try as I may the base mac mini has one hdd option from apple?

[philipma1957]

Okay I was looking at base minis I only see the 500 gb 5400 rpm hdd as a storage option .


am I missing a bto for a better drive?


so it looks like i need to mod if I want a better drive or use and external? am I missing this.

I put the entire page below in 4 thumb nails.


This creates a need for diy in the base gear.

 

[Darby67]

Looks like the base has only one option here as well. Never looked at it before so not sure if that is a change.

 

[jshbckr]

The 2012 Mac mini has never had the option to upgrade the base model's hard drive.

And adding a second drive isn't "modding" to mini. There is an open bay and second cable connection on the logic board. It's made to hold two drives. You just need to buy the cable or a kit that includes the cable.

 

[Darby67]

And adding a second drive isn't "modding" to mini.

Disagree. If the manufacturer doesn't intend for a purpose and the end use modifies it, thereby changing what the manufacturer intended, I would correctly say that it has been modded. Not a very clever mod perhaps, but modded none-the-less.

 

[jshbckr]

Disagree. If the manufacturer doesn't intend for a purpose and the end use modifies it, thereby changing what the manufacturer intended, I would correctly say that it has been modded. Not a very clever mod perhaps, but modded none-the-less.

No, the mini is very clearly intended to have two hard drives installed in it. There is an extra sata connector on the motherboard for it and an open hard drive bay to hold it. If we were removing a disc drive and hijacking the disc connector to substitue a second drive (like MacBook Pros) then I'd maybe agree.

But putting a second hard drive in the Apple-designed second hard drive bay is no more of a modification than putting in extra RAM or putting additional hard drives in the Mac Pro drive bays. Is it a bit more difficult because of how packed the Mac mini is? Sure. But are you making any modifications (hence the word "mod")? No.

 

[theRAMman]

No, the mini is very clearly intended to have two hard drives installed in it. There is an extra sata connector on the motherboard for it and an open hard drive bay to hold it. If we were removing a disc drive and hijacking the disc connector to substitue a second drive (like MacBook Pros) then I'd maybe agree.

But putting a second hard drive in the Apple-designed second hard drive bay is no more of a modification than putting in extra RAM or putting additional hard drives in the Mac Pro drive bays. Is it a bit more difficult because of how packed the Mac mini is? Sure. But are you making any modifications (hence the word "mod")? No.

To mod just means to modify, by adding an extra harddrive, you are 'modifying' the product apple sent you. Also apple never intended for you to ad an extra hhd so either way, it's a mod.

 

[eutexian]

..... Also apple never intended for you to ad an extra hhd so either way, it's a mod.

Nonsense. the logic board has TWO connections. if Apple 'never intended' for an extra HDD to be added - they would NOT have that pesky second connector on the base model logic board. ready and waiting. It would be a simple matter to instruct their manufacturers to leave it out. or otherwise disable it.

Many 2011 owners added a second HDD (or SSD) - within weeks of the machine appearing in the stores this had been done and companies started to produce kits to facilitate this. I have no doubt that the same will happen for the new machine - in fact it wouldn't surprise me if the extant connector doesn't fit.

 

[theRAMman]

Nonsense. the logic board has TWO connections. if Apple 'never intended' for an extra HDD to be added - they would NOT have that pesky second connector on the base model logic board. ready and waiting. It would be a simple matter to instruct their manufacturers to leave it out. or otherwise disable it.

Many 2011 owners added a second HDD (or SSD) - within weeks of the machine appearing in the stores this had been done and companies started to produce kits to facilitate this. I have no doubt that the same will happen for the new machine - in fact it wouldn't surprise me if the extant connector doesn't fit.

*smacks myself in face* find me a single place ANYWHERE where apple says that you can add a second hard drive! yes, ok, there is a second port, but the only way to find that out is by tearing half the computer apart, which apple defiantly would not approve of. Prehaps the reason for the second port was an abandoned feature for duel hhd's they scrapped? who knows

 

[Paulywauly]

Nonsense. the logic board has TWO connections. if Apple 'never intended' for an extra HDD to be added - they would NOT have that pesky second connector on the base model logic board. ready and waiting. It would be a simple matter to instruct their manufacturers to leave it out. or otherwise disable it.

Just because it's there doesn't mean Apple intend for you to use it, for a start i'm sure the hard drive isn't listed as a user replaceable part and opening the device up would void the warranty right? By most peoples definition that would make adding an addition hard drive a mod.

As an explanation for the extra connector, its possibly cheaper for Apple to produce/ship ALL Minis with two SATA connections, rather than have two manufacturing lines dealing with different logic boards. Apple have spent alot of time "streamlining" their supply chain of components and this could be a result. Its not unheard of to get unused or disabled hardware/features in lower priced models of products, sometimes it's just more cost effective to manufacture products that way.

 

[philipma1957]

the point in my post is not adding a second drive it is that you can only buy it with a 500gb hdd no one drive ssd option no one drive 1tb option.


So Apple the GOD of Form when it comes to pcs forces you to add an external if you want a bigger or faster drive.

OR you can do a technical (but hard to detect) void of your warranty by pulling out the hdd and adding a 1tb or a ssd If you want form.

Not even going into the world of two inside drives.


