SSD install on 2013 27" iMac

[zalle]

Hi guys,
I'm wanting to put an SSD in my iMac. I basically work on photo & video editing.
My 1tb internal hd is only used for system and programs, all my files are in usb3 external drives.

I've seen 3 different SSD usages, correct me if I'm wrong.

1- replace HDD with SSD.
2- install a blade SSD as an extra.
3- use external SSD through usb3.

I see option 2 as the best option. I could be wrong...

So what do you guys recommend? I have torx tools, what else should I get? Any kind of kit?
Thanks for your help.
[doublepost=1549237264][/doublepost]Actually, maybe option 3, external SSD could be better... I own 2 similar 27" iMacs in different locations a late 2012 and a 2013 . Maybe using a boot external SSD that would fit both of them wouy be my perfect option. Is this possible?

 

[zalle]

What speeds should I expect with this external setup? My external HDD does about 130mbs.

 

[wardie]

I use a Samsung T5 1TB external SSD via USB3.1 and get just over 500 MB/s. Well worth the money, and tiny, but not as fast as an internal blade that would be on PCIe. With iMac 2017 using USB-C port. Not sure if that would be different on yours though.

 

[zalle]

Hi,

But have you installed your osx and programs on the external SSD? Or you just use it for files?

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

If you don't want to open the iMac up, you can connect an EXTERNAL USB3 SSD and get about 85% of "the speed" you would see from an internally-installed one. Much less time and trouble.

Yes, you CAN boot and run from it. I've been doing this for more than SIX YEARS now, longer than anyone else in this forum. Been running my 2012 Mini that way from the day I took it out of the box in January 2013.

It's child's play to set up the external SSD.
Ask and you shall receive knowledge.

 

[zalle]

OP:

If you don't want to open the iMac up, you can connect an EXTERNAL USB3 SSD and get about 85% of "the speed" you would see from an internally-installed one. Much less time and trouble.

Yes, you CAN boot and run from it. I've been doing this for more than SIX YEARS now, longer than anyone else in this forum. Been running my 2012 Mini that way from the day I took it out of the box in January 2013.

It's child's play to set up the external SSD.
Ask and you shall receive knowledge.

Oh, thanks...

Will you help me choose? I can get a cheap 480Gb Bluray for 90€ or a Samsung 500Gb for 140€, wat do you think? The Bluray gets good reviews...

This review is in portuguese, but if you scroll down there's a table with speed tests in white and green:

https://www.leak.pt/review-ssd-blueray-120gb/

 

[Fishrrman]

I'd try the ssd/blueray that you linked to above.
But you're going to need a USB3 2.5" enclosure to put it into, also.

Have you looked at something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00ZYNHDT4?tag=delt-20&th=1

 

[zalle]

Hi guys, so I'm writing from my new external SSD powered 2013 27" iMac

I got a verbatim 480Gb USB3 it was on sale for 64.95€. I just put it into a USB3 enclosure.

I used time machine to restore everything into the external SSD, and I just booted from it. 45 minutes and very simple.

Read & write times are around 400MBs (Blackmagik disk test) while the internal HDD were around 130-170MBs

I own 2 iMacs, on different locations (the other is a late 2012, pretty similar to this 2013), so my plan is to boot both from the same SSD, and run the same system.

My other issue is: Now should I use internal HDD for Time machine? Or an external HDD)? (I carry a 4TB HDD with me all the time, that is where all my files are).

Thanks for your help guys!

 

[Fishrrman]

I would continue to use an EXTERNAL drive for TM.

The internal drive should remain bootable.
You ALWAYS want to have "a second bootable-to-the-finder drive" close-at-hand.

 

[zalle]

Yup, I tried without the SSD, and it boots just fine (slower though).
It makes sense... Having TM on an external. I can just buy any mac and get it working...
[doublepost=1549383589][/doublepost]If I put this SSD drive on another iMac, will it boot from it?

 

[wardie]

Hi guys, so I'm writing from my new external SSD powered 2013 27" iMac

I got a verbatim 480Gb USB3 it was on sale for 64.95€. I just put it into a USB3 enclosure.

I used time machine to restore everything into the external SSD, and I just booted from it. 45 minutes and very simple.

Read & write times are around 400MBs (Blackmagik disk test) while the internal HDD were around 130-170MBs

I own 2 iMacs, on different locations (the other is a late 2012, pretty similar to this 2013), so my plan is to boot both from the same SSD, and run the same system.

My other issue is: Now should I use internal HDD for Time machine? Or an external HDD)? (I carry a 4TB HDD with me all the time, that is where all my files are).

Thanks for your help guys!

The big practical gain you’ll get from using SSD not HDD for a boot/user drive is the vast improvement in random read/write access performance not just the large sequential read/write speeds.

 

[UbuntuFu]

Yup, I tried without the SSD, and it boots just fine (slower though).
It makes sense... Having TM on an external. I can just buy any mac and get it working...
[doublepost=1549383589][/doublepost]If I put this SSD drive on another iMac, will it boot from it?

Yes, just hold the OPTION button when turning the iMac on and it should show up as a startup disk.

 

[zalle]

Hi guys, thanks for your help.

I've been getting a bug every time I restart my iMac with the SSD. I get this, it just comes up. How can I get rid of it?