be fine with putting a bit of adhesive tape in the top, so you don't have to fight with those adhesive strips again if you need to make a small change inside.

In case I accidentally move the iMac a little bit I won't have problem with the screen, right?

 

[kucyk]

In case I accidentally move the iMac a little bit I won't have problem with the screen, right?

No I meant moving like laptop from one place to another.

 

[zarzonis]

Rip Those Macs Open

No I meant moving like laptop from one place to another.

That's not going to happen. It is stable on an office table. So right now this is the best solution and the most practical if you need to do changes inside...

 

[theaero]

Where does the SSD recieve power from in the maxupgrades kit?

 

[zarzonis]

Where does the SSD recieve power from in the maxupgrades kit?

I think you use a Y power adapter at the stock power cable that goes to the stock HDD. Then the one cable from the Y adapter goes to the HDD and the other to the SSD... So both SSD and HDD from one power cable...