So if you want a 1 piece unit with a bigger drive you go to the mid mini at

799 and a 1tb hdd keeping warranty or gamble and swap hoping you can hide it if something goes wrong..

 

[Fifemacuser]

Yup, it's not ideal, but you can see why it works for them.

I just ordered a 2.3 when a low end would have done, but I needed the exta space and figured the upgrade to the quad core was something I was willing to pay for. Suspect quite a few others make a similar decision.

If there was a 1 tb option on the low end I would prob have one for it, but by the time I buy the upgrade kit ad a disk I am halfway to the next model.

 

[mdgm]

Well the mid-range Mini does have a quad-core CPU. I'd go for the mid-range Mini over the base one personally if I was to buy one of the 2012 Minis

 

[philipma1957]

Well the mid-range Mini does have a quad-core CPU. I'd go for the mid-range Mini over the base one personally if I was to buy one of the 2012 Minis

WHICH IS what i did.

 

[eutexian]

*smacks myself in face* find me a single place ANYWHERE where apple says that you can add a second hard drive!

It hardly matters.. going by what happened to the 2011 base model - many owners will. Without a care for the warranty. Some will DIY, Some will employ an Independent Appla engineer.

I expect plenty of threads on this forum asking about whether its possible; It is. and how to do it - relatively simply. buy a connector:

And your HDD or SSD of choice and follow the instructions already to be found online. It takes about 15 minutes to perform.

FWIW - Unlike many who have done this during their Minis warranty period. I have held back - the warranty expires in a few months - at which point I will swap the primary drive for an SSD and use the current Hitachi drive for storage. I'm lucky enough to have an Independent Apple engineer within walking distance - He has performed this upgrade numerous times. And offers a warranty on his work.

 

[theRAMman]

It hardly matters.. going by what happened to the 2011 base model - many owners will. Without a care for the warranty. Some will DIY, Some will employ an Independent Appla engineer.

I expect plenty of threads on this forum asking about whether its possible; It is. and how to do it - relatively simply. buy a connector:

Image

And your HDD or SSD of choice and follow the instructions already to be found online. It takes about 15 minutes to perform.

FWIW - Unlike many who have done this during their Minis warranty period. I have held back - the warranty expires in a few months - at which point I will swap the primary drive for an SSD and use the current Hitachi drive for storage. I'm lucky enough to have an Independent Apple engineer within walking distance - He has performed this upgrade numerous times. And offers a warranty on his work.

the fact you can add a second hhd or ssd is beyond the point of the argument, the fact still remains that apple didn't suggest or even mention the fact that you can add a second hhd/ssd and there fore it is a mod. rant over

 

[eutexian]

the fact you can add a second hhd or ssd is beyond the point of the argument, the fact still remains that apple didn't suggest or even mention the fact that you can add a second hhd/ssd and there fore it is a mod. rant over

you're argument was about semantics and not with me. I know what the term 'mod' means. my only point was that if the OP wanted a second drive in his base mini - he can have one. The option to do so is there. Its up to him whether or not he can deal with the voiding of his warranty - many who have done this mod don't seem to care too much about that.

I do.. and so it won't be done until my own warranty has expired.

 

[theRAMman]

you're argument was about semantics and not with me. I know what the term 'mod' means. my only point was that if the OP wanted a second drive in his base mini - he can have one. The option to do so is there. Its up to him whether or not he can deal with the voiding of his warranty - many who have done this mod don't seem to care too much about that.

I do.. and so it won't be done until my own warranty has expired.

oops, sorry, i didn't even notice it was someone else i was ranting at dreadfully sorry about that :s

 

[jshbckr]

*smacks myself in face* find me a single place ANYWHERE where apple says that you can add a second hard drive! yes, ok, there is a second port, but the only way to find that out is by tearing half the computer apart, which apple defiantly would not approve of. Prehaps the reason for the second port was an abandoned feature for duel hhd's they scrapped? who knows

The dual spot is there because the server model DOES have two drives in it. And with the mid-level model, you have the option of a Fusion Drive, which is actually an SSD in bay 1 and HDD in bay 2.

It's designed to hold two drives. Also, Apple is perfectly fine with you opening your computer, just don't break anything. They show RAM as user replaceable, but if you broke the connection due to carelessness your warranty would be void just the same.

I've opened and replaced hard drives, RAM, optical drives, etc, on several MacBooks, MacBook Pros, Mac Pros, and minis... no warranty issues.

 

[gamrin]

The dual spot is there because the server model DOES have two drives in it. And with the mid-level model, you have the option of a Fusion Drive, which is actually an SSD in bay 1 and HDD in bay 2.

It's designed to hold two drives. Also, Apple is perfectly fine with you opening your computer, just don't break anything. They show RAM as user replaceable, but if you broke the connection due to carelessness your warranty would be void just the same.

I've opened and replaced hard drives, RAM, optical drives, etc, on several MacBooks, MacBook Pros, Mac Pros, and minis... no warranty issues.

Interesting... and troublesome. I spoke with an Apple rep online yesterday and asked him directly if the Fusion drive on the Mac Mini I ordered took up one or two bays. He responded that the Fusion drive took up only one 2.5" drive bay. If it actually takes up two, I might consider returning the Mac Mini (once it gets here). That extra $225 I paid for the Fusion drive would be better served going toward a 256 GB SSD that I can set up as a Fusion drive, myself.