SSD conversion shopping list

[DanielCoffey]

I am about to convert my non-AppleCare mid-2007 iMac (24", 2.8GHz c2d, 4Gb, 500GB WDC HDD) over to a single internal SSD and I wanted to firm up my shopping list and ask a few installation questions.

I will be shopping at e-shops in the UK. I normally use Scan.co.uk but am not averse to shopping around.

I will be replacing the existing internal 3.5" HDD. I am most likely to fit an OCZ 120Gb Vertex2E since my current HDD only contains 60Gb and the biggest chunk of that is WoW.

The four main questions I have are...

1. Which type of 2.5" to 3.5" adaptor to buy?

2. How do you handle the problem of the reach of the existing SATA/power cable? What part do I need to order so that I can fit the SSD drive in its adaptor properly and still deal with the cable issue.

3. Is there a thermal sensor on/in the old HDD ? What do I need to do to it to transfer it to the SSD or what do I have to replace it with? How susceptible to damage is it?

4. Where can I source the screen suction cups and necessary tools in the UK? T10 or something is it?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Hellhammer]

Just get a 3.5" SSD straightaway so you won't need any adapters or stuff like that.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-060-OC&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=1427

 

[DanielCoffey]

You, sir, are a genius!

Any issues likely with the temperature sensor by the way?

 

[zerostar]

I would get the 2.5" Vertex 2, that includes the 2.5" to 3.5" adapter in the box... (as you can see here, check the pics: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227551) that way if you ever want to move the drive to a laptop down the road (exactly what I did) you will have the option...

For me the cables fit just fine so no adapters/extenders needed and I also had a 24" iMac 2.8 Same as yours.

As far as the sensor, you will find it is held on with foam/tape stuff and you can just adhere it to a good (out of the way) spot on the SSD and just use a little more tape to secure it (what I did) but the sSD stays so cool it's barely even registered... (Looks like this: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...JCLCg&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=49&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0)

I got suction cups at a local "drug" mini-mart type store, they have nice plastic hooks on them perfect for pulling with my fingers... Also for my sisters I used a nice sturdy one off her GPS unit for the car, stuck it right in the middle/top and it pulled the screen off no problem... My friend used one of those plastic tools to pry the screen up, I don't know how safe that is tho.


As for the Torx you can get a T10 on ebay very cheap, here is a nice lil set (and comes with tamper proof tool, good to have : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TORX-SCREWDRI...ssories_RL&hash=item5880d3f854#ht_5645wt_1093

I think you need a couple diff. torx sizes anyway, I believe I did...