SSD in Mac Mini MC239 (2009) reccomendations

[volodymyrqa]

Hi guys, i would like to receive some recommendations.

Please, help me to find proper SSD drive for my mac mini mc239.
Will 2.5" SSD fit ? Maybe someone can recommend good and reliable SSD?

My main concern with hdd that i can hear how it works. Hope that after installation of SSD i will finally receive fully quiet room

my mini looks this way:

Thanks

 

[lilsoccakid74]

A standard 2.5" SSD fits in the 2010 Mini.

You can look at places like iFixit for instructions on replacing the HDD with a HDD/SSD.

or google it.

 

[mdgm]

A standard 2.5" SSD fits in the 2010 Mini.

volodymrqa has a 2009 Mini. A standard 2.5" SSD will fit in that.

Intel tends to get recommend for reliability.

OWC and OCZ are other options.

Like the 2010 Mini, the 2009 SSD has SATA II ports, so whilst it will benefit from some improvements in SATA III SSDs, it won't see as big a benefit as if it had SATA III ports.

Instructions for replacing a HDD with a SSD are the same as for replacing a HDD with a HDD (except that the replacement disk is a SSD).

You might wish to upgrade your RAM to 8GB at the same time.

 

[thogin]

My understanding is that Lion will have much better support for a variety of SSD hardware. If you can't wait for Lion, then I'd go with an OWC SSD. These drives supposedly have advanced garbage collection and get rave reviews from Mac users. OWC is a Mac company, so you can probably check with them first in terms of compatibility with your mini and how difficult an installation would be.

 

[philipma1957]

I put 29 ssd's into 2009 mac minis. you want to put in an intel ssd. why 20 installed and 0 have failed. 9 ssds from 3 other companies. 1 failed from each company or 3 of 9 .

I had 3 patriot inferno 200gb ssds 1 failed this was supposed to be a clone of owc's hdd.

I had 3 vertex 128gb ssd 1 failed.


I had 3 corsair ssds 64gb 1 failed.

I have read that owc ssds have had a few issues in mac minis. I never got around to testing it.

Once they made 2010 minis I no longer upgraded them to sell on ebay. The hdd connections are very weak in 2010 minis compared to 2009 minis.



If you are usa based this is a very good choice. the seller is a big time company and the price is very good 299 for a new 160gb ssd from intel. I purchased the 300gb from them last week It is nice.


http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Intel-SSDSA...e_Internal&hash=item5d2e3d871f#ht_2845wt_1250

 

[Rapscallion]

I've been interested in installing an SSD in my 2010 mini, but have held back in order to get a good understanding of the various products out there, as well as waiting for the SSD technology to mature a bit more.

I've been reading various posts on this forum and various reviews I've found on the web and I'm still having trouble deciding if I should go ahead with an SSD.

I've been thinking about and reading about SATA III, and wondering if its a good idea to future proof by buying tech that wont be fully taken advantage of in my machine.

I stumbled across these web pages in my search for information, and though that you might find them interesting.

http://thessdreview.com/our-reviews/the-owc-mercury-extreme-pro-6g-ssd-review/

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/SSDMX6G120/

 

[volodymyrqa]

Like the 2010 Mini, the 2009 SSD has SATA II ports, so whilst it will benefit from some improvements in SATA III SSDs, it won't see as big a benefit as if it had SATA III ports.

Instructions for replacing a HDD with a SSD are the same as for replacing a HDD with a HDD (except that the replacement disk is a SSD).

You might wish to upgrade your RAM to 8GB at the same time.

- i care more about quietness then the speed

- oki

- what is the point of 8Gb RAM? what will become better?) i'm just watching movies and browsing. not playing games since video card is not good enough.

thanks !

My understanding is that Lion will have much better support for a variety of SSD hardware

i think i'll just pick intel ssd

thank you!

. the seller is a big time company and the price is very good 299 for a new 160gb ssd from intel. I purchased the 300gb from them last week It is nice.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Intel-SSDSA...e_Internal&hash=item5d2e3d871f#ht_2845wt_1250

ok, got it. Latest Intel 2.5" SSD. But i need capacity only for the system. so 30 - 60 will be good enough

thanks!

I stumbled across these web pages in my search for information, and though that you might find them interesting.

http://thessdreview.com/our-reviews/the-owc-mercury-extreme-pro-6g-ssd-review/

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/SSDMX6G120/

nice! thanks!

Thank you guys! it was a great help 4m all of u.

i guess after completion of SSD installation i should install OS X from disc?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Intel-320-Serie...Accessories&hash=item3a6512e345#ht_3864wt_930 - this one is from the latest models?

 

[thogin]

I wouldn't buy it off eBay. The same drive is only $13 more on Amazon, well worth it for peace of mind knowing you're buying from a reputable company with a good return policy, IMO.

 

[philipma1957]

I wouldn't buy it off eBay. The same drive is only $13 more on Amazon, well worth it for peace of mind knowing you're buying from a reputable company with a good return policy, IMO.

if you are referring to the seller buy dot com on ebay they are as real as amazon in the case of this ssd buying from amazon is spending extra money for no reason at all. look at www.buy.com they are huge they are real they use ebay sometimes to help buyers

here is a direct link to buy dot com

http://www.buy.com/prod/intel-ssdsa...gb-solid-state-drive/q/loc/101/220601167.html

it is 299 and you get 300 point rebate or 3 bucks.

if you buy it here using ebay and buy dot com it is 299
you get 6 dollars in ebucks and ebates gives 4.50 so I get it for under 290 with a full warranty from intel.
It is the best deal for this drive .

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Intel-SSDSA...e_Internal&hash=item5d2e3d871f#ht_2545wt_1189


I am not knocking amazon they beat buy dot com sometimes. If buy dot com is cheaper they are just as safe as amazon even when they use ebay.

 

[zap2]

You are very lucking, the Mac mini is much easier to get into then the new one. I'm considering buy one when the new iX Mac mini come out, but I want to upgrade the HDD to SSD, but I know its be a huge pain to get open.

Still not sure how I'm gonna handle that.

 

[thogin]

if you are referring to the seller buy dot com on ebay

Didn't know it was buy.com. In that case, carry on.

 

[philipma1957]

Didn't know it was buy.com. In that case, carry on.

its cool bro, sometimes you me or anyone sees ebay and thinks no go. but a few big companies sell through ebay.

 

[mdgm]

- what is the point of 8Gb RAM? what will become better?) i'm just watching movies and browsing. not playing games since video card is not good enough.

Sounds like you don't need 8GB RAM now, but it's a fairly cheap upgrade.

I'll consider putting SSDs in my 09 Minis once the AppleCare runs out next year. If I do this, I'll upgrade the RAM to 8GB at the same time. Whether or not I need it now, I see it as future proofing a bit more. 10.6 had higher RAM requirements than 10.5 and I expect we'll see the same with 10.7.

 

[volodymyrqa]

Sounds like you don't need 8GB RAM now, but it's a fairly cheap upgrade.

I'll consider putting SSDs in my 09 Minis once the AppleCare runs out next year. If I do this, I'll upgrade the RAM to 8GB at the same time. Whether or not I need it now, I see it as future proofing a bit more. 10.6 had higher RAM requirements than 10.5 and I expect we'll see the same with 10.7.

I guess, if i will experience troubles with i'll buy extra memory then but now i don't think it's so important memory is cheap, but still it costs 70$.



i'll buy from ebay because i live in Kyiv, Ukraine So, not to many options with places where to make a purchase.

 

[Byrnes3969]

Early 2009 mac mini ssd upgrade solution

IF you're getting the terminal re-boot while trying to load an os to the ssd read this:

1 mount the ssd drive to your existing setup with a conversion cable and power supply. format the ssd drive using disk utilities to the mac journed format.

http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Adapter-Converter-Optical-External/dp/B001OORMVQ/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1369679654&sr=8-9&keywords=sata+hard+drive+cable

install the os disk and install to your mounted ssd drive.

TURN OFF THE POWER BEFORE your computer restarts.

install the ssd drive into the mini

reboot the mini and continue the installation.

Do a software update when the install completes.

youre